Jingxingji
Encyclopedia
The Jingxingji was a now lost journey book written by Du Huan
shortly after he returned to China
in 762 from the Abbasid Caliphate. Only about 1,511 words are being preserved under the Tongdian
. It recorded about thirteen main countries, and a separated book was later pusblished by Wang Guowei
under the title of Guxingji Xiaolu from this source. Other parallel quotes can also be found from the Imperial Readings of the Taiping Era
, Taiping Huanyuji, Tongzhi and Tongkao.
In 1866, a section with regard to the Byzantine Empire
of the texts was being translated into English
by Henry Yule
. Since then, a few of the scholars such as Hirth
(1885), Chavannes
(1903), Shiratori (1904), Rockhill (1911) and Pelliot
(1904 and 1929) carry on the translation and excerpt from the portion of the texts into their works. The texts has overall been held in high regard among the early Chinese scholars such as Zhang Xinglang, Feng Chengjun, Xiang Da and Bai Shouyi
.
Du Huan
Du Huan was a Chinese travel writer born in Chang'an during the Tang Dynasty. He was one of a few Chinese captured in the Battle of Talas along with artisans Fan Shu and Liu Ci and fabric weavers Le Wei and Lu Li, as mentioned in his writings. After a long journey through Arab countries, he...
shortly after he returned to China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
in 762 from the Abbasid Caliphate. Only about 1,511 words are being preserved under the Tongdian
Tongdian
The Tongdian is a Chinese institutional history and encyclopedia text. It covers a panoply of topics from high antiquity through the year 756, whereas a quarter of the book focuses on the Tang Dynasty. The book was written by Du You from 766 to 801...
. It recorded about thirteen main countries, and a separated book was later pusblished by Wang Guowei
Wang Guowei
Wang Guowei , courtesy name Jing'an or Baiyu , was a Chinese scholar, writer and poet...
under the title of Guxingji Xiaolu from this source. Other parallel quotes can also be found from the Imperial Readings of the Taiping Era
Imperial Readings of the Taiping Era
The Imperial Readings of the Taiping Era is a massive encyclopedia compiled by a number of officers commissioned by the imperial court of the Song Dynasty with the lead editor being Li Fang from 977 to 983 during the era of Taiping Xingguo. It is divided into 1,000 volumes and 55 sections, which...
, Taiping Huanyuji, Tongzhi and Tongkao.
In 1866, a section with regard to the Byzantine Empire
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
of the texts was being translated into English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
by Henry Yule
Henry Yule
Sir Henry Yule was a Scottish Orientalist.He was born at Inveresk, Scotland, near Edinburgh, the son of Major William Yule , translator of the Apothegms of Ali. Henry Yule was educated at Edinburgh, Addiscombe, and Chatham, and joined the Bengal Engineers in 1840...
. Since then, a few of the scholars such as Hirth
Friedrich Hirth
Friedrich Hirth, Ph.D. was a German-American sinologist.-Biography:He was educated at the universities of Leipzig, Berlin, and Greifswald . He was in the Chinese maritime customs service from 1870 to 1897...
(1885), Chavannes
Édouard Chavannes
Édouard Chavannes was a French sinologist.He is best known for his translations from Sima Qian's Shiji , sections of the Hou Hanshu relating to the 'Western Regions', the Weilüe, his studies of Han dynasty stone carvings Édouard Chavannes (Chinese: ) (1865–1918) was a French sinologist.He is best...
(1903), Shiratori (1904), Rockhill (1911) and Pelliot
Paul Pelliot
Paul Pelliot was a French sinologist and explorer of Central Asia. Initially intending to enter the foreign service, Pelliot took up the study of Chinese and became a pupil of Sylvain Lévi and Édouard Chavannes....
(1904 and 1929) carry on the translation and excerpt from the portion of the texts into their works. The texts has overall been held in high regard among the early Chinese scholars such as Zhang Xinglang, Feng Chengjun, Xiang Da and Bai Shouyi
Bai Shouyi
Bai Shouyi , also known as Djamal al-Din Bai Shouyi, was a prominent Chinese Muslim historian, thinker, social activist and ethnologist who revolutionized recent Chinese historiography and pioneered in relying heavily on scientific excavations and reports...
.
External links
- A Chinese in the Nubian and Abyssinian Kingdoms (8th Century), Wolbert Smidt.