Zhang Qian made two missions to the Western Regions, which communicated the trade relations between China and West Asia and Europe. China's silk and silk products were transported from Chang 'an to the west, passed through the Hexi Corridor, and now rested in Xinjiang (today's Iranian Plateau and the two river basins), and then rested in Daqin (Rome) in West Asia and Europe, opening up the famous "Silk Road" in history. Historian Sima Qian praised Zhang Qian's mission to the Western Regions as "hollowing out", which means "opening the way".
In the fourth year of Yuanshou (before 1 19), Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty appointed Zhang Qian as a corps commander, and went to the Western Regions for the second time to unite with Wusun to fight against the Huns. Zhang Qian sent envoys to Dawan, Kangju, Da Yue, Rest in Peace, Bow Shape, Khotan, Shengu and other countries to carry out diplomatic activities, covering all parts of Central Asia and Southwest Asia, and the farthest envoys reached the Roman Empire and North Africa along the Mediterranean Sea, gradually eliminating the hidden dangers of northwest border defense for a long time.
Zhang Qian's second mission to the Western Regions returned to the Han Dynasty, bringing with him the emissary of Wusunguo, and since then began friendly exchanges with the Western Han Dynasty on the basis of equality. The following year, Zhang Qian's deputy envoy to Wusunguo and envoys from western countries returned to Han one after another, and Han and western countries formally began equal and friendly exchanges, and the first climax of diplomatic activities between Han and western countries began to arrive.
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Zhang Qian (164- 1 14), a native of Chenggu, Hanzhong (now Chenggu County, Hanzhong City, Shaanxi Province), was an outstanding diplomat, traveler, explorer and pioneer of the Silk Road in the Han Dynasty in China. His hometown is Wang Bo Village, 2 kilometers south of Chenggu County, Hanzhong City, Shaanxi Province.
Zhang Qian is full of pioneering and adventurous spirit. In the second year of Jianyuan (BC 139), he was ordered by Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, guided by Gan Fu, and led more than 100 people to the western regions, which opened up the north-south road leading to the western regions in the Han Dynasty, namely the famous Silk Road. Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty named him Prince Bo for his exploits. Historian Sima Qian praised Zhang Qian's mission to the Western Regions as "hollowing out", which means "opening the way".
Zhang Qian is known as a great diplomat and explorer, "the pioneer of the Silk Road", "the first China man who opened his eyes to see the world" and "Columbus of the East". He spread the civilization of the Central Plains to the Western Regions, introduced the species of blood horse, grape, alfalfa, pomegranate and flax from the western regions to the Central Plains, and promoted the exchanges between eastern and western civilizations.
In the third year of Emperor Gaozu Ding Yuan (before 1 14), Zhang Qian died in Chang 'an, the capital of Dahan, and was buried in his hometown of Hanzhong.
Baidu Encyclopedia-Zhang Qian (an outstanding diplomat in Han Dynasty)