War, Buddhism, and Diplomacy on the Silk Roads: Tabghach and Turks, 4^th-6^th Centuries

*Tabghach (Tuoba) origins

Early Xianbei (Särbi)

Manchurian steppe

Subordinate to Xiongnu (209 BCE to 155 CE)

Society

Pastoral nomadic speakers of Mongolic language

Matriarchal clans living in separate encampments

Government

Male war leader chosen based on ability

Unintended Consequences of Han Dynasty-Xiongnu War & Diplomacy

Northern and Southern Xiongnu split, 54 BCE

Increased interaction in borderlands

Han Wudi’s settlers in Ordos and Gansu

Southern Xiongnu in Han armies as cavalry

Political turbulence increases interactions

Xiongnu collapsed in 155

Han civil war from 189 onward

Xianbei migrate southward

“China” Divided

Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220 CE)

Three Kingdoms Period (220-80)

Wei Dynasty (220-65)

W. Jin Dynasty (265-317)

Gansu during Jin Dynasty (265-317)

Official Seals of Tribal Leaders discovered in Tianshui, Gansu

Sheep

“Marquis of the Loyal Qiang of the Jin”

Camel

“King of the Loyal Di of the Jin”

*“16 Kingdoms” Period (311-386)

Northeast

Former Yan (333-370)

Xianbei elite

Later Yan (384-409)

Xianbei elite

*Northern Wei (386-534)

Tabghach clan of Xianbei

S. Yan (398-410)

Xianbei elite

N. Yan (409-436)

Chinese

Gansu

Former Liang (314-376)

Chinese founder

Later Liang (386-403)

Di founder

S. Liang (397-414)

Xianbei (Särbi) founder

W. Liang (400-422)

Chinese founder

N. Liang (398-439)

Xiongnu? founder

*Northern Wei (386-534)

*Tabghach (Tuoba)

Ruling Clan of Xianbei (Särbi)

Capital at Pingcheng (Datong)

Completed conquest of 16 Kingdoms

Contribution of Monasteries to spread of Buddhism, 4th-6th c.

Oasis cave monasteries

Bamian, Afghanistan

*Kizil, Kucha

Dunhuang, Gansu

Way stations

Resident monks

Cultural bridge

Centers of learning

Translations

*Kucha (Kizil)

*Kumarajiva (344-414)

Kuchean (Tocharian A)

Sanskrit

Chinese

Contributions of Warfare and State Patronage to spread of Buddhism, 4th-6th c.

Cakravartin ideology

“Wheel-turning king”

Former Qin Dynasty (349-394)

Conquers Former Liang (314-376)

General Lü Guang conquers Kucha, 384

Takes Kumarajiva to Guzang (Liangzhou), Gansu

Lü Guang founds Later Liang Dynasty in Gansu (386-403 )

Kumarajiva remains in Guzang (Liangzhou)

Later Qin Dynasty (384-417)

Capture Guzang in 401

Take Kumarajiva to Chang’an in Chinese heartland

Translation projects in Chang’an

Kumarajiva (344-413) served Later Qin until death

Northern Wei (386-534)

Tabghach (Tuoba) of Xianbei (Särbi)

Capital at Pingcheng (Datong)

Completed reunification of North China

Conquest of N. Liang in 439

Forced migration of 30,000 “servile households” to Pingcheng

Monastery Caves at Yungang

Caves and Colossal Buddha at Yungang

Established in 454 CE

Outside N. Wei capital at Pingcheng (modern Datong)

Monastery Caves at Longmen, ca. 500-750

2^nd N. Wei capital at Luoyang, 495-535 CE

Stylistic Comparisons

 “The Medieval Practice of Eurasian Diplomacy and Its Codification in Tang China (618-907)”

China-based Empires

Sui Dynasty (581-618)

Tang Dynasty (618-907)

West Asian Empires

Byzantium (395-1453)

Sasanian Iran (224-651)

Steppe Empires

First Türk (552-630)

Second Türk (682-742)

Uighurs (744-840)

Avars (567-822)

Oasis-States of Central Asia

Gaochang Kingdom (442-640)

Discussion Questions

1. Why did Chinese scholars think that their diplomatic customs were unique?

2. What customs of diplomacy were widely shared throughout Eurasia by the fifth and sixth centuries?

3. What explains the similarities? Do diplomats deserve a place along with warriors, monks and merchants as mobile agents of cultural sharing along the “Silk Roads”?