Zhang Qian's Mission to the Western Regions

Zhang Qian sets out to find the Yuezhi, is held by the Xiongnu for years, and still continues west. Although his first diplomatic goal fails, his journey opens Han knowledge of the Western Regions and helps lay the foundation for the Silk Road.

HSK 7-9

Illustration inspired by Zhang Qian's Mission to the Western Regions.

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  1. 汉武帝时期，汉朝的版图已经相当辽阔，但在西北边境之外，仍有许多陌生的土地、民族和道路。

    han4 wu3 di4 shi2 qi1 han4 chao2 de5 ban3 tu2 yi3 jing1 xiang1 dang1 liao2 kuo4 dan4 zai4 xi1 bei3 bian1 jing4 zhi1 wai4 reng2 you3 xu3 duo1 mo4 sheng1 de5 tu3 di4 min2 zu2 he2 dao4 lu4

    During the reign of Emperor Wu of Han, the territory of the Han dynasty was already quite vast, but beyond the northwestern frontier there were still many unfamiliar lands, peoples, and roads.

  2. 对长安的人来说，那些地方像被风沙遮住的远方：有人听说那里有高山、沙漠、绿洲和强大的骑马民族，却很少有人真正到过那里，更少有人能把那里的消息带回来。

    dui4 chang2 an1 de5 ren2 lai2 shuo1 na4 xie1 di4 fang5 xiang4 bei4 feng1 sha1 zhe1 zhu4 de5 yuan3 fang1 you3 ren2 ting1 shuo1 na4 li5 you3 gao1 shan1 sha1 mo4 lu4 zhou1 he2 qiang2 da4 de5 qi2 ma3 min2 zu2 que4 hen3 shao3 you3 ren2 zhen1 zheng4 dao4 guo4 na4 li5 geng4 shao3 you3 ren2 neng2 ba3 na4 li5 de5 xiao1 xi5 dai4 hui2 lai2

    To the people of Chang’an, those places were distant regions hidden by wind and sand. Some had heard that there were high mountains, deserts, oases, and powerful horse-riding peoples, but few had truly been there, and even fewer could bring back reliable information.

  3. 当时，匈奴长期威胁汉朝北方。

    dang1 shi2 xiong1 nu2 chang2 qi1 wei1 xie2 han4 chao2 bei3 fang1

    At that time, the Xiongnu had long threatened Han’s northern border.