Good Works Translation from Volume 79

This Good Works Translation renders selected Western Regions and Rouran passages from Li Yanshou's Nan Shi from Classical Chinese into English.

For the Scythian shelf, this is southern-dynasty frontier evidence. It preserves notices on Gaochang, Hua or the Hephthalites, Baiti, Kucha, Khotan, Khabandha, Persia, and Rouran.

The Classical Chinese source text is printed below the translation.

Translation

West of Jade Gate as far as the western sea, examined through the histories of Han, is generally called the Western Regions; from Gaochang to Persia, that is the area meant. Since Jin and Song, although they sometimes arrived, accounts of their customs and lands were still far from detailed. Now the several states of the Western Regions are briefly supplied and arranged next.

In the state of Gaochang, at first the Kan clan were rulers. Afterward Juqu Wuhui, younger brother of Juqu Mengxun, king of Hexi, attacked and broke it. Its king Kan Shuang fled to Rouran. Wuhui occupied it and called himself king; after one generation it was destroyed by Wei. The people of the state again promoted the Qu clan as king, named Jia. Wei appointed him general of chariots and cavalry, minister of works, chief controller of Qin province military affairs, inspector of Qin province, and Duke of Jincheng commandery. He died after twenty-four years in office, and the state gave him the posthumous title King Zhaowu. His son Zijian succeeded to the throne. Wei appointed him bearer of credentials, general of swift cavalry, palace attendant, chief controller and inspector of Gua province, Duke of Xiping commandery, opening office with the same ceremonies as the three excellencies, and King of Gaochang.

The state is probably the old land of Cheshi. To the south it connects with Henan, to the east it is near Dunhuang, to the west it comes next to Kucha, and to the north it neighbors the Chile. It has forty-six towns, including Jiaohe, Tiandi, Gaoning, Linchuan, Hengjie, Liupo, Wulin, Xinxing, Youning, Shichang, Dujin, Baili, and others. Its offices include generals of the four towns; it also establishes generals with various titles, senior clerk, major, palace-gate attendant, colonel clerk of central troops, communications gentleman, communications recording clerk, advisory officers, remonstrance officers, colonels, and chief clerks. The speech of the people of the state is roughly the same as Chinese. They have the Five Classics, histories of successive ages, the Masters, and collected writings. Their faces resemble those of Goguryeo. They braid the hair and let it hang down the back. They wear long-bodied small-sleeved robes and trousers with a broad crotch. Women braid their hair but do not let it hang, and wear brocade, tie-dyed cloth, necklaces, rings, and bracelets. Marriage has the six rites.

The land is high and dry. They build earth as walls, set wood as houses, and cover them with earth. Heat and cold are similar to Yi province. They plant all nine grains. The people often eat flour and the meat of cattle and sheep. It produces good horses, grape wine, and rock salt. It has many grasses and trees. There is a grass whose fruit is like a cocoon; inside the cocoon the thread is like fine hemp. It is called baidiezi, and the people of the state take and weave it to make cloth. The cloth is very soft and white, and is used in trade. There are court crows that gather every morning before the king's palace, forming ranks and not fearing people. After the sun rises they scatter.

In Liang's Datong period, Zijian sent envoys offering sounding salt pillows, grapes, good horses, rugs, and other things.

The state of Hua is a separate stock of Cheshi. In the first Yongjian year of Han, the eight Hua followed Ban Yong in attacking the northern enemy and had merit. Yong memorialized to make the eight Hua marquises of the rear division close to Han. From Wei and Jin onward, they did not communicate with China. In the fifteenth Tianjian year of Liang, their king Yandai Yilitu first sent envoys offering local products. In the first Putong year, he sent envoys offering a yellow lion, white sable furs, Persian brocade, and other things. In the seventh year he again presented a memorial with tribute.

When Wei lived in the Dai capital, Hua was still a small state and belonged to Rouran. Later it gradually became strong and great, subduing its neighboring states: Persia, Khabandha, Jibin, Yanqi, Kucha, Shule, Gumo, Khotan, Jupan, and others, opening land for more than one thousand li. The land is warm and has many mountains and rivers, few trees, and the five grains. The people of the state use flour and sheep meat as food. Its animals include lions, two-footed camels, and wild asses with horns. All the people are good at riding and shooting. They wear small-sleeved long-bodied robes and use gold and jade as belts. Women wear furs, and on their heads they carve wood into horns six chi long, decorating them with gold and silver. When a girl is young, brothers share one wife. They have no cities or walls, living in felt houses with doors opened to the east. Their king sits on a golden couch, turning with the Grand Year, and receives guests sitting beside his wife. They have no writing, using wood as tallies. When they communicate with neighboring states, they have the Hu of those states make Hu writing, using sheep skin as paper. They have no offices. They serve the god of Heaven and the god of fire. Each day they go out the door to sacrifice to the gods and only then eat. They kneel once and stop. For burial they use wood as an outer coffin. When father or mother dies, the son cuts off one ear; after burial he immediately returns to auspiciousness. Their language becomes intelligible only after using interpreters from Henan.

Khabandha, Zhouguke, Humidan, and other states are all small states near Hua. In all the states near Hua, clothing and appearance are the same as Hua. In the first Putong year, envoys came following the Hua envoys to offer local products.

In Baiti, the king's surname is Zhi and his personal name is Shijiyi. His ancestors were probably Hu of a separate Xiongnu stock. When Guan Ying of Han fought the Xiongnu, he beheaded one Baiti cavalryman; this is that people. The state lies east of Hua, six days' journey from Hua, and westward reaches Persia. The land produces millet, wheat, melons, and fruits; food is roughly the same as in Hua. In the third Putong year it sent envoys offering local products.

Kucha is an old state of the Western Regions. Since Jin crossed the Jiang it had not communicated; in the second Putong year of Liang, King Nirui Mozhuna Sheng sent envoys with a memorial and tribute.

Khotan is an old state of the Western Regions. In the ninth Tianjian year of Liang, it first communicated with Jiangzuo and sent envoys offering local products. In the thirteenth year it again offered Boluopo screens. In the eighteenth year it offered glass jars. In the seventh Datong year it again offered a foreign carved jade Buddha.

Khabandha is a small state west of Khotan. To the west it neighbors Hua, to the south it connects with Jibin, and to the north it joins Shale. Its capital is in a mountain valley, with walls more than ten li around. The state has twelve cities. Its customs resemble Khotan. They wear old cotton cloth, long-bodied small-sleeved robes, and narrow-mouthed trousers. The land is suitable for wheat, on which they rely for food. It has many cattle, horses, camels, sheep, and other animals. It produces good felt. The king's surname is Gesha. In the first Zhongdatong year of Liang, it first communicated with Jiangzuo and sent offerings of local products.

The state of Mo is the Qiemo state of Han times. It has more than ten thousand households of fighting men. To the north it connects with Dingling, to the east with Baiti, and to the west with Persia. The local people cut their hair, wear felt caps and small-sleeved clothing; when they make shirts, they open the neck and sew the front. They have many cattle, sheep, mules, and donkeys. Its king Anmo Shenpan first communicated with Jiangzuo in the fifth Putong year of Liang and sent envoys with tribute.

The state of Persia: among its ancestors there was a king named Bosini. His descendants used the ancestral king's personal name as their clan name, and therefore it became the state's name. The state has a city thirty-two li around, with walls four zhang high, all with towers and viewing halls. Inside the city are several hundred or thousand buildings; outside the city are two or three hundred Buddhist monasteries. Fifteen li west of the city is an earth mountain; the mountain is not exceedingly high, but its form extends very far. There are vultures in it that eat sheep, and the local people consider them a severe trouble. In the state there is the udumbara flower, fresh and lovely. It produces dragon-colt horses. Coral trees grow in the salt pond, one or two chi long. There are also amber, agate, pearls, and rose-colored stones, but inside the state these are not considered precious. Market purchase uses gold and silver. In marriage law, after betrothal goods have been sent, the son-in-law leads several tens of people to receive the wife. He wears a gold-thread brocade robe, lion-brocade trousers, and a heavenly crown. The wife dresses the same. The wife's brothers then come, take her hand, and hand her over. The rites of husband and wife are thereby permanently completed. The state borders Hua on the east, the Brahman state on the west and south, and Fanli on the north. In the second Zhongdatong year of Liang, it first communicated with Jiangzuo and sent envoys offering a Buddha tooth.

The kinds of the northern Di are truly numerous, and Rouran is one tribe. It is probably a separate stock of the Xiongnu. Since Wei moved south, Rouran took possession of their old land. They have no cities or walls, follow water and pasture with their herds, and live in domed tents. They braid their hair and wear brocade, small-sleeved robes, narrow-mouthed trousers, and deep boots. Their land is bitterly cold; in the seventh month floating ice stretches across the rivers.

In Song's Shengming period, Wang Hongfan was sent as envoy to them to draw them into a joint plan against Wei. In the third Jianyuan year of Qi, Hongfan first arrived. That year communications passed, and they sought to join strength to attack Wei. Their chief minister Xingjizhiluo submitted a memorial saying: "Jing Fang's prophecy says, 'When maojin ends, caoshu will respond and become king.' Looking through diagrams and apocrypha, the one to replace Song is Qi." He also offered lion-skin trousers and pleated garments. Later the state was gradually weakened; in the Yongming period it was broken by Dingling, again became a small state, and moved its residence south. In the fourteenth Tianjian year of Liang it sent envoys offering horses and sable furs. In the first Putong year it again sent envoys offering local products. After this it came once every several years. In the seventh Datong year it again offered one horse and one jin of gold.

The state can use arts to sacrifice to Heaven and bring wind and snow. Before them there may be a bright sun, and afterward mud and floodwater flow across the land; therefore when defeated in battle no one can pursue them. Sometimes when they perform this in central China they cannot make rain. Asked the reason, they say it is because of the warmth.

Colophon

This Good Works Translation was made from selected Classical Chinese passages in Nan Shi volume 79, preserved in the local Scythian expansion source base.

The translation is complete for the selected source body printed below. It keeps the compilation's sequence of states and tribute notices, because the value of the passage is in the southern court's arranged horizon from Gaochang and Hua to Persia and Rouran.

Compiled for the New Tianmu Anglican Church, 2026.

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Source Text: Classical Chinese

### 西域諸國

玉門以西達於西海，考之漢史，通為西域，高昌迄于波斯，則其所也。自晉、宋以還，雖有時而至，論其風土，甚未能詳。今略備西域諸國，編之於次云。

#### 高昌國

高昌國，初闞氏為主，其後為河西王沮渠茂虔弟無諱襲破之。其王闞爽奔於蠕蠕。無諱據之稱王，一世而滅于魏。其國人又推曲氏為王，名嘉，魏授為車騎將軍、司空公、都督秦州諸軍事、秦州刺史、金城郡公。在位二十四年卒，國諡曰昭武王。子子堅，子堅嗣位，魏授使持節、驃騎大將軍、散騎常侍、都督瓜州刺史、西平郡公、開府儀同三司、高昌王。

其國蓋車師之故地，南接河南，東近敦煌，西次龜茲，北鄰敕勒。置四十六鎮，交河田地高寧臨川橫截柳婆洿林新興由甯始昌篤進白力等鎮。官有四鎮將軍，及置雜號將軍、長史、司馬、門下校郎、中兵校郎、通事舍人、通事令史、諮議、諫議、校尉、主簿。國人言語與華略同。有五經、歷代史、諸子集。面貌類高麗，辮髪垂之於背。著長身小袖袍、縵襠褲。女子頭髮，辮而不垂，著錦纈纓絡環釧。昏姻有六禮。其地高燥，築土為城，架木為屋，土覆其上。寒暑與益州相似，備植九穀，人多噉面及牛羊肉。出良馬、蒲桃酒、石鹽。多草木，有草實如繭，繭中絲如細纑，名曰白疊子，國人取織以為布。布甚軟白，交市用焉。有朝烏者，旦旦集王殿前，為行列，不畏人，日出然後散去。

梁大同中，子堅遣使獻鳴鹽枕、蒲桃、良馬、氍獀等物。

#### 滑國

滑國者，車師之別種也。漢永建元年，八滑從班勇擊北虜有功，勇上八滑為後部親漢侯。自魏、晉以來，不通中國。至梁天監十五年，其王厭帶夷栗陀始遣使獻方物。普通元年，遣使獻黃師子、白貂裘、波斯錦等物。七年，又奉表貢獻。

魏之居代都，滑猶為小國，屬蠕蠕。後稍強大，征其旁國波斯、渴盤陀、罽賓、焉耆、龜茲、疏勒、姑墨、于闐、句般等國，開地千餘里。土地溫暖，多山川，少樹木，有五穀。國人以面及羊肉為糧。其獸有師子、兩腳駱駝，野驢有角。人皆善騎射，著小袖長身袍，用金玉為帶。女人被裘，頭上刻木為角，長六尺，以金銀飾之。少女子，兄弟共妻。無城郭，氈屋為居，東向開戶。其王坐金床，隨太歲轉，與妻並坐接客。無文字，以木為契。與旁國通，則使旁國胡為胡書，羊皮為紙。無職官。事天神、火神，每日則出戶祀神而後食。其跪一拜而止。葬以木為槨。父母死，其子截一耳，葬訖即吉。其言語待河南人譯然後通。

呵跋檀、周古柯、胡密丹等國，並滑旁小國也。凡滑旁之國，衣服容貌皆與滑同。普通元年，使使隨滑使來貢獻方物。

#### 白題國

白題國王姓支名史稽毅，其先蓋匈奴之別種胡也。漢灌嬰與匈奴戰，斬白題騎一人是也。在滑國東，去滑六日行，西極波斯。土地出粟、麥、瓜果，食物略與滑同。普通三年，遣使獻方物。

#### 龜茲國

龜茲者，西域之舊國也。自晉度江不通，至梁普通二年，王尼瑞摩珠那勝遣使奉表貢獻。

#### 于闐國

于闐者，西域之舊國也。梁天監九年，始通江左，遣使獻方物。十三年，又獻波羅婆步鄣。十八年，又獻琉璃罌。大同七年，又獻外國刻玉佛。

#### 渴盤陀國

渴盤陀國，于闐西小國也。西鄰滑國，南接罽賓國，北連沙勒。國都在山谷中，城周回十餘里。國有十二城，風俗與于闐相類。衣古貝布，著長身小袖袍、小口褲。地宜小麥，資以為糧。多牛馬駱駝羊等。出好氈。王姓葛沙氏，梁中大同元年，始通江左，遣獻方物。

#### 末國

末國，漢世且末國也。勝兵萬餘戶。北與丁零、東與白題、西與波斯接。土人剪發，著氊帽、小袖衣，為衫則開頸而縫前。多牛羊騾驢。其王安末深盤，梁普通五年，始通江左，遣使來貢獻。

#### 波斯國

波斯國，其先有波斯匿王者，子孫以王父字為氏，因為國號。國有城周回三十二里，城高四丈，皆有樓觀。城內屋宇數百千間，城外佛寺二三百所。西去城十五里有土山，山非過高，其勢連接甚遠。中有鷲鳥噉羊，土人極以為患。國中有優缽曇花，鮮華可愛。出龍駒馬。咸池生珊瑚樹，長一二尺。亦有武魄、馬腦、真珠、玫瑰等，國內不以為珍。市買用金銀。昏姻法，下娉財訖，女婿將數十人迎婦。婿著金線錦袍、師子錦褲，戴天冠。婦亦如之。婦兄弟便來捉手付度，夫婦之禮，于茲永畢。國東與滑國、西及南俱與娑羅門國、北與泛栗國接。梁中大通二年，始通江左，遣使獻佛牙。

### 蠕蠕

北狄種類實繁，蠕蠕為族，蓋匈奴之別種也。魏自南遷，因擅其故地。無城郭，隨水草畜牧，以穹廬居。辮髪，衣錦小袖袍、小口褲、深雍韡。其地苦寒，七月流澌亙河。

宋升明中，遣王洪範使焉，引之共謀魏。齊建元三年，洪範始至。是歲通使，求並力攻魏。其相國刑基只羅回表，言：「京房讖云：'卯金卒，草肅應王。'曆觀圖緯，代宋者齊。」又獻師子皮褲褶。其國後稍侵弱，永明中，為丁零所破，更為小國而南移其居。梁天監十四年，遣使獻馬、貂裘。普通元年，又遣使獻方物。是後數歲一至焉。大同七年，又獻馬一匹，金一斤。

其國能以術祭天而致風雪，前對皎日，後則泥潦橫流，故其戰敗莫能追及。或於中夏為之，則不能雨，問其故，蓋以暖云。

Source Colophon

The Classical Chinese source body was extracted from the local source-text page Good Works Library Ready/Scythian/Expansion Bench 2026-05-11/Nan Shi -- Western Regions and Rouran -- Classical Chinese Source Text.md and copied for this translation pass at Tulku/Tools/scythian/sources/expansion_bench_2026-05-11/nanshi_western_regions_rouran_chinese_source_manual103.txt.

The local source page identifies its inspection route as Wikisource raw text for Nan Shi, volume 79.

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