DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.36954#0207
Brahmi inscription belongs to the Gupta period, i.e. between the
later years of the fourth century A.D. and the middle of the
sixth (DANI 1983). One may therefore assume that the date of
the Chinese inscription can not be later than the middle of the
sixth century.
There were two dynasties which might be called "Great Wei" in
Chinese history before such a date. The first is the Cao's Wei Dy-
nasty ^ ; A.D. 220—265), during the period of the Three
States. The second is the North Wei Dynasty (386—556 A.D.).
Both dynasties dispatched envoys to countries in the "Western
Regions", and all of these envoys might have taken the route
which passed along the Hunza Riverd It is difficult to ascertain
whether the inscription belongs to the Cao's or the North Wei
from the penmanship alone, because the "kai-shu" calligraphy
together with the minor style of "li-shu" occurred in both of the
Wei dynasties referred to here. However, we may find a solution
to this problem of dating in the place name "Mi-mi".
The name "Mi-mi", which is the transliteration of a country in
the Western Regions, never appeared in any Chinese sources
before the period of the North Wei. Wei shu, ch.4B, Shizu ji
( ^ ^ . di ) records that in the first month of
the initial year of Zheng-ping (A- ; 451 A.D.), "The states of
Fergana, Ji-bin and Mi-mi sent envoys to the court to present
tributes respectively". Bei Shi, ch. 97, Xiyu Zhuan ( db .
) records: "The state of Mi-mi: The seat of the
1 InSanGuoZhi.WeiShu.WenDiJi(H [H] . X ^ &5)
there is an imperial edict in the third year of Huang Chu 222
A.D.). It reads: "Now (the envoys from) the countries of the Western
Regions all gather at Sai ( ^ ; frontier fortress) and ask to become ap-
pendages to Wei. His Majesty sends envoys (to these countries) to placate
them". This proves that the Wei Dynasty of Cao's royal family had al-
ready dispatched envoys to the countries in the Western Regions. In Ming
Di Ji ( ^ ^ ) of the same book we are told that on the date of
Gui-Mao ( ^- ^ ) of December in the third year of Tai-he (A- 4^!
229 A.D.), the King of Great Yue-zhi, Bo-diao, sent envoy(s)to present
tribute and His Majesty conferred upon the King a title of "King of Great
Yue-zhi Intimate with Wei". Bo-diao was a transliteration of the Kushan
Emperor Vasudeva. Since Cao Wei conferred upon him a title, it would
be likely to send one or more envoys to the Kushan court. It is probable
that such an envoy would have passed along the Hunza River.
145
later years of the fourth century A.D. and the middle of the
sixth (DANI 1983). One may therefore assume that the date of
the Chinese inscription can not be later than the middle of the
sixth century.
There were two dynasties which might be called "Great Wei" in
Chinese history before such a date. The first is the Cao's Wei Dy-
nasty ^ ; A.D. 220—265), during the period of the Three
States. The second is the North Wei Dynasty (386—556 A.D.).
Both dynasties dispatched envoys to countries in the "Western
Regions", and all of these envoys might have taken the route
which passed along the Hunza Riverd It is difficult to ascertain
whether the inscription belongs to the Cao's or the North Wei
from the penmanship alone, because the "kai-shu" calligraphy
together with the minor style of "li-shu" occurred in both of the
Wei dynasties referred to here. However, we may find a solution
to this problem of dating in the place name "Mi-mi".
The name "Mi-mi", which is the transliteration of a country in
the Western Regions, never appeared in any Chinese sources
before the period of the North Wei. Wei shu, ch.4B, Shizu ji
( ^ ^ . di ) records that in the first month of
the initial year of Zheng-ping (A- ; 451 A.D.), "The states of
Fergana, Ji-bin and Mi-mi sent envoys to the court to present
tributes respectively". Bei Shi, ch. 97, Xiyu Zhuan ( db .
) records: "The state of Mi-mi: The seat of the
1 InSanGuoZhi.WeiShu.WenDiJi(H [H] . X ^ &5)
there is an imperial edict in the third year of Huang Chu 222
A.D.). It reads: "Now (the envoys from) the countries of the Western
Regions all gather at Sai ( ^ ; frontier fortress) and ask to become ap-
pendages to Wei. His Majesty sends envoys (to these countries) to placate
them". This proves that the Wei Dynasty of Cao's royal family had al-
ready dispatched envoys to the countries in the Western Regions. In Ming
Di Ji ( ^ ^ ) of the same book we are told that on the date of
Gui-Mao ( ^- ^ ) of December in the third year of Tai-he (A- 4^!
229 A.D.), the King of Great Yue-zhi, Bo-diao, sent envoy(s)to present
tribute and His Majesty conferred upon the King a title of "King of Great
Yue-zhi Intimate with Wei". Bo-diao was a transliteration of the Kushan
Emperor Vasudeva. Since Cao Wei conferred upon him a title, it would
be likely to send one or more envoys to the Kushan court. It is probable
that such an envoy would have passed along the Hunza River.
145