Zhang Ruyu 章如愚: Shantang kaosuo

山堂考索 (Book of Exams) (1224)

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The Qunshuo kaosuo 群書考索 "Investigative guide to the numerous books" is a political encyclopedia compiled by Zhang Ruyu 章如愚. The book was finished in 1224 and was 100 juan "scrolls" long, divided into ten fields of study. We do not learn a lot about East Africa here.

 

Taken from: 宋会要辑稿 (Sung hui-yao chi-kao) m.guoxuedashi.com (chapters on Fan=tribute countries)

Taken from: Crossroads, Volume 12

Taken from: Memoirs of the Research Department of the Toyo Bunko (the Oriental Library), Issue 30

 

Note: the same text is found in the Yongle Dadian (1408)


San-Fo-Ch'I (1) the tribute brought by this embassy in the second year of Tianzhu (1018)

Lung-hsien (ambergris), a lump, 36 chin (2)

Chen-chu (pearls), 113 liang (3)

Shan-hu  (coral), one branch, 240 liang.

Hsi-chiao (rhinoceros horns), 8 pieces.

Mei-hua-nao-pan (crystal plates of camphor), 3 pieces.

Mei-hua-nao (crystal of camphor), 200 liang.

Liu-li (lapis lazulis), 39 pieces

Chin-kang-chui (diamond points), 39 pieces.

Mao-erh-yen-ch'ing-chih-huan (cat's eye rings).

Ch'ing-ma-nao-chih-huan (blue agate rings).

Ta-chen-chu-chih-huan (large pearl rings). 13 in all

Wu-no-ch'i (civet), 28 liang.

Fan-pu (foreign cloths), 26 pieces.

Ta-shih-t'ang ; (Dashi sugar), 4 glass bottles.

Ta-shih-tsao (Dashi dates), 16 glass bottles.

Ch'iang-wei-shui (rosewater), 168 chin.

Pin-t'ieh-ch'ang-chien (large swords of Hindu steel), 9 pieces.

Pin-t'ieh-tuan-chien (short swords of Hindu steel), 6 pieces.

Ju-hsiang (frankincense), 81680 chin.

Hsiang-ya (ivory), 87 pieces, 4065 chin.

Su-ho-yu (liquid storax), 278 chin.

Mu-hsiang (putchuck), 117 chin.

Ting-hsiang  (cloves), 30 chin.

Hsiieh-chieh (dragon's blood), 158 chin.

A-wei (asa-foetida), 127 chin.

Jou-tou-k'ou (nutmegs), 2674 chin.

Hu-chiao (pepper), 10750 chin.

T'an-hsiang (sandalwood), 19935 chin.

Chien-hsiang (gharu-wood), 364 chin

 

Note: as the Chinese are receiving here preserved foodstuff from Arabia it might also be that other imports in the shipment come from Arabia e.g. ivory. As to the weight of the tusks it is 47 chin each: rather looks like a collection of African (50 to 70 chin) and Asian (35 chin) tusks.

(1) San-Fo-Ch'I: Sanfotsi also written as Sanfoqi, was a trading polity in Southeast Asia mentioned in Chinese sources.

(2) Chin =jin . Also called catty is 604gr.

(3) Liang; traditional Chinese weight unit, about 37.8 grams, the same as a tael; now 50 grams.