Travels to the West of Qiu Chang Chun

The Changchun Zhenren Xiyou ji (Chinese长春 真人 西游记, Pinyin Changchun Zhenren Xiyou Ji, a record of the journey of the Taoist alchemists Changchun in the West '), not with the buddhist inspired xiyouji (Chinese西游记/西游记, Pinyin Xiyou Ji, records of the journey to the West ') should be confused, is a Chinese travel report, prepared by the Taoists Li Zhichang (Chinese李志常, Pinyin Li Zhichang ) ( 1193-1278 ) from the Daoist Quanzhen School (Chinese全真派, Pinyin Quan Zhen Pai ) was written.

Content

The report describes mainly the journey of his teacher Qiu Chuji and his students, their observations on the way through Central Asia to the Mongol ruler Genghis Khan. In addition, one also learns about the life of Qiu Chuji. It is an important work for the study of the history of the early 13th century: the history of Central Asia, the Mongolian history, the history of Chinese Daoism and the links with the West.

The book consists of two volumes ( juan ), the foreword is written by Sun Xi (Chinese孙 锡/孙 锡), the second band are still an edict of Genghis Khan and other documents appended. In the first volume is recorded that Qiu Chuji had refused invitations Jin ( Tatars in northern China) and the Southern Song Dynasty, he believed that only the Mongolian side possess the heavenly order, so he led 18 of his students in the year 1220 by Shandong rid of. ( A Mongolian delegation sent to him facilitated his trip. )

The trip led by today's Beijing, Xuanhua (宣化; Xuande ), Dalai Nur ( lake ), Hulun Buir, Ulan Bator, Hangayn Nuruu Mountains, the Khobdo region, the Altai, the Dzungaria, Bügür, Tian Shan, Samarkand, the Eisentorpass ( Tiemen Guan ) and other places.

In 1222 they came in the Hindu Kush to the present-day Afghanistan and had an audience with Genghis Khan. The second volume reported Qiu Chuji as he preached three times the Genghis Khan Daoism, then followed him back to Mongolia. Meanwhile, Qiu Chuji tried several times to persuade Genghis Khan to refrain from killing. 1223 Qiu Chuji has given up his office, in 1224 they reached Yanjing (present-day Beijing), where he was head of the Temple Tian Chang guan or " White Cloud Temple ".

This book was for a long time hidden in ancient Daoist book collections until it Qian Daxin guan (玄妙观Xuánmiàoguān ) discovered in the Qianlong era of the Qing dynasty in the temple Xuanmiao in Suzhou, from then until it greater attention has been given. Today, it is equally well known as the famous Chinese travel works Foguo ji (佛 国 记Fóguó ji) of Faxian (法 显) and the. Da Tang Xiyu ji (大唐 西域 记Da Táng Xiyu ji) of Xuan Zang

Translations

Older translations of that work are overtaken by Arthur Waley in The Broadway Travellers collection.

The work is included in the Daoist canon, also in Lianyunyi congshu (连 筠 簃 丛书) by Zhang Mu The geographical studies of Qian Ding (丁 谦) and the comment by Wang Guowei (王国维) are important scientific contributions of Chinese historians to develop of the work.

Chinese Literature

• Qian Ding (丁 谦): Changchun Zhenren Xiyou ji dili kaozheng长春 真人 西游记 地理 考证(Zhejiang Tushuguan congshu浙江 图书馆 丛书)
• Wang Guowei (王国维): Changchun Zhenren Xiyou ji zhu长春 真人 西游记 注( Haining Wang Jing Xiansheng yishu海宁 王静安 先生 遗书)