About the Book
In the seventh century the kingdom of Samarkand sent formal gifts of fancy yellow peaches, large as goose eggs and with a color like gold, to the Chinese court at Ch'ang-an. What kind of fruit these golden peaches really were cannot now be guessed, but they have the glamour of mystery, and they symbolize all the exotic things longed for, and unknown things hoped for, by the people of the T'ang empire.
This book examines the exotics imported into China during the T'ang Dynasty (A.D. 618-907), and depicts their influence on Chinese life. Into the land during the three centuries of T'ang came the natives of almost every nation of Asia, all bringing exotic wares either as gifts or as goods to be sold. Ivory, rare woods, drugs, diamonds, magicians, dancing girls—the author covers all classes of unusual imports, their places of origin, their lore, their effort on costume, dwellings, diet, and on painting, sculpture, music, and poetry.
This book is not a statistical record of commercial imports and medieval trade, but rather a "humanistic essay, however material its subject matter."
Table of Contents
Introduction
I The Glory of T'ang
Historical Matters-Foreigners in T'ang-Ships and Sea
Routes- Caravans and Land Routes- Foreign
Settlements in T'ang-Treatment of Foreigners-
Tribute- Exotic Taste- Exotic Literature
11 Men 40
War Prisoners- Slaves- Dwarfs- Hostages- Human
Tribute- Musicians and Dancers
III Domestic Animals
Horses- Camels- Cattle- Sheep and Goats -Asses,
Mules, and Onagers- Dogs
IV Wild Animals
Elephants- Rhinoceroses- Lions- Leopards and
Cheetahs- Sables or Ermines- Gazelles or ChamoisDoubtful
Ungulates-A Doubtful Carnivore- Marmots
-Mongooses-A Weasel or Ferret
V Birds
Hawks and Falcons- Peacocks- Parrots- Ostriches Kalaviizkas
VI Furs and Feathers
Deerskins- Horsehides- Sealskins - Skins of Martens
and Their Kin -Leopard Skins-Lion Skins- Other
Skins- Sharkskins- Animal Tails- Feathers- Peacock
Tails-Feather Garments- Insect Ornaments
VII Plants
Preservation and Propagation -Date Palms- PeepulsSaul
Trees- Saffron Crocus-N aga-Flowers- "Buddha's
Land Leaf"- Narcissus- Lotuses- Water Lilies
VIII Woods
Sanderswood- Rosewood- Sandalwood- Ebony
IX Foods
Grapes and Grape Wine-Myrobalans- VegetablesDelicacies-
Seafoods - Condiments- Sugar
X Aromatics
Incense and Braziers - Aloeswood- Lakawood- Elemi
-Camphor-Storax-Gum Guggul and BenzoinFrankincense-
Myrrh- Cloves- Putchuk- Patchouli
-Jasmine Oil- Rose Water- Ambergris- Onycha
XI Drugs
Pharmacology- Citragandha- Theriaca- Cardamoms
-Nutmeg- Turmeric and Zedoary- Tacamahac-
Manna- Balm of Gilead-- Galbanum- Asafetida-
Castor Beans- Purging Cassia- Seaweeds- Ginseng-
Assorted Herbs- Bezoar- Olnul- Python Bile-
White Wax- Human Hair- Blue Vitriol
XII Textiles
A Suit of Gold- Woolens-Rugs-Asbestos-FeltLinen-
V arT,Jaka- Pongee- Bombycine- Polychrome
Silks- Water Sheep and Ice Silkworms- Cotton -
"Sunrise Clouds of Morning"
XIII Pigments
Gibbon's Blood-Lac- Dragon's Blood- SapanMurex
Purple? -Indigo- Bhallataka-Oak Galls
- Gambodge- Flake Blue- Orpiment
XIV Industrial Minerals
Salt- Alum- Sal Ammoniac- Borax- Niter,
Glauber's Salt, and Epsom Salts- Sulphur- Realgar-
Litharge- Soda Ash -Diamonds
XV Jewels
Jade- Crystal- Carnelian- Malachite- Lapis Lazuli
-"Germ of Metal"-Glass-Fire Orbs-Ivory-
Rhinoceros Horn- Fish Tusks- Pearls- Tortoise Shell
-Neptune's Cradle- Coral- Amber-Jet
XVI Metals
Gold- Purple Gold- Silver- Brass- Gold and Silver Coins
XVII Secular Objects
Various Utensils -Lamp-Trees- Armor- Swords and
Spears- Bows and Arrows
XVIII Sacred Objects
Relics- Images
XIX Books
"Exotica"- Bookshops and Libraries- Books of Travel
and Geography- Religious Books- Scientific Books -
Tablatures and Maps
Notes
Bibliography
Glossary A. Names and. Titles
Glossary B. Words
Index
