The Influence of Tang Dynasty’s Policies on Sogdian Commercial Networks

Research Article
Open access

The Influence of Tang Dynasty’s Policies on Sogdian Commercial Networks

Yutao Mao 1*
  • 1 College of Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, 30332, United States of America    
  • *corresponding author ymao307@gatech.edu
CHR Vol.4
ISSN (Print): 2753-7072
ISSN (Online): 2753-7064
ISBN (Print): 978-1-915371-31-7
ISBN (Online): 978-1-915371-32-4

Abstract

Sogdian merchants played an essential role in the commercial and cultural activities between the Tang dynasty and other states in the west of Tang, along the Silk Road. Based on the conditions for the Tarim region to be able to perform a role in the commercial transfer station and the well-established advanced monetary and postal system, the article discusses how the Tang court's policies influenced the Sogdian commercial system that the influence was mainly in three aspects: i) Tang court intentionally introduced Sogdian merchants and helped Sogdian merchants to spread; ii) The household registration of Sogdian merchants and endorsement by Tang court offered Sogdian merchants significant opportunities to earn profits from trading with Tang court when Sogdian merchants monopolized the trade between Tang dynasty and western states; iii) The fusion of Sogdian people into Han people and Sogdian people's entrance into the political system of Tang court enhanced the Sogdian merchant's commercial networks. Finally, the article concludes: The deep fusion of ethnic groups of Han people and Sogdian people was the promoter of the prosperity of the Tang dynasty, and it again made the Sogdian commercial network thrive.

Keywords:

Sogdians, Silk Road, Tang, commercial network, household registration, sabao, ethnic fusion, Ancient Letters, Tarim region

Mao,Y. (2023). The Influence of Tang Dynasty’s Policies on Sogdian Commercial Networks. Communications in Humanities Research,4,614-620.
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References

[1]. Chin, T. (2013) The invention of the Silk Road, 1877. Critical Inquiry, 40 no.2: 194-219.

[2]. Gu, B. (1964) Hanshu. Zhonghua Book Company, Beijing.

[3]. Gu, B. (1964) Hanshu. Zhonghua Book Company, Beijing, chap.66.

[4]. de La Vaissière, É. (2005) In China. In: Denis, S., Nicola D.C. (Eds), Sogdian traders: a history. Brill Academic Publishers, Leiden. pp. 119-155.

[5]. de La Vaissière, É. (2005) About the Ancient Letters. In: Denis, S., Nicola D.C. (Eds), Sogdian traders: a history. Brill Academic Publishers, Leiden. pp. 43-68.

[6]. de La Vaissière, É. (2005) In China. In: Denis, S., Nicola D.C. (Eds), Sogdian traders: a history. Brill Academic Publishers, Leiden. pp. 119-155.

[7]. Rong, X. (2001) Medieval China and Foreign Civilization. Joint Publishing, Beijing.

[8]. Rong, X. (2001) Migrations and settlements of the Sogdians. In: Xiaolin, S., Yinong, Xu. (Eds), Medieval China and Foreign Civilization. Joint Publishing, Beijing. pp. 17-169.

[9]. de La Vaissière, É. (2014) Trans-Asian trade, or the Silk Road deconstructed (antiquity, middle ages). The Cambridge History of Capitalism, no.1: 101-124.

[10]. de La Vaissière, É. (2005) Structures. In: Denis, S., Nicola D.C. (Eds), Sogdian traders: a history. Brill Academic Publishers, Leiden. pp. 159-190.

[11]. de La Vaissière, É. (2005) In China. In: Denis, S., Nicola D.C. (Eds), Sogdian traders: a history. Brill Academic Publishers, Leiden. pp. 119-155.

[12]. Xuanling, F. (1975) Jinshu. Zhonghua Book Company, Beijing, chap. 26

[13]. de La Vaissière, É. (2005) In China. In: Denis, S., Nicola D.C. (Eds), Sogdian traders: a history. Brill Academic Publishers, Leiden. pp. 119-155.

[14]. de La Vaissière, É. (2005) Sogdiana, a Major Center of Trade. In: Denis, S., Nicola D.C. (Eds), Sogdian traders: a history. Brill Academic Publishers, Leiden. pp. 97-114.

[15]. The Sogdian Ancient Letters, trans. Nicholas Sims-Williams, 2004.

[16]. Rong, X. (2001) Migrations and settlements of the Sogdians. In: Xiaolin, S., Yinong, Xu. (Eds), Medieval China and Foreign Civilization. Joint Publishing, Beijing. pp. 17-169.

[17]. Rong, X. (2001) Migrations and settlements of the Sogdians. In: Xiaolin, S., Yinong, Xu. (Eds), Medieval China and Foreign Civilization. Joint Publishing, Beijing. pp. 17-169.

[18]. Liu, X. (1975) Jiu Tangshu. Zhonghua Book Company, Beijing. chap.190.

[19]. Ouyang, X. (1975) Xin Tangshu. Zhonghua Book Company, Beijing. chap.55

[20]. de La Vaissière, É. (2005) In China. In: Denis, S., Nicola D.C. (Eds), Sogdian traders: a history. Brill Academic Publishers, Leiden. pp. 119-155.

[21]. Rong, X. (2001) Migrations and settlements of the Sogdians. In: Xiaolin, S., Yinong, Xu. (Eds), Medieval China and Foreign Civilization. Joint Publishing, Beijing. pp. 17-169.

[22]. Rong, X. (2001) Migrations and settlements of the Sogdians. In: Xiaolin, S., Yinong, Xu. (Eds), Medieval China and Foreign Civilization. Joint Publishing, Beijing. pp. 17-169.

[23]. de La Vaissière, É. (2005) In China. In: Denis, S., Nicola D.C. (Eds), Sogdian traders: a history. Brill Academic Publishers, Leiden. pp. 119-155.

[24]. de La Vaissière, É., Trombert, É. (2004) Des Chinois et des Hu. Migrations et intégration des Iraniens orientaux en milieu chinois durant le haut Moyen Âge. Annales. Histoire, sciences sociales, Vol. 59. No. 5-6: 929-969.

[25]. Du, Y. (2016) Tongdian. Zhonghua Book Company,Beijing. chap.191,

[26]. de La Vaissière, É., Trombert, É. (2004) Des Chinois et des Hu. Migrations et intégration des Iraniens orientaux en milieu chinois durant le haut Moyen Âge. Annales. Histoire, sciences sociales, Vol. 59. No. 5-6: 929-969.

[27]. de La Vaissière, É. (2005) In China. In: Denis, S., Nicola D.C. (Eds), Sogdian traders: a history. Brill Academic Publishers, Leiden. pp. 119-155.

[28]. de La Vaissière, É. (2005) In China. In: Denis, S., Nicola D.C. (Eds), Sogdian traders: a history. Brill Academic Publishers, Leiden. pp. 119-155.

[29]. de La Vaissière, É. (2005) In China. In: Denis, S., Nicola D.C. (Eds), Sogdian traders: a history. Brill Academic Publishers, Leiden. pp. 119-155.

[30]. de La Vaissière, É. (2005) In China. In: Denis, S., Nicola D.C. (Eds), Sogdian traders: a history. Brill Academic Publishers, Leiden. pp. 119-155.

[31]. de La Vaissière, É. (2005) In China. In: Denis, S., Nicola D.C. (Eds), Sogdian traders: a history. Brill Academic Publishers, Leiden. pp. 119-155.

[32]. de La Vaissière, É. (2005) The Sogdians in the Islamic World. In: Denis, S., Nicola D.C. (Eds), Sogdian traders: a history. Brill Academic Publishers, Leiden. pp. 263-326.

[33]. de La Vaissière, É. (2014) Trans-Asian trade, or the Silk Road deconstructed (antiquity, Middle Ages). The Cambridge History of Capitalism, no.1: 101-124

[34]. de La Vaissière, É. (2005) Structures. In: Denis, S., Nicola D.C. (Eds), Sogdian traders: a history. Brill Academic Publishers, Leiden. pp. 159-190.

[35]. de La Vaissière, É. (2005) Structures. In: Denis, S., Nicola D.C. (Eds), Sogdian traders: a history. Brill Academic Publishers, Leiden. pp. 159-190.

[36]. Yutaka Yoshida, (2021) The Sogdian Merchant Network. https://oxfordre.com/asianhistory/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780190277727.001.0001/acrefore-9780190277727-e-491

[37]. de La Vaissière, É. (2005) The Sogdians in the Islamic World. In: Denis, S., Nicola D.C. (Eds), Sogdian traders: a history. Brill Academic Publishers, Leiden. pp. 263-326.

[38]. Sogdian Ancient Letters, trans. Nicholas Sims-Williams, 2004

[39]. de La Vaissière, Sogdian traders, 150

[40]. Rong, X. (2001) Migrations and settlements of the Sogdians. In: Xiaolin, S., Yinong, Xu. (Eds), Medieval China and Foreign Civilization. Joint Publishing, Beijing. pp. 17-169.

[41]. Du, Y. (2016) Tongdian. Zhonghua Book Company, Beijing. chap.39

[42]. de La Vaissière, É. (2005) In China. In: Denis, S., Nicola D.C. (Eds), Sogdian traders: a history. Brill Academic Publishers, Leiden. pp. 119-155.

[43]. Ouyang, X. (1975) Xin Tangshu. Zhonghua Book Company, Beijing. chap.161

[44]. de La Vaissière, Sogdian traders, 149

[45]. Ouyang, X. (1975) Xin Tangshu. Zhonghua Book Company, Beijing. chap.232

[46]. Sima, G. (2011) Zizhitongjian. Zhonghua Book Company, Beijing. chap.232

[47]. de La Vaissière, É. (2005) In China. In: Denis, S., Nicola D.C. (Eds), Sogdian traders: a history. Brill Academic Publishers, Leiden. pp. 119-155.

Cite this article

Mao,Y. (2023). The Influence of Tang Dynasty’s Policies on Sogdian Commercial Networks. Communications in Humanities Research,4,614-620.

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Volume title: Proceedings of the International Conference on Interdisciplinary Humanities and Communication Studies (ICIHCS 2022), Part 2

ISBN：978-1-915371-31-7(Print) / 978-1-915371-32-4(Online)
Editor：Faraz Ali Bughio, David T. Mitchell
Conference website: https://www.icihcs.org/
Conference date: 18 December 2022
Series: Communications in Humanities Research
Volume number: Vol.4
ISSN：2753-7064(Print) / 2753-7072(Online)

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References

[1]. Chin, T. (2013) The invention of the Silk Road, 1877. Critical Inquiry, 40 no.2: 194-219.

[2]. Gu, B. (1964) Hanshu. Zhonghua Book Company, Beijing.

[3]. Gu, B. (1964) Hanshu. Zhonghua Book Company, Beijing, chap.66.

[4]. de La Vaissière, É. (2005) In China. In: Denis, S., Nicola D.C. (Eds), Sogdian traders: a history. Brill Academic Publishers, Leiden. pp. 119-155.

[5]. de La Vaissière, É. (2005) About the Ancient Letters. In: Denis, S., Nicola D.C. (Eds), Sogdian traders: a history. Brill Academic Publishers, Leiden. pp. 43-68.

[6]. de La Vaissière, É. (2005) In China. In: Denis, S., Nicola D.C. (Eds), Sogdian traders: a history. Brill Academic Publishers, Leiden. pp. 119-155.

[7]. Rong, X. (2001) Medieval China and Foreign Civilization. Joint Publishing, Beijing.

[8]. Rong, X. (2001) Migrations and settlements of the Sogdians. In: Xiaolin, S., Yinong, Xu. (Eds), Medieval China and Foreign Civilization. Joint Publishing, Beijing. pp. 17-169.

[9]. de La Vaissière, É. (2014) Trans-Asian trade, or the Silk Road deconstructed (antiquity, middle ages). The Cambridge History of Capitalism, no.1: 101-124.

[10]. de La Vaissière, É. (2005) Structures. In: Denis, S., Nicola D.C. (Eds), Sogdian traders: a history. Brill Academic Publishers, Leiden. pp. 159-190.

[11]. de La Vaissière, É. (2005) In China. In: Denis, S., Nicola D.C. (Eds), Sogdian traders: a history. Brill Academic Publishers, Leiden. pp. 119-155.

[12]. Xuanling, F. (1975) Jinshu. Zhonghua Book Company, Beijing, chap. 26

[13]. de La Vaissière, É. (2005) In China. In: Denis, S., Nicola D.C. (Eds), Sogdian traders: a history. Brill Academic Publishers, Leiden. pp. 119-155.

[14]. de La Vaissière, É. (2005) Sogdiana, a Major Center of Trade. In: Denis, S., Nicola D.C. (Eds), Sogdian traders: a history. Brill Academic Publishers, Leiden. pp. 97-114.

[15]. The Sogdian Ancient Letters, trans. Nicholas Sims-Williams, 2004.

[16]. Rong, X. (2001) Migrations and settlements of the Sogdians. In: Xiaolin, S., Yinong, Xu. (Eds), Medieval China and Foreign Civilization. Joint Publishing, Beijing. pp. 17-169.

[17]. Rong, X. (2001) Migrations and settlements of the Sogdians. In: Xiaolin, S., Yinong, Xu. (Eds), Medieval China and Foreign Civilization. Joint Publishing, Beijing. pp. 17-169.

[18]. Liu, X. (1975) Jiu Tangshu. Zhonghua Book Company, Beijing. chap.190.

[19]. Ouyang, X. (1975) Xin Tangshu. Zhonghua Book Company, Beijing. chap.55

[20]. de La Vaissière, É. (2005) In China. In: Denis, S., Nicola D.C. (Eds), Sogdian traders: a history. Brill Academic Publishers, Leiden. pp. 119-155.

[21]. Rong, X. (2001) Migrations and settlements of the Sogdians. In: Xiaolin, S., Yinong, Xu. (Eds), Medieval China and Foreign Civilization. Joint Publishing, Beijing. pp. 17-169.

[22]. Rong, X. (2001) Migrations and settlements of the Sogdians. In: Xiaolin, S., Yinong, Xu. (Eds), Medieval China and Foreign Civilization. Joint Publishing, Beijing. pp. 17-169.

[23]. de La Vaissière, É. (2005) In China. In: Denis, S., Nicola D.C. (Eds), Sogdian traders: a history. Brill Academic Publishers, Leiden. pp. 119-155.

[24]. de La Vaissière, É., Trombert, É. (2004) Des Chinois et des Hu. Migrations et intégration des Iraniens orientaux en milieu chinois durant le haut Moyen Âge. Annales. Histoire, sciences sociales, Vol. 59. No. 5-6: 929-969.

[25]. Du, Y. (2016) Tongdian. Zhonghua Book Company,Beijing. chap.191,

[26]. de La Vaissière, É., Trombert, É. (2004) Des Chinois et des Hu. Migrations et intégration des Iraniens orientaux en milieu chinois durant le haut Moyen Âge. Annales. Histoire, sciences sociales, Vol. 59. No. 5-6: 929-969.

[27]. de La Vaissière, É. (2005) In China. In: Denis, S., Nicola D.C. (Eds), Sogdian traders: a history. Brill Academic Publishers, Leiden. pp. 119-155.

[28]. de La Vaissière, É. (2005) In China. In: Denis, S., Nicola D.C. (Eds), Sogdian traders: a history. Brill Academic Publishers, Leiden. pp. 119-155.

[29]. de La Vaissière, É. (2005) In China. In: Denis, S., Nicola D.C. (Eds), Sogdian traders: a history. Brill Academic Publishers, Leiden. pp. 119-155.

[30]. de La Vaissière, É. (2005) In China. In: Denis, S., Nicola D.C. (Eds), Sogdian traders: a history. Brill Academic Publishers, Leiden. pp. 119-155.

[31]. de La Vaissière, É. (2005) In China. In: Denis, S., Nicola D.C. (Eds), Sogdian traders: a history. Brill Academic Publishers, Leiden. pp. 119-155.

[32]. de La Vaissière, É. (2005) The Sogdians in the Islamic World. In: Denis, S., Nicola D.C. (Eds), Sogdian traders: a history. Brill Academic Publishers, Leiden. pp. 263-326.

[33]. de La Vaissière, É. (2014) Trans-Asian trade, or the Silk Road deconstructed (antiquity, Middle Ages). The Cambridge History of Capitalism, no.1: 101-124

[34]. de La Vaissière, É. (2005) Structures. In: Denis, S., Nicola D.C. (Eds), Sogdian traders: a history. Brill Academic Publishers, Leiden. pp. 159-190.

[35]. de La Vaissière, É. (2005) Structures. In: Denis, S., Nicola D.C. (Eds), Sogdian traders: a history. Brill Academic Publishers, Leiden. pp. 159-190.

[36]. Yutaka Yoshida, (2021) The Sogdian Merchant Network. https://oxfordre.com/asianhistory/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780190277727.001.0001/acrefore-9780190277727-e-491

[37]. de La Vaissière, É. (2005) The Sogdians in the Islamic World. In: Denis, S., Nicola D.C. (Eds), Sogdian traders: a history. Brill Academic Publishers, Leiden. pp. 263-326.

[38]. Sogdian Ancient Letters, trans. Nicholas Sims-Williams, 2004

[39]. de La Vaissière, Sogdian traders, 150

[40]. Rong, X. (2001) Migrations and settlements of the Sogdians. In: Xiaolin, S., Yinong, Xu. (Eds), Medieval China and Foreign Civilization. Joint Publishing, Beijing. pp. 17-169.

[41]. Du, Y. (2016) Tongdian. Zhonghua Book Company, Beijing. chap.39

[42]. de La Vaissière, É. (2005) In China. In: Denis, S., Nicola D.C. (Eds), Sogdian traders: a history. Brill Academic Publishers, Leiden. pp. 119-155.

[43]. Ouyang, X. (1975) Xin Tangshu. Zhonghua Book Company, Beijing. chap.161

[44]. de La Vaissière, Sogdian traders, 149

[45]. Ouyang, X. (1975) Xin Tangshu. Zhonghua Book Company, Beijing. chap.232

[46]. Sima, G. (2011) Zizhitongjian. Zhonghua Book Company, Beijing. chap.232

[47]. de La Vaissière, É. (2005) In China. In: Denis, S., Nicola D.C. (Eds), Sogdian traders: a history. Brill Academic Publishers, Leiden. pp. 119-155.

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