マルコポーロより400年も前にイブン・フルダーズが書いた書物「諸道路と諸国の書」に日本の事が記されている。それには「シーン(シナ、つまり現在の中国)の東にワーク・ワークの地がある。この地には豊富な黄金があるので、その住民は飼い犬の鎖や猿の首輪を黄金で創り、黄金の糸で縫った衣服を持って来て売るほどである」とある。この手の話が東アジアから中央アジアを経て、中東にまで広まったのであり、フビライの耳に入ってもおかしくない話である。
Translation / English
Ibn Khurdadhbin wrote a book "The Book of Routes and Kingdoms" more than 400 years before Marco Polo; records about Japan are seen in it. The book says as follows. “To the east of China, there is a land of work -work (?). This land produces so much gold that people there make golden chains for their dogs and collars for monkeys. They also sell clothes woven with golden yarn.” These kinds of rumors spread to Middle East through East Asia and Central Asia. It is no doubt and natural that Koublai Khan heard these stories.
- Posted at 21 May 2012 at 18:33
Ibn Khurdadhbin wrote a book "The Book of Routes and Kingdoms" more than 400 years before Marco Polo; records about Japan are seen in it. The book says as follows. “To the east of China, there is a land of work -work (?). This land produces so much gold that people there make golden chains for their dogs and collars for monkeys. They also sell clothes woven with golden yarn.” These kinds of rumors spread to Middle East through East Asia and Central Asia. It is no doubt and natural that Koublai Khan heard these stories.
Translation / English
- Posted at 22 May 2012 at 02:09
Japan is mentioned in "The Book of Many Roads and Various Countries", which was written by Ibn-Khurdadh as early as 400 years before Marco Polo. The book states as follows: "In the east of Shin (currently known as China) lays the land of Wakwak. The land is so rich in gold that its inhabitants use gold to make chains for their dogs and collars for their monkeys, and even sell clothes sewn with golden threads". Such stories spread from East Asia to the Middle East via Central Asia. No wonder Fubirai heard them as well.