Zhang qian biography of abraham

Zhang Qian (Chang Ch’ien)

Zhang Qian was the greatest explorer in ancient China, having made two long journeys in 139 and 115 b.c.e. He was also an important diplomat for the Han emperor Wu.

After suffering a major defeat at the hands of the nomadic Xiongnu (Hsiung-nu), Liu Bang (Liu Pang), founder of the Han dynasty (202 b.c.e.–220 c.e.) decided to appease his formidable northern neighbors by concluding the first of many Heqin (He-ch’in) treaties with them.

The terms included gifts of large quantities of silver, food, and silks to the Xiongnu and the marriage of Han princesses to the Xiongnu rulers. Han agreed to the humiliating terms because the dynasty was new and unstable and because the people were exhausted from previous wars and not ready to undertake new ones.

In 141 b.c.e.

a young man, posthumously known as Han Wudi (Han Wu-ti), or the Martial Emperor, ascended the throne. By this time the empire was stable, had grown materially, and commande