In 139 BC, Zhang Qian was ordered by Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, with Father Gan as a guide, to lead more than a hundred people on a mission to the Western Regions, opening up the north-south road from the Han Dynasty to the Western Regions, that is, the famous Silk Road in later generations.
As a pioneer of the Silk Road, Zhang Qian was hailed by later generations as a great diplomat and explorer, and was "the first Chinese who opened his eyes to see the world" and "Columbus of the East". He spread the Civilization of the Central Plains to the Western Regions, and introduced species such as sweat and blood horses, grapes, alfalfa, pomegranates, and flax to the Central Plains from the countries of the Western Regions, promoting the exchange of civilizations between the East and the West.
There were many reasons why Zhang Qian had sent an envoy to the Western Regions in the first place.
There were the political intentions of Emperor Wu of Han to frighten the four sides, and there was also the military intention of "cutting off the right arm of the Xiongnu and isolating the Southern Qiang and Yue clans". Other than that, you know? Emperor Wu of Han sent Zhang Qian on a mission to the Western Regions, and he also wanted to ask for immortals and ask for medicine, and wanted to live forever.
Eternal life is the yearning of countless people, especially the emperor who has the wealth and power of the world, but also wants to live forever, wants to be immortal, and wants to live forever.
Even emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty was no exception.
What's more, Emperor Wudi of the Han Dynasty was born in an era when immortal beliefs were pervasive.
Qin Shi Huang sent Xu Fu with three thousand boys and girls to go overseas to find the Immortal Mountain, to find the Immortal Medicine, and to seek immortality. The huang laozhi that was popular in the early years of the Han Dynasty also had a great connection with the immortal theory, "Huang Lao started from Qi, and the theory of immortals and Huang Laotong." "During the Han Jing Emperor period, the study of Huang Laozhi became a compulsory course for the children of the royal family, and Empress Dou and others highly respected the study of Huang Laozhi.
At that time, Emperor Wudi of the Han Dynasty was in his early years and was deeply influenced by Huang Laozhi's learning.
Therefore, after he grew up and ascended to the throne, he also longed for immortality. His desire for eternal life is not only in his heart, but also in many of his political initiatives. For example, Emperor Wu sealed Zen.
When he had power, he began to use the power in his hands to seek the elixir of immortality, and set his sights on the famous mountains recorded in the ancient books.
Before the Western Regions were understood, the world's impression of the Western Regions was limited to ancient books, such as the Classic of Mountains and Seas, the Yu Benji, and the Yi. And "Huainanzi" even depicts the Kunlun Mountains in the western region as the center of the universe, "the central pole, from kunlun to the east of the two Heng Mountains, the sun and the moon, the Jianghan out." ”
Therefore, Emperor Wu of Han asked Zhang Qian to go to the Western Regions, and he also had his own considerations, and wanted him to go to the Western Regions to see if the Kunlun Mountains were inhabited by immortals and whether there was a medicine for immortality.