An Examination of the Term"Dashi"in The Modified and Re-approved Code in the Period of Tiansheng in Xixia Dynasty
The Modified and Re-approved Code in the Period of Tiansheng in Xixia Dynasty formulated by the Xixia Dynasty frequently mention the term"Dashi".Scholars have long mistakenly believed this to indicate close relations between Xixia and Ar-ab states."Dashi"was not only the Tang Dynasty's term for the Arab Empire that emerged in West Asia,but also the Northern Song Dynasty's term for the Karakhanid,located near the Pamirs.Historically,the term"Dashi"extended from west to east,with its easternmost reference being the Karakhanid.In Xixia documents,"Dashi"does not refer to Arab states but rather to the Karakha-nid.In the later Xixia period,the Karakhanid was accorded equal status with the Xizhou Uyghurs,and their envoys and merchants were collectively referred to as"guests",enjoying treatment superior to that of other nations.Given Xixia's geographical location and limited resources,it was unlikely to engage in direct diplomatic correspondence or trade with Arab states.Choosing distant Ar-ab states over the closer Karakhanid as trade partners also contradicts the historical reality of Silk Road trade,which relied primari-ly on intermediary trade.Thus,the"Dashi"in The Modified and Re-approved Code in the Period of Tiansheng in Xixia Dynasty specifically refers to the Karakhanid,and there was no direct trade relationship between Xixia and the Arab Empire.Clarifying this issue enhances our understanding of Sino-Western interactions during the Song period.
Xixia DynastyThe Modified and Re-approved Code in the Period of Tiansheng in Xixia DynastyDashiKarakhanid
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