著者

西本 昌弘

出版者

関西大学東西学術研究所

雑誌

関西大学東西学術研究所紀要 (ISSN:02878151)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.43, pp.1-23, 2010-04-01

---

In the academic circles of ancient Japanese history, the Tokharians, who drifted to the Japanese shores in 654 and 657, were thought to be the Dvaravatians who lived in a region that is now part of Thailand. Some believed that they were from Persia or the Tokhara Islands. However, in Chinese historical documents, including Buddhist texts, Tokhara was only used to refer to the Tokharians in the Western regions and thus, distinguished them from Dvaravati in Thailand and Persia. It is difficult to believe that the ancient Japanese did not know this.The Tokharians lived in the upper and middle valleys of the Amu, a region now part of northern Afghanistan. In the first half of the seventh century, the West Turk ruled Tokhara, and the Ashina royal family lived in the Katsu (near Kundus) and governed it. After 628, an insurrection erupted in West Turk and Islamic movements closed to Tokharistan in around 650. Around this time, the Ashina started to aggressively approach Tang. Tokhara vigorously approached Tang in the 650s.Caravans of Tokharian merchants traveled to Tang with the visit of the Tokharian delegate. The Tokharians who reached the Japanese shores are assumed to be some of them.