IN THE TRAVEL NOTEBOOK “DOU HUAN’S PLACES OF MEMORY” CENTRAL ASIA

Abstract

This article is about Du Huan and his travel stories. Du Huan’s guidebook lists the places he visited roughly from east to west. The article shows the route of Du Huan, who traveled from the kingdom of Shosh through the Jenju (Norin) river to the state of Kang, then crossed the Amu Darya from Bukhara and reached Marw, also known as Mugo (穆国) on its southern bank (north of modern Mari in Turkmenistan) and gives information about the events he witnessed. This article also details Du Huan's impressions of the famous Battle of the Talas River between the Arabs and the Tang Dynasty. Du Huan also writes information about paper production in the city of Samarkand. Du Huan’s travelogue contains valuable information about Central Asia and reflects the life of cities, the way of living of the population, political, social and economic situation. The article provides explanations of the names of the countries mentioned in Du Huan’s travelogue. Du Huan was a great explorer who visited many places in the western region and traveled to Central Asia, West Asia, the Mediterranean coast and Africa. This is confirmed by his work “Travel”. The article analyzes Du Huan's visit to the capital of the Abbasid state and Egypt, Nubia and Ethiopia, as well as the opinions of residents about his teaching. This article examines Du Huan's return to the Persian Gulf in 762 to visit Sri Lanka, as well as his return to Guangzhou on a merchant ship in 763, and provides some thoughts and conclusions along these lines.