Introduction of the work

Zhu Fan Zhi (诸蕃志): A Description of Barbarian Nations, Records of Foreign People
(13th century) Written by Chau Ju Kua (Zhao Rukuo).
This book is an assemblage of descriptions of countries spanning out of China, which
served as a general reference of information about different cultures, traditions, and products of
countries in South East Asia and around the Indian Ocean in the Song Dynasty period.

Brief introduction of the author

Zhao Rukuo or Chau Ju Kua (1170-1231) was a Chinese trade official and was a member
of the Song imperial family. He once held the position of superintendent of customs at the great
port of Quanzhou in Fijian. There he met Arab, Indian, and other foreign merchants from whom
he gathered his geographic information.
His work not only shows the tremendous volume of trade between China and foreign
countries during the Song Dynasty but also demonstrates the knowledge the Chinese had of
Europe before the Mongol Invasion opened East Asia to European travelers.

Content:
The book is divided into two parts. The first part gives a description of various countries,
it also gives a glimpse of the customs of its local people. On the other hand, the second part
focuses on the available trading goods of the said countries.

Synopsis of volume 1
There were 58 countries and regions mentioned in Volume 1.
The countries documented incorporate places and kingdoms in South East Asia, for
example, Jiaozhi (northern Vietnam), Champa, Zhenla (Cambodia), Langkasuka, Sanfoqi
(Srivijaya), Java, Bagan (Burma), and Mayi (Mindoro, the Philippines). Japan, Korea and
Taiwan in East Asia, and nations in the Indian subcontinent, such as Huchala (Gujarat), Nanpi
(Malabar) and Zhunian (Chola) are likewise referenced. It additionally gives more information
than already accessible in Chinese sources on the Islamic world and their items. The country of
Dashi (the Arabs) is depicted as an extensive realm covering numerous territories with its capital
in Egypt, and included Baida (Baghdad); Wengman (Oman); Majia (Mecca); Jilani (Ghazni) and
others.
The book also listed countries and places in Africa, including are: Wusili (Egypt) and its
city of Egentuo (Alexandria), Bipaluo (Berbera), Zhongli (Somalia), Cengba (Zanzibar),
Binouye (Tunisia and the Tripoli region in Libya), and Tuopandi (Damietta in Egypt). In this
book, he described places such as the famed Lighthouse of Alexandria:
The country of O-kön-t'o (Alexandria) originally belongs to Wu-ssï-li (Egypt). According
to their belief, back then, a stranger named Tsu-ko-ni (Alexander the Great), built a great tower
on the shore, under which the earth was dug out and two rooms were made, well connected and
very well secreted. In one vault was grain, in the other were arms. The tower was two
hundred chang high. Four horses in alignment could ascend to two-thirds of its height. The
center of the tower was well connected with the big river. On the summit, there was a wondrous
great mirror; if war-ships of other countries made a sudden attack, the mirror detected them
beforehand, and the troops were ready in time for duty.
The furthest western state described is Mulanpi (Al-Murabitun) which included southern
Spain. The Mediterranean island of Sicily (Sijialiye) was also mentioned.

Synopsis of volume 2
There were 47 products that are listed and are being used for trading. 22 of those products
came from Africa and Central Asia. The book mostly contains details about the different
qualities and uses of trees, plants and herbs. Zhao introduced the different qualities and uses of
these products of the early 13th century, an example of this is Frankincense (Ruxiang) which
originally comes from Arabia is being used for trade in China. Trees like Ruxiang (xunluxiang)
comes from three Dashi countries of Murbat (Maloba), Shihr (Shihe), and Dhofar (Nufa), the
tree grows from the remote parts of the mountain. The tree that has a drug that can be compared
to a pine tree. The trees barks are mostly manufactured to be used as incense. It is transported by
elephants to the Coast, they then load in into ships to exchange it in for other products in Sanfoqi
(Sanfotsi, China). Because of this, the Ruxiang tree is known as a product of Sanfoqi.