Trade Activities of the Tangut Kingdom during the Second Half of the 12th Century: With Special Reference to Names of Exotic Fruits Encountered in Tangut-Chinese Glossaries

The Tangut-Chinese glossary Fanhan Heshi Zhangzhongzhu was printed in Tangut kingdom (Xi-Xia) during the second half of the 12th century. The author Gu-le Mao-cai compiled this glossary for Tanguts & Chinese who lived in Xi-Xia. This was a handy glossary for practical use in Xi-Xia, so he selected only basic terms & phrases. In this glossary, there are names of exotic fruits longan, lichi, orange & sugarcane. These were produced in southern China. According to the other Tangut glossary, they used these fruits as dessert or medicine in Xi-Xia. Then China had been divided into two countries Jin & Southern Song; Xi-Xia & Southern Song did not adjoin each other. These glossaries prove that many products were imported from Southern Song to Xi-Xia, & that Xi-Xia engaged in trade with China eagerly. Adapted from the source document