The King’s Road: Diplomacy and the Remaking of the Silk Road

by Xin Wen

An exciting and richly detailed new history of the Silk Road that tells how it became more important as a route for diplomacy than for trade



The King's Road offers a new interpretation of the history of the Silk Road, emphasizing its importance as a diplomatic route, rather than a commercial one. Tracing the arduous journeys of diplomatic envoys, Xin Wen presents a rich social history of long-distance travel that played out in deserts, post stations, palaces, and polo fields. The book tells the story of the everyday lives of diplomatic travelers on the Silk Road--what they ate and drank, the gifts they carried, and the animals that accompanied them--and how they navigated a complex web of geographic, cultural, and linguistic boundaries. It also describes the risks and dangers envoys faced along the way--from financial catastrophe to robbery and murder.

Using documents unearthed from the famous Dunhuang "library cave" in Western China, The King's Road paints a detailed picture of the intricate network of trans-Eurasian transportation and communication routes that was established between 850 and 1000 CE. By exploring the motivations of the kings who dispatched envoys along the Silk Road and describing the transformative social and economic effects of their journeys, the book reveals the inner workings of an interstate network distinct from the Sino-centric "tributary" system.

In shifting the narrative of the Silk Road from the transport of commodities to the exchange of diplomatic gifts and personnel, The King's Road puts the history of Eastern Eurasia in a new light.

Genres: History, China, Politics, Nonfiction, Travel

408 pages, Paperback

First published January 24, 2023

Reviews

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent account of diplomatic exchange along the Silk Road in the 9th and 10th centuries. Using sources from Dunhuang to illuminate a network that connected Kaifeng to Khotan, the book reveals the importance of diplomatic travel to societies across eastern Eurasia. The author explores the wide range of people who travelled for diplomatic purposes, the goods with which they travelled, their experiences on the road and their interactions with other states, as well as the importance of this exchange for the societies and economies of the region. The book’s rich source base really makes this history come alive, and it’s a very engaging read. I’d highly recommend it to anyone in China and Eurasia.

[Benjamin Bullock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Possibly the best history of the Silk Road I have read. Wen's study is well-researched and makes a convincing argument that the Silk Road—more than just a commercial path—was in fact an important diplomatic route that connected independent East Eurasian states throughout the Tang-Song transition.

[Benjamin Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

The King’s Road turns dusty history into a gripping tale of how friendships between rulers revived the Silk Road. It’s a fresh, lively take on how cooperation—not just trade—shaped our world.