The Marvels of Cathay:Facts and Fiction in Odoric of Pordenone's (c.1286-1331) Relatio on Fourt

• 作 者: 陳潤成
• 出 处: 2012年中国世界古代史国际学术讨论会
• 发表日期: 2012年11期

　　With reference to his travel-narrative, the Relatio, this paper discusses Odoric of Pordenones record of his visit to China between 1324 and 1327.Starting his journey to the East in 1318 from Padua, the Franciscan friar went through Central Asia, Western India, Sumatra and reached Censcalan (Guangzhou) in 1324.He then traveled to Cansay (Hangzhou) and Iamzai (Yangzhou), and continued his trip to Cambalech (Beijing) by way of the Grand Canal.After staying in China for about three years, Odoric returned to Venice by the land route through Yunnan, Tibet and Persia.Zhang Xinglang 張星烺 (1881-1951) hailed him as one of the four great Western travelers of the medieval period.Henry Yule (1820-1889) praised him as a genuine and original traveler.In his travelog, he vividly described the marvels of Cathay.Among other things, Odoric was the first European traveler who gave descriptions of fishing with trained cormorants and foot-binding in China.But he also included fabulous stories such as the land of the Pygmies.Based primarily on Henry Yules English translation and Henri Cordiers edition of the Relatio, the paper purports to reconstruct Odorics itinerary in China, and verify his travel accounts, separating facts from fiction.Despite the inaccuracies, it remains a valuable source for the study of medieval Sino-Western relations and early Western missionary activities in China.