关于中国古代“海上丝绸之路”最早始发港研究述评

A Review on Researches in Earliest Departure Harbor of Silk Road on Sea in Ancient China

通过广东近年有关中国古代海上丝绸之路始发港的研究,得出比较一致的意见是:①番禺(广州)虽是岭南有名的大都会,但并非最早始发港;②中国西汉对外海上贸易和交通中心在北部湾,故其沿海地区的合浦、徐闻和日南(今越南境内)成为海丝路的最早始发港;至吴晋以后海上贸易中心始转移到番禺;③合浦与徐闻同为始发港,但合浦的自然条件更为优越,其地位比徐闻更为重要,汉时也比徐闻繁荣。

This paper provides a review on the researches in the earliest departure harbor of the Silk Road on Sea in ancient China, and concludes three opinions of consensus: (1)Though Pan-yu(Guangzhou) is a famous city in South China, it was not the earliest departure harbor of the Silk Road on Sea in ancient China. (2)Before being moved to Pan-Yu City in Wu-Jun dynasty, the center for traffic and overseas trade is always in Beibu Gulf in western Han dynasty, so the coastal cities in Beibu Gulf, like He-Pu City ,Xu-Wen City and Ri-Nan City (in Viet Nam today), were the earliest departure harbors of the Silk Road on Sea in ancient China. (3)Though being the same earliest departure harbor as Xu-Wen City, He-Pu City was superior to Xu-Wen City in geographic position and natural conditions, and being more prosperous in Han dynasty.