安敦
Chinese
content; calm; still content; calm; still; quiet; to pacify; peace; how | kind-hearted; place name | ||
---|---|---|---|
trad. (安敦) | 安 | 敦 | |
simp. #(安敦) | 安 | 敦 |
Etymology
Unclear.
Generally believed to be a corrupted form of the name of one of the Antonines (Pulleyblank, 1999). According to the Hou Hanshu, in 166 CE an embassy from Rome supposedly arrived in China via what is now modern Vietnam:
- 至桓帝延熹九年,大秦王安敦遣使自日南徼外獻象牙、犀角、玳瑁 [Literary Chinese, trad.]
- From: The Book of the Later Han, circa 5th century CE
- zhì Huándì Yán Xī jiǔ nián, Dàqín wáng Āndūn qiǎnshǐ zì Rìnán jiào wài xiàn xiàngyá, xījiǎo, dàimào [Pinyin]
- In the ninth year of the Yanxi era of Emperor Huan of Han (166 C.E.), the king of Daqin (Rome) Andun sent an embassy from the frontiers of Rinan offering elephant tusks, rhinoceros horns, turtle shells […]
至桓帝延熹九年,大秦王安敦遣使自日南徼外献象牙、犀角、玳瑁 [Literary Chinese, simp.]
The exact identity of this figure is disputed and the details about the embassy reported in the Hou Hanshu are quite controversial. The hypothesis that the name Andun was referred to Antoninus Pius is often rejected by most historians, mainly because he died several years before 166 C.E. (Clements, 2014). Therefore, is generally believed to be one of his successors, most likely Marcus Aurelius (Baxter and Sagart, 2014).
Pronunciation
Proper noun
安敦
- The meaning of this term is uncertain. Possibilities include:
- Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus, Roman emperor (121–180 C.E.)