Defeated Persian army takes refuge

By; Frank Wong
August 11, 2000

Abstract: In 651 A.D., the Persian Emperor Yazdgerd III was captured and murdered after the Arab invasion of Iran in what is today's Turkmenistan. His son, Pirooz survived and fled east to China. Here's an account from Chinese historians.

 I read the story of Pirooz written in a formal and ancient aristocratic Chinese language. It was quite tough, but with the help of my Chinese friends and associates I got through it. It was written by Prince Nah-shieh (Narseh), who was the son of Prince Pirooz, who was the son of King Yazdgerd III-- the last Sasanid king of Persia. Narseh was a Chinese general stationed in the Tang Chinese military garrisons in what are today's Afghanistan, Tajikistan and parts of Uzbekistan.

In 751 A.D., the Chinese lost a decisive battle to the Arabs at Talas (now in Uzbekistan), and they retreated from their colonies in Central Asia. All the garrisons shut down, and the armies fled back into China. Many Persians and Sogdians followed the Chinese back into China and abandoned their homes in Central Asia in wake of the Muslim Arabic invasions. Some Sogdians came as widows who then married Chinese soldiers along with their orphaned children.

Narseh recounts in his diary of how his father set foot in China around the 660s A.D. Pirooz was only a little boy when the Arabs beheaded his father. Pirooz, scared and was awaiting the help of Chinese armies. He had written to his sister who was the wife of the Chinese emperor. With the Arab armies in sight, he waited no longer. They decided to cross the Pamirs. Their families along with other noble Persian clans and the soldiers crossed the treacherous snowy mountains. Many of the imperial treasures were either abandoned or lost. Recently, Chinese research teams recovered some of the lost items. They are now housed in various museums in Beijing or Taiwan.

Pirooz finally made it to China. In the Chinese capital, he encountered long-established Persian, Sogdian, and Bactrian merchant communities in China. He was accompanied into the imperial palace. Going through the long and beautiful halls. At last, he saw the Chinese emperor seated on a high golden throne wearing golden boots and robes. The little boy Pirooz knelt and prostrated before the emperor. The emperor then picked up the boy Pirooz and embraced and kissed him on the cheeks. He said: "You've come a long way. Have no more fears. For you are my brother and this is your new home." With tears in his eyes, Pirooz knelt again and thanked the emperor. The emperor then allowed Pirooz and his people to settle in 38 villages and rebuild their communities. They were allowed to set up a mini royal court in exile.

Pirooz learned Kung Fu (martial arts) and grew up to be a general in the emperor's court. Chinese armies still held military garrisons in areas of what are today's Tajikistan, Afghanistan and parts of Uzbekistan. The Chinese emperor never allowed Pirooz to be stationed there because he knew that he would immediately cause trouble with the Arabs. However, Pirooz financed most of the garrisons there with his own money. When the Chinese emperor died, Pirooz and his son Narseh were allowed to be stationed on western border garrisons by the new Chinese emperor. Immediately, they started to clash with the Umayyad Arabs. They solicited the aid of Turkish tribes and fought border skirmishes against the Arabs.

Pirooz died sometime around 700 A.D. He was buried facing west. People in China today still don't know where his resting place is located. Some say that he was buried atop the Pamir mountains so that he could be close to the spirit of his father and where he got killed by the Arabs. But, in the diary, Narseh says:

Pirooz requested only a simple burial and the Chinese emperor approved. The entire exiled court was in attendance along with the Chinese emperor. The Chinese emperor held Peroz's shaking hands. Pirooz looked west and said: "I have done what I could for my homeland (Persia) and I have no regrets." Then, he looked east and said: "I am grateful to China, my new homeland." Then he looked at his immediate family and all the Persians in attendance and said: "Contribute your talents and devote it to the emperor. We are no longer Persians. We are now Chinese." Then, he died peacefully. A beautiful horse was made to gallop around his coffin 33 times before burial, because this was the number of military victories he had during his lifetime. Pirooz was a great Chinese general and great Persian prince devoted and loyal to his people.

Narseh's daughters and sons all married into Chinese royalty and aristocracy. This was the case with all the noble Persian exiles in China. The great spirit of Persia is now in China, and all the Chinese people appreciate it. This was the story of Pirooz, and how he ended up in China.

I have studied another topic regarding the similar features often seen in both Persian and Chinese art. I know that the style was brought into Persia by Chinese artisans during Mongol (Ilkhan Period) in the 13th cent. A.D. When Kublai Khan conquered China, he "kicked out" and sent away all the former army, government officials, tax collectors, engineers, scientists, artisans, musicians and court doctors of the defeated Chinese Sung Dynasty. All these Chinese were sent to Hulagu Khan's (Kublai's brother) court in Persia. Kublai didn't trust the native Chinese, so he eliminated the elite and sent them away to distant parts of the Mongol empire. In return, he transported many soldiers from Turkestan (Central Asia), tax collectors, scientists and government officials (from both Turkestan and Persia), Armenian and Jewish merchants all into China to serve his court. The story of Marco Polo is a vivid example.

While in Persia, the Chinese officials and soldiers served their Mongol masters well. The Ismaili castles were very well fortified and the Mongol horsemen did not know how to break through the thick walls. They were only accustomed to lightning sieges and quick attack. Thus, they had to use Chinese siege machines and engineers along with Chinese foot infantrymen. The Chinese general Kuo Kan helped the Mongols very much in Persia. He then went to put down rebellions in Georgia. Then, his armies were crucial for the Mongol destruction in Syria and Iraq. Only recently, they found the grave of General Kuo Kan in Azerbaijan where his armies reportedly retired and settled.

The Chinese had intimate relations with Persia since the Ashkanid (Arsacid) Dynasty in Persia. Camel and donkey caravans travel back and forth both directions for almost a thousand year before the coming of Islam to this region. People mixed with each other without regards to race and color. The Chinese have a prevalence of the hereditary thalassemia disease also common throughout the Middle East and India. Other Asians such as Japanese and Koreans don't have much occurence of this blood disease.

This demonstrates that color did not have meaning in the past. There is even a tradition in Armenia, that says one of their lordly families (the Mamikonians) were originally descended from Chinese princes who fled to Persia and sought refuge after an unsuccessful rebellion in China. I am still doing some research on this. In fact, it was common in the past for both Chinese and Persian aristocracy to intermarry. The sister of Pirooz was married to the Chinese emperor as an example. Unfortunately, Ashkanid and Sasanid records are scarce because the rulers of Persia never have the habit of keeping track records. After the Arab invasions and Islam, the trade ceased. It was revived a little bit during the Mongol period, but it was never the same.

Well, this much I can say. I just wanted to give a description of what happened in the past. Back then, China and Persia were the dominant civilizations on earth. Children should know about this and be proud.

http://www.cais-soas.com/CAIS/History/Post-Sasanian/pirooz.htm - http://www.cais-soas.com/CAIS/History/Post-Sasanian/pirooz.h tm

truely a sad story, if hollywood knew about this, they would definetly make the movie. its drama, its romantic, its sad, its got action.... it would make a great movie.

thanks for posting, wonderful article.

I second that. When I think of all the historical records, all the culture, and all the ceremony that was lost after the fall of the Sassanids, I become very sad. After reading this story I find a bunch of "what if" pipe-dream scenarios running through my mind. If they ever do make a movie about Sassanid Persia, I expect you guys to tell me about it .

-Akolouthos

Imagine if Persia and China were to combine their military, economic and cultural might effectively and efficiently, Iranian and Chinese history may have been different today.

One thing I will always admire is the great distances people had to travel back then. What we spend 15 or 22 hours in the air would have took them years on ground. Tough life.

I wonder how is the relationship between Iran and China today?

Absolutely amazing and nice story, I would love to know more about this.
One question: How was the general relation between Persians and Mongols in the past ? from the beginning to the end ?

Thanks

this brought tears to my eyes...may god bless Pirooz's soul.

Could you provide the name of the source (translation in English): Is there a Chinese book, article, ... that the story is from? I had never heard this story, even from books at Shah's time.

Pirooz ("the winner") was son of http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yazdgerd_III" title="Yazdgerd III - Yazdgerd III the last http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sassanid_dynasty" title="Sassanid dynasty - Sassanid king of Persia . Most of what is known of Pirooz is written by his son, prince http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narsieh" title="Narsieh - Narsieh .

Prince Pirooz was very young at the time of the reign of his father Yazdgerd and never exercised the monarch power of the Sassanids. After the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_conquest_of_Iran" title="Islamic conquest of Iran - Arab conquest of Persia , Pirooz and much of the monarch family escaped through the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pamir" title="Pamir - Pamir mountains in what is now http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tajikistan" title="Tajikistan - Tajikistan and arrived at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tang_Dynasty" title="Tang Dynasty - Tang China , which was more supportive of the Sassanids.

According to the http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Old_Book_of_Tang&action=edit" class="new" title="Old Book of Tang - Old Book of Tang (舊唐書 , Pirooz (卑路斯 ) asked for military help from Tang China against the Arabs in 661. The Tang court created the Governorate of Persia (波斯都督府 at what is now http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zaranj" title="Zaranj - Zaranj , http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afghanistan" title="Afghanistan - Afghanistan , with Pirooz as governor. Between 670 and 674, Pirooz arrived personally at the Tang court and was given the title of Youwuwei Jiangjun (右武衛將軍 , "Right Martial Guard General"). In 678, the Deputy Minister for Personnel (吏部侍郎 of the Tang Court, Pei Xingjian (裴行儉 was ordered to escort Pirooz back to Persia. Pei Xingjian got as far as http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Suiye&action=edit" class="new" title="Suiye - Suiye (碎葉; near modern http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokmok" title="Tokmok - Tokmok , http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyrgyzstan" title="Kyrgyzstan - Kyrgyzstan ) before returning, while Pirooz was forced to spend over 20 years in Tuhuoluo (吐火羅; likely http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bactra" title="Bactra - Bactra or http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokharistan" title="Tokharistan - Tokharistan ) with several thousand followers. In http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/708" title="708 - 708 Pirooz arrived at the Tang court again and was given the title of Zuoweiwei Jiangjun (左威衛將軍 Left Awe Guard General). He died soon after, while some of his followers survived him.

According to the http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=New_Book_of_Tang&action=edit" class="new" title="New Book of Tang - New Book of Tang (新唐書 , Pirooz died after receiving the title Youwuwei Jiangjun. It was then Pirooz's son, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narsieh" title="Narsieh - Narsieh (泥涅师 , a hostage at the Tang court, who was escorted by Pei Xingjian westwards to Persia in 679 (not 678). Like the Old Book of Tang, Pei got as far as Suiye, and Narsieh (not Pirooz) then spent 20 years in Tuhuoluo. Finally, it was again Narsieh and not Pirooz that received the title of Zuoweiwei Jiangjun.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pirooz - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pirooz

now I'm searching with Pirooz (卑路斯 ) in google, there are 534 pages.

if anyone interested, search & use chinesse words & post what you find
Thank you

Persians in China

This is a wonderful website. I enjoyed reading it. There is no mention of Persian Zoroastrian immigrants to China. I am Chinese from China. My family lives in Xuajiulan county, about 28 miles west of Xian (formerly Chang'an) city. Chang'an was the capital of many Chinese dynasties in the past. Many foreigners once lived there, especially from Iran. Some came as merchants, entertainers and religious missionaries.

In 651 A.D., King Yazdgerd III was captured by Muslim Arabs in today's Turkmenistan and beheaded. His son, Pirooz survived and fled east to China. He gathered and assembled other powerful Iranian clans: Garen, Suren, Spabad, Varazpor, etc.

They all passed through the snowy Pamir mountains in today's Tajikistan and made it into China to seek the emperor's help. The Chinese king had a wife who was the sister of Pirooz. So, the court of Pirooz was allowed to set up in exile in western China. Many villages today in northwestern China (Xinjiang, Gansu, Shaanxi, Shanxi, Henan provinces) bear marks of Persian ancestry or influence.

For example, in my village, they found a 9th century A.D. tombstone of the daughter of a Chinese general. She is a descendant of the noble Persian Garen family clan and her tombstone has bilingual inscriptions on it (presumably ancient Persian). The village next to ours is entitled "Xi Wang Chuan." This means "village of a western king." The villagers look Chinese, but many have pretty big noses. They are Buddhists and some are Christian. Their Buddhism is different from local tradition.

On Chinese Spring Festival, we normally burn incense and paper money. This village only lights on fire the rest of the evening, which is strange to our tradition. They also often do not get along with Chinese Muslims for whatever reason. I heard that they claim to have the burial site of Pirooz, the son of Yazdgerd.

Anyways, there is a lot of Pre-Islamic Persian heritage in every Chinese region and families. It is probably in all of us. But, they made a commitment to become Chinese and forget their painful memories after they left Iran from Arabic invasions.

My village and people would welcome any Iranian visitors. Perhaps, we can bridge back the lost connections. I have the story of Peroz's family biography and story. I am just beginning to read it. It's in ancient Chinese language and may take some time. When finished, I want to share it with the Iranian people. Let them know and understand Pirooz was a good man too.

A Chinese friend and brother,

mailto:fmwong99@hotmail.com - Frank Wong

http://www.iranian.com/Letters/2000/August/chinese.html - http://www.iranian.com/Letters/2000/August/chinese.html

i dont know whats "frank wong"s sources are but as far as i know Yazdegered III was not beheaded by Arabs, he was killed by a persian farmer who thought Yazdegerd was a theaf.

moved

i dont know what you talking about?

i do my job in all topics i visit, moving alot of topic lately from ancient forums because it seems like people are confused with the naming

i hope they change the name as Zagros suggested to avoid member being confused where to post.

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if you have any more off topic questions you can do that via PMs.

thanks.

Interesting, last time Iranian History forum had this problem, Which has been Deleted.
Now the Greater Iran name is problem
next Iran's name in subtitle would be problem

i dont know what made you think i love iranian related topics, and dont know why you asking this question in this thread, i told you go to pms if you want to go off topic.

i will replay to this but anymore unrelated posts will be deleted.

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for your first question,

i do move any topic in any forum which i see un-related to the forum section its in,

i dont read all posts in all forums , there are forums i dont even visit alot and other moderators are checking that, the forums i visit more frequent are

General Hisory

Ancient mesopotamia..

Post classical middle east

AE tavern

Intellectual

International

and Amusment

so i go to other forums and move any topic that doesnt fit. you need to check  before you say such thing.

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second question

you are here long enough to know that forums are divided into georaphical locations AND TIME period.

this topic is about an event took place in years 660 AD which belongs to this forum.

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again that forum is not a forum for everything related to Iran past and present, its about that area from ancient times to 600 AD

this forum is for the same area from 600 AD to 1800 AD.

how hard is that?

I made it Clear enough for you, any off topic posts will be deleted from my last replay to you onward.

you dont want to use PM, its your choice, iam not intersted in discussing with you anything related to our forum clasifications in this thread.

thanks.

azimuth.

Azimuth i heard the story that Yazdgard III being killed by Persians was made up by the Arabs.  I think he was definetly beheaded by the Arabs not killed for being mistaken as a theif.