我国汉代苜蓿引入者考

针对我国在汉代苜蓿引入者认识上的分歧,本文应用植物考据学原理,采用文献考证法,在收集查阅古代文献的基础上,开展文献的整理排比、甄别考证和爬梳剔抉,并结合近现代研究成果进行总结归纳。结果表明,不论是史学界、农史界,还是草学界在对汉代苜蓿引入者认识上,大体上有4种观点,一是苜蓿是由出使西域的汉使带回来的;二是由出使西域的张骞带回来的;三是由贰师将军李广利带回来的;四是苜蓿引进者的不确定性。但是,最接近史实的为第一种观点;第二种观点虽广为流传,并被众多学者所采纳,但缺乏直接的史料支持;第三种观点目前还未被人们所接受。因此,第二或第三种观点尚需挖掘史料,进行深入的考证研究。

The history of the introduction of alfalfa to China in the Han dynasty

This paper applies the principles of textual analysis to a collection of historical literatures and a summary of modern research findings in order to investigate the various interpretations of who is responsible for introducing alfalfa to China during the Han dynasty. There are four characteristic views of alfalfa’s introduction from Western Regions in the historical, agricultural and pratacultural fields. Claims have been made that those responsible were envoys of the Han dynasty, or Zhang Qian, or the Ershi General Li Guangli, while others claim it remains uncertain. Our investigation shows that the first view is closest to the historical facts. The second view is popular and accepted by most scholars but it lacks the support of historical data. The third view has not been widely accepted at present. Thus the claims that alfalfa was introduced by either Zhang Qian or Li Guangli need further verification by exploring the available historical data.