In the year 535 AD, the Feng family, a prominent Han family in exile from the Northern Yan royal family, formed a political alliance with the Xian family, the indigenous leader of Baiyue in Lingnan. The marriage of Feng Xian marked the entry of the Maritime Silk Road into the Feng Xian era, which lasted for over 200 years. In the following200 years, from Madam Xian to her great grandson Feng Ang, great grandson Feng Zhidai, and sixth generation grandson Gao Lishi (Feng Yuanyi), the Feng Xian family was active on the political stage of Lingnan and even the central government during the Southern Dynasties, Sui and Tang dynasties, promoting the deepening of the integration of the Han and Vietnamese ethnic groups, strengthening the pattern of diversified unity of the Chinese nation, and profoundly influencing the development direction of Lingnan history. It had an impact on overseas trade, cultural exchanges between China and foreign countries at that time Buddhism's eastward spread and other influences have had a profound impact, leaving an indelible historical imprint on the ancient Chinese Maritime Silk Road. The Feng Xian family is active in the areas of Maoming, Yangjiang, Zhanjiang, and Hainan Island in western Guangdong today. It is an important node on the Maritime Silk Road from China to Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Europe, and its geographical location is very important. Calling this period of the Maritime Silk Road the "Fengxian Era of the Maritime Silk Road" is not only not an exaggeration but also quite appropriate, and it is beneficial for us to better understand and grasp the historical status and characteristics of the Maritime Silk Road during this period.

1 During The Reign Of Madam Xi

In the 13^th year of the Yuanjia reign of the Song Dynasty (436 AD), Northern Yan was conquered by Northern Wei. Feng Ye, the royal family member of the Northern Yan Dynasty, led more than 300 subordinates to cross the sea to the Song State of the Southern Dynasty, and was settled by Emperor Wen of the Song Dynasty in Xinhui (now in Jiangmen, Guangdong) near the estuary of the Pearl River in the south of the Five Ridges. From Feng Ye to his grandson Feng Rong, the three generations were all appointed as governors by the Southern Dynasty, but they were "confined to foreign lands and could not issue orders". In the first year of the Datong reign of Emperor Wu of Liang (535 AD), Feng Rong, the governor of Luozhou (now located in the west of Maoming, Guangdong), intermarried with the local leader of the Yue ethnic group, Xian Shi, and married Feng Bao, the prefect of Gaoliang (now located in Yangjiang, Guangdong), to the daughter of Xian. Xian family in Gao Liang was the leader of the Southern Yue tribe, spanning over 100 thousand villages and caves. His wife was young, wise, and good at tactics. At her parents' house, she pacified the followers and was able to serve as a military strategist, subduing the various Yue tribes. She often advised her relatives to do good and united local people as a group. The customs of the Yue people were belligerent, her brother, the Governor of Nanliang state, with wealth and strength in his hands, invaded the neighboring counties, making people around there suffered a lot. Due to Mrs. Feng’s persuasion, complaint died down, surrenderors in Hainan and Dan’er gave in more than a thousand caves... Therefore, Mrs. Feng admonished and disciplined the clam members to obey the rules and rites. From then on, the government order was smooth and orderly, and no one dare to disobey it." The marriage of Feng and Xian, is a major historical event in the history of Lingnan, the impact is very far-reaching. It is in Mrs. Feng's managing that the Hainan Island which had detached from the Chinese dynasty version for more than 580 years, re-incorporated into the Chinese dynasty version. The ethnic integration between the Han and Lingnan Yue ethnic groups was further strengthened, and the sea border of South China was consolidated as never before. In this regard, Mr. Tan Qichang has made an insightful and in-depth analysis. For a long time, Hainan Island has been inhabited by the Yue people as the main ethnic group, and after Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty unified Lingnan, he set up two counties, Dan'er and Zhuya, on Hainan Island. But due to the corruption and brutality of Han officials, the Dan Er and Zhuya counties were forced to revoke the establishment successively in 82 BC and 46 years, as a result, Hainan Island and the central dynasty of the link has been interrupted. To the Liang Wu Di period, southern dynasty, Madam Xian, honored as "Lingnan mother of Goddess of Mercy", using the unique advantages of being Yue, both herself and the residents of Hainan Island, greatly promoted the advanced culture of the Han Chinese in Hainan island, changed customs, improved people's livelihoods, won the local people's love and support, and ultimately realized the effective jurisdiction of the central dynasties of the island of Hainan.

During the Houjing Rebellion, Madam. Xian recognized the conspiracy of Li Qianshi, the Gao prefectural governor, and thwarted his ambitions to rule the island with her wisdom. At the critical juncture of the regime change between Liang and Chen, her husband Feng Bao died young. At the moment of crisis, Mrs. Sin responded calmly, " She pacified the leaders of the various tribes and gathered the Hundred Yue, thus stabilizing several states in Lingnan. In the second year of Chen Yongding's reign (558), Madam. Xian sent her nine-year-old son, Feng Dou, to lead the leaders of the various tribes to the capital for a pilgrimage to see Chen Gaozu.."Ouyang Uighur, the Gao prefectural governor (father of the Tang calligrapher Ouyang Xun), plotted a rebellion and detained Madam Xian's only son, Feng Dou. With the greater good in mind, Madam Xian risked the loss of her beloved son by "sending troops to resist the border and marshaling the chiefs of the Hundred Yue" to assist the Chen Dynasty's army in quelling Ouyang Uighur's rebellion. After the fall of the Chen Dynasty, Madam Xian sent her grandson, Feng Soul, to lead her troops to welcome the Sui general Wei Guang into Guangzhou, thus realizing the "complete settlement of Lingnan". Soon after, she joined hands with the Sui army to quell the rebellion of Panyu's commander Wang Zhongxuan. In the early years of Renshou(602), Sui dynasty, Zhao Ne, the governor of Fanzhou (present-day Guangzhou), was greedy for money and tyrannical, and was met with constant resistance from the Li and Liao in Lingnan. Once again, Madam Xian sent a petition to the Emperor to expose Zhao Ne's crimes and bring him to justice. After her death, Madam Xian was posthumously named "Lady Chengjing" by Emperor Wen of Sui.

2 Feng Ang’S Era (602-646) Opposition To Secession And Maintenance Of Unity

After the death of Madam Xian in 602, the Feng Xian family ushered in the Feng Ang era. Around the early years of the Southern Chen Dynasty (584), Madam Xian and Feng Bao's only son, Feng Maid, died young at the age of 35. The power of the Feng Xian family could only be charged by Madam Xian. After the death of Madame Sin, her first grandson, Feng Ang, became the mainstay of the Feng Xian family.

Feng Ang, "a young man with martial arts skills", served as the order of Songkang (present-day Yangjiang, Guangdong Province) during the reign of Emperor Kaihuang (581-600) of the reign of Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty. In the eleventh year of the reign of Emperor Kaihuang (591), he took part in the suppression of the rebellion of Wang Zhongxuan, a Li person in Panyu. In the following year, he was appointed as the Assassin of Gaozhou for his achievements. After the death of Madame Xian, " The Fang people in the five prefectures of Chao and Cheng rebelled against the imperial court, and Feng Ang galloped to the capital to ask for the suppression of the rebellious bureaucrats. Emperor Wen ordered Yang Su, the left servant, to discuss the situation of the rebellion with him, and Yang Suo was surprised by him, saying, "I can't imagine that there is such a person in the barbarian alien race!" Emperor Wen immediately issued an edict ordering Feng Ang to collect troops from the Yangtze River and Lingnan to attack the rebellious wingmen. After quelling the rebellion, Feng Ang was appointed as the governor of Hanyang." 

In the third year of Wude (620), the leaders in Guang and Xin states, such as Gao Fa Cheng and Zai Bao Che, were under the control of Lin Shihong, and they killed Sui officials, and Ang led his troops to break them. Xi Baoche's nephew is named Xi Zhichen, and he gathered the army to fight against Feng An, Feng Ang led his troops to fight, and as soon as the two armies clashed, Feng Ang took off his battle robe and shouted: "Do you know me?" The enemy threw down their weapons, took off their suits, and bowed to him with their tops exposed. As a result, the rebel team was dispersed, and he captured Xi Baoche, Xi Zhichen and others, so he occupied the territory of Panyu, Cangwu, and Zhuya, and proclaimed himself the governor. Someone encouraged Feng Ang to say: "The Sui Dynasty is the last days, falling apart, the current situation is turbulent, and the country is in turmoil; although the Tang Dynasty came into being, his influence and cultural values have not yet been convincing, and the land of Lingnan and Baiyue has not yet belonged. The Ming Duke conquered and pacified 20 states, occupying thousands of miles in a circle, and the name has not yet been determined, please add the name of "King of Nanyue". Feng Ang said: "My family has lived in the land of Baiyue for five generations, and the person who serves as the governor of the state and county is only our Feng family, and I have Descendants and wealth, and there are few people as rich as me in the world." I have often been anxious about dishonoring the inheritance of my ancestors, and shall I set myself up as king? The name of the King of Yue is something I have never heard."

Feng Ang in the critical period of the Sui and Tang dynasties, categorically refused the proposal to cut off the Lingnan and claim himself as the king of South Yue, fully demonstrated the maturity and skill of the statesman's eloquence, as well as his loyalty to the emperor and patriotism of the country's family and national sentiment. The fourth year of Wude (621 years), Feng Ang with the South Yue people surrendered to the Tang Dynasty, Tang Gaozu divided the land into Luo, Chun, Bai, Ya, Dan, Lin, etc. into eight states, and still awarded Feng Ang as the Senior Commander of the Army, Gao Luo governor, the Duke of Wu, and later changed to the Duke of Yue. Worship his son Zhi Dai as the governor of Chunzhou, Zhi Yu the governor of Donghezhou. Afterwards, Feng Ang was reappointed as Duke of Geng. In the fifth year of Zhenguan (621), Feng Ang went to the capital Chang'an pilgrimage to pay a formal visit to the Tang Emperor Taizong, by the Emperor’s generous and grand hospitality, "feast reward is very generous." Soon, the Lingnan Luodu the cave fangs rebel, Emperor Taizong ordered Feng Ang led 20,000 soldiers for the vanguard of the army to pacify the rebellion. Tens of thousands of rebels settled on the advantaged position, which took a long time to attack. At a critical moment, Feng Ang held a crossbow and shouted: "after I run out of my arrows, we can who is the victor." Seven arrows in a row, seven people in rebels fell. The rebels were terrified and fled one after another. Feng Ang pursued the attack, beheading more than a thousand and getting a complete win. "Since then the rewards are countless. Feng Feng had more than 10,000 slaves and maids, and lived in a place of 2,000 miles areas. He was diligent in bookkeeping, and was very good at investigating the traitors. He died in the twentieth year (646), and was presented with the title of General of the Left Cavalry and Governor of Jingzhou."

Feng Ang controlled the power of the Feng Xian family in Lingnan for more than 40 years, and continued the governance strategy of his grandmother, Madam Xian, "I have served three generations of masters, but only with a good heart". In the face of right and wrong, he took a firm stand, opposed to secession, was loyal to the imperial court, pacified and restrained his subordinates, and protected the territory and the people. He was committed to maintaining a close relationship with the central government of the Tang Dynasty, maintaining peace and stability in Lingnan, and maximizing the interests of the Feng Xian family.

3 The Era Of Feng Zhidai And Feng Ziyou (646-698) The Decline After Prosperity

In the twentieth year of Zhenguan (646), Feng Ang died. The Tang court divided his core jurisdiction into three parts. "The emperor ordered the division of the prefecture into three states, and awarded it to the three sons of Feng Ang. Son Zhigui, governor of Gaozhou; son Zhidian (Dai), governor of Enzhou; and Judson Ziyou (Ziyou), governor of Panzhou."  The Feng Xian family in Lingnan ushered in the era of Feng Zhidai and Feng Ziyou for more than 30 years. It was an era of prosperity and crisis for the Feng Xian family. Feng Xian had more than 30 sons (one says 3), with Feng Zhi Dai being the most outstanding.

Thirty sons, Zhi Dai is the well-known one, courageous and resourceful, able to pacify the people, obtain the army’s loyalty, the chiefs are happy to follow him. He accompanied his father to Luoyang, where he was in charge of the troops of the Ministry of Defense. Emperor Yang regicide and led his subordinates to escape. At that time, there were a lot of thieves, the road is dangerous and full of cliffs, Zhi Dai turned to fight and go forward. When he arrived at Gaoyuan, director of Li as the master, met Ang, and Zhi Dai and Ang were able to go together. Later, Ang entered the court, the emperor rewarded him and awarded him the Captain Assistant. Emperor heard of he was good at disciplining soldiers, asked him: "there are rebels and thieves, can we attack them now?" Answered: " The cloud is shaped like a tree and is oriented in the 'gold' (west); 'gold' is sharp and wood is soft, so attacking it will surely lead to victory." The emperor was surprised. Later Ang was awarded as General. He died and was awarded the title of Governor of Hongzhou. 

The eighth year Zhen Guan (634), the emperor Li Yuan held a banquet in the old Western Han Weiyang Palace, civil and military officials of three grades or more have received an invitation to the banquet. At the banquet, Li Yuan, ordered the Turkic Jie Li Khan to dance, and ordered Feng Zhi Dai, the chief of South Yue, to sing a poem, then laughed, saying, " It’s never happened since ancient times that Hu and Yue are one family." Taizong held the goblet, saying: "I have been taught the morality early; so, I joined the militia, pacified the capital. Valued Xueju, Wuzhou, Shichang, Jiande, and endowed with your wise decision, all to be determined. In the past few years, they have been able to unify the region. Thanks to God's mercy and favor, I was entrusted with a heavy responsibility. Now, God bless us a peaceful life, and I also shoulder such honored responsibility as being one of your courtiers. This is not the intelligence of the ministers, all by the Sacred Reckoning." Emperor Gaozu was so pleased that all the ministers called out "Long Live", and it was only after a very long night that they stopped. 

This incident also became "the best story of the feudal era in the history of the country." The record of this event was placed by Sima Guang under the seventh year of Zhenguan (633), and the title of Feng Zhidai as "Chief of South Yue" was changed to "Chief of the Southern Barbarians" in the Old Book of the Tang Dynasty. As can be seen from these titles, the identity of the leader of the Feng Xian family as perceived by the rulers of the Central Plains and the Central Dynasty was different from that of the general northern gentry. This point can be more fully illustrated from the historical record of the marriage of Xu Jingzong, the Minister of Rites, to the son of Feng Xian.

Gaozong succeeded to the throne and ordered Yu Zhining as the Minister of Rites. Jingzong married his daughter to the son of the barbarian chieftain Feng Ang, who was impeached by the court for pocketing illegaltreasures and was relegated to be the governor of Zhengzhou. In the third year of the reign, he was appointed minister of defense, and was given the rank of bachelor in the Hongwen Guan, where he also revised the state history of China. In 650, Xu Jingzong was reappointed Minister of Rites. 

In 650, when Xu Jingzong became the Minister of Rites, he was impeached for marrying his daughter to the son of the "barbarian chieftain" Feng Ang and receiving a large amount of gold and silver as a dowry, and was relegated to the post of Zhengzhou Assassin, a post he held for five years before being reinstated to his official position.

The year of death of Feng Zhidai is not clearly recorded in the historical books. In Feng Xian's family, there were three people who were included in the Biography of the Clan Generals by the Old Book of Tang. Feng Ang, Feng Zhidai, and Feng Ziyou, a son of Feng Ang’s clan.

Feng Ziyou, a member of Feng's clan, was known for his bravery and chivalry. In the middle of the Zhenguan period, he entered the imperial court and accompanied himself with a barge of gold. During the reign of Emperor Gaozong, Xu Guan, the royal historian, was sent to inspect his wealth. When Xuguan arrived at the cave, Ziyou did not come out to meet him, and then he led dozens of his followers to beat the bronze drums and claimed Guan’s crime. The emperor dispatched the royal historian Yang Jing to examine him. When King arrived, he made a humble speech and accused Guan of the crime. Ziyou was pleased and left him 200 taels of gold and 500 taels of silver. King refused to accept the offer. Ziyou said, "If you don't take this, you will not be allowed to return." King accepted the offer and returned it to the emperor, who ordered him to accept it.

Feng Ziyou's arrogant and domineering style of dealing laid the groundwork for the subsequent destruction of the Feng Xian family. In the third year of Wu Zetian's reign (687), Liu Yanyou, the governor of Annam (present-day Hanoi, Vietnam), was killed because he increased the tribute to the local Li people without authorization, which triggered a rebellion among the Li people. When Feng Ziyou, a member of the "Guangzhou clans," heard about this, he "gloated and wanted to take advantage of the danger to make a success of it, so he pressed his troops and let the enemy do more harm, and Yanyou was killed by Sishen." Wu Zetian must have been very angry with Feng Ziyou's behavior, and her dislike of the Feng Xian family was growing.

（Liu Yanyou） was appointed as the governor of Keizhou, and was then transferred to the governor of Annan. Li households in Lingnan only handed in half tax, but when Yan You arrived, he ordered them to pay full tax. Since then, their subordinates are all resentful, plotting to rebel, Yan You then killed his chief evil Li Si Xian. In the third year of the reign of Emperor Liu Gong, Li's party, along with Ding Jian and Li Sishen, led a siege of Annan Province. At that time, there were only a few hundred victorious soldiers in the city, so they held the gate and waited for reinforcements from the neighboring regions. Feng Ziyou, a member of the Guangzhou clans, was pleased with the situation and wanted to capitalize on the danger, so he pressed his troops and allowed the enemy to do more harm than good, which led to the death of Yanyou by Sishen. Later, Cao Xuanjing, the minister of Gui Zhou, led an attack onSishen, capturing him and beheading him at the foot of Annan Castle.

In the first year of Wu Zetian's reign (698), the Feng Xian family in Lingnan suffered a catastrophic death. Feng Junheng, the son of Feng Zhidai, who was the central figure of the Feng Xian family, was executed by the imperial court on the charge of "false pretenses", and the magnificent cemetery of Mrs. Sin was also destroyed. Due to the lack of detail in the historical records, we know very little about the details of this incident, leaving many unanswered questions. We speculate that Feng Ziyou should have died before this incident.

4 The Age Of Gao Li Shi (698-755) The Eastern Mountain Rises Again

A centipede does not topple over even dead. From the Feng-Xian marriage in 535 to the first year of the Shengli era (698), the Feng Xian family had lived and run in the Lingnan region for more than 160 years, with deep and intertwined roots. In addition to its close relationship with the royal family of Li Tang. Li Ke, the third son of Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty, lost the battle for the throne and was executed, and his four sons were exiled to Lingnan in the fourth year of Emperor Yonghui's reign (653). While in Lingnan, Li Wei, Li Ke's third son, married Feng Ang's great-granddaughter, and Li Qianli, Li Ke's eldest son, married a Murong woman who was also an in-law of the Feng family. Just as sparing the rat to save the dishes, Wu Zetian probably didn’t cut off the roots of Feng Xian family and showed some mercy to them.

Gao Lishi, a native of Panzhou, was originally surnamed Feng. He was castrated at a young age, and a man named Jin Gang, who was in the same situation as him, was presented to the palace by Li Qianli, an envoy from Lingnan, in the first year of the Shengli reign. Wu Zetian praised him for his intelligence and resourcefulness, and for his youthful beauty, and made him serve by her side. Later, he was expelled after being whipped for a minor mistake. Gao Yanfu, a eunuch, took him as his adopted son, and Gao Yanfu came from Wu Sansi's family, so Gao Lishi also was busying to and from Wu Sansi's residence. A year or so later, Wu Zetian called Gao Lishi into the palace, where he was attached to the Palace of Justice, and the government provided him with food. Gao Li Shi is six feet five inches tall, prudent and thorough, able to convey the imperial decree, (Wu Zetian) appointed him as the Palace Examiner.

When Emperor Xuanzong became a feudal lord during the Jinglong reign, Gao Lishi served him with all his heart and was treated with favor. When the Tanglong years to pacify the internal military chaos, (Emperor Xuanzong) was promoted to Prince, asked Gao Li Shi belongs to the inner workshop, daily service around, was promoted to five-grade minister. Later involved in the eradication of Xiao Zhizhong, Cen Xi and other people, he was especially promoted to a third-grade minister, served as chamberlain with the members. In the early years of Kaiyuan, he was authorized to be the general of the right supervisor of the gate guards, and was in charge of the affairs of the Ministry of the Interior. 

In 698, Li Qianli, the grandson of Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty, who was exiled in Lingnan, participated in the suppression of Feng Xian's family in the capacity of "Lingnan suppressive ambassador". All three of Feng Junheng's sons survived the suppression. His third son, Feng Yuanyi, was only eight years old when he was sent by Li Qianli to Chang'an Imperial Palace, where he was adopted by a eunuch, Gao Yanfu, and became a eunuch and changed his name to Gao Lishi. Gao Li Si was highly valued and trusted by Li Longji, in the Tang Xuanzong ascension to the throne, made great achievements, and from then on up to the center of power of the Li Tang dynasty.

Every four sides into the petition paper table chapter, must first be sent to Gao Li Shi, and then into the Emperor, small things (Gao Li Shi) on their own decision. Emperor Xuanzong often said: "Gao Li Shi on duty, I sleep peacefully." Thus (GaoLiShi) often live in the palace, seldom out of living outside the house. As for those who were attached to him, those who wanted to take advantage of his prestige and fame, those who wished to be praised by him (in front of the king), there were many people who did their utmost for him. Yu Wenrong, Li Linfu, Li Shizhi, Gai Jiayun, Wei Jian, Yang Shenzhen, Wang Frank, Yang Guozhong, An Lushan, An Sishun, Gao Xianzhi were all through him to obtain the high position of general and prime minister, and the number of the rest of the official positions obtained by other people were countless. When Emperor Su Zong was still in the East Palace, he called him " my brother", princes and princesses called him "grandpa", and the other young loyal members called him "Master".

As the sixth grandson of Madam Xian, Gao Li Shi finally waited for the opportunity to vindicate the family.

Lingnan Festival Minister in Panzhou begged his mother Mai sent to Chang'an, so that the two old women in the hall, prepared for some snacks. Cheng Bo Xian, the General of Jingo, was a good friend of Gao Lishi. When Mai died, Bo Xian distributed the mourning at the banquet and accepted the condolences of guests. In the seventeenth year, Gao given the title of Governor of Guangzhou to his father, and Mai was given the title of Lady of Yue.

In the 17th year of the reign (729), Gao Lishi's mother, Mai, died of illness. Gao Li Shi took it as the opportunity that gave his mother a luxurious burial at the same time and vindicated his father Feng Junheng. Emperor Xuanzong presented Gao Li Shi's father with the title of Governor of Guangzhou and his mother “Lady of Yue”. Gao Li Shi especially invited Zhang Shu, the respected prime minister of Kaiyuan, the great writer and poet, and the "Special Advisor and Bachelor of Jixian, who repaired the state history", to write "Epitaph on the Tomb of Feng Jun, Assassin of Panzhou", "Rituals for General Gao Li Shi's Father", and "Inscription on the Sacred Path of Feng Fujun, the Governor of Guangzhou". The vindication of his father, Feng Junheng, led by Gao Li Shi in 729, also signaled to the world that the Li Tang dynasty had completely vindicated the suppression of the Feng Xian family by Wu Zetian 21 years earlier. Lingnan Feng Xian family ushered in a new vitality and development opportunities.

5 The Feng Xian Family And The Eastward Evolution Of Buddhism  

Buddhism has been further developed since the time of the two Han Dynasty after the introduction of China, to the Wei, Jin, North and South Dynasties, Sui and Tang dynasties. In the process of Buddhism's eastward progress, the Maritime Silk Road also played a very important role. The Lingnan region, neighboring Southeast Asia, was an area of early contact with Buddhism. At the end of the Han Dynasty and during the Three Kingdoms period, the Shi Xie family ruled Lingnan for more than 40 years, and Buddhism in Lingnan developed considerably. The earliest Buddhist work in China, Mouzi's Treatise on Reasoning and Confusion, was born in Lingnan's Cangwu County. So far, no conclusive historical evidence has been found for the relationship between Mrs. Sin and Buddhism. However, the close relationship between the Feng Xian family and Buddhism in Lingnan during the Tang Dynasty has been repeatedly recorded in history books. The famous monk Yi Jing took the scriptures in the west, and Jian Zhen's eastward journey had a close relationship with the Feng Xian family in Lingnan.

In the second year of Xian Heng (671), he was in Xia Yang’s mansion. In the early autumn, Yijing came across Feng Xiaoyi, the envoy of Gongzhou, and went with him to the south with the Persian ship owners in Guangfu. when the imperial envoy sent him back to Gangzhou, he became lord Tan again. And the filial piety envoys, filial piety envoys, county kings Ning family, county kings Peng family members, etc., all compete for giving gifts, each took out invaluable food. There is no shortage of sea routes, for fear of labor in dangerous places. It is like the benefits of kinship, and it is obedient to the heart. Together, the same fate triumphs. Therefore, those who have achieved courtesy also depended on the strength of the Feng family. Lingnan law and custom, together with the heart to stay; Heroes in the north bear the hatred of parting from each other. In November, it was a winged bird with a face, carrying panyu on its back, dreaming of the deer garden, and looking at the chicken feather and too much rest. At the time of the first hurricane of Guangmo, he hung to Zhu Fang and hung in pairs; Leave the creation, abandon Xuan Shuo and fly alone in five or two.

In the autumn of the second year (671) of Emperor Gaozong Xianheng of the Tang Dynasty, Yijing came across Feng Xiaoyi, who was about to go to Lingnan to be appointed as the governor of Gongzhou (now Nanping County, Guangxi). Feng Xiaoyi is from the Feng family in Lingnan. The Feng family in Lingnan is mainly concentrated in three places: one is in the area of ​​Gangzhou (now Xinhui) and Guangzhou. The record of "Yuanhe Surname Codification" states that the Feng family is "Gangzhou Feng"; The second is Gaozhou and Enzhou, and the Feng family name in Yuanhe surname Codification is "Gaozhou Feng"; The third is Hainan Province. Obviously, Feng Xiaoyi belongs to the Feng family in Gangzhou. Gangzhou is also the earliest place for Beiyan Fengye to live in exile in the Southern Dynasty.

Yijing accompanied Feng Xiaoxi to Guangzhou by boat. Accompanied by Feng Xiaoxi, he went to his hometown, Gangzhou (now Guangdong Xinhui), and was warmly welcomed by members of the Feng family. "And my brother filial piety envoy, filial piety envoy, county monk Ning family, county monk Peng family and other family members, salty gifts," obtained a large amount of Hongfa financial support. Yijing sincerely said: "So those who have achieved courtesy also relied on the strength of the Feng family. "As Mr. Wang Bangwei pointed out: Yijing was able to make a trip in the end, largely relying on the financial support of the Feng family.”

In the seventh year of Tianbao (748), after 77 years of learning from the Yijing Oceanwide Sutra, monk Jian Zhen made his fifth eastward journey to Japan at the invitation of Japanese monks Rong Rui and Pu Zhao. Soon after the ship set off from Yangzhou, it was unfortunately hit by a hurricane. The ship was blown by strong winds to Zhenzhou, Hainan (now Sanya). He was warmly received by Feng Chongyi, who was born in the Feng Yan family.

In cold November night..., after three days to the Zhenzhou estuary mooring boat. His agent went to the county, and more than 400 people were ordered to welcomed Feng Chongdong. They lead him to the state city, and another carriage was waiting.

Jianzhen and his followers stayed in Zhengzhou for more than a year. Under the escort of Feng Chongyin, he went to Wan'an Prefecture (now Wanning and Lingshui County, Hainan) and was warmly entertained by Feng Ruofang, another member of the Feng Xian family and the head of the state university.

The history books are very astounding about the records of Gao Lishi's religious faith in Buddhism. The Old Tang Book reads:

Gao has so rich assets that is incomparable even to the loyal members. He can build Baoshou Buddha Temple in Laitingfang, Hua Feng Taoist Temple in Xingning Square, Treasure Hall Treasure Terrace, and national strength ... At the beginning when the bell of Baoshou Temple was completed, and he celebrated it with all ministers being present. Those who stroke the bells can reach the number of thousands; someone who wanted to please him stroke ten or even twenty times.

The records of the New Tang Book are similar:

Gao came to Tingfang to build a Buddha Temple, the Taoist Temple in Xingning Square, and the treasures in it are countless. After the bell was finished, Gao held a banquet for those ministers who worked for it, paid 100,000 yuan for one strike, and to those who pleased him by striking 20 times, he rewarded them with generosity.

During Tianbao period in Kaiyuan dynasty, Gao also built Linghui Temple in his hometown Panzhou, with a bronze statue of "one Avalokitesvara Buddhisattva and two attendants".

6 Feng Yan Family And Overseas Trade

Madame Xian firmly upheld national reunification, opposed the separatist forces, pursued the policy of national unity, protected the people, and supported the effective governance of the Liang, Chen and Sui dynasties in Lingnan, ensured the smooth flow of the Maritime Silk Road in the waters of South China, and made great contributions to overseas trade and cultural exchanges between China and foreign countries. She once presented a piece of Funan Rhino as a token to Chen Baxian, an emperor, which also became a historical witness to the Maritime Silk Road, and also revealed the tip of the iceberg where the Feng Xian family participated in maritime trade. The Feng Xian family is active in the areas of Yangjiang, Maoming, Zhanjiang and Hainan Island in today's western Guangdong, and is at an important node of China's maritime Silk Road to Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Europe.

During the period from Liang in the Southern Dynasty to Sui and Tang dynasties, the vast coastal areas west of Guangdong's Pearl River Estuary, Leizhou Peninsula, and Hainan Island were all under the jurisdiction of the Feng Xian family. In the early days of the Zhenguan, Tang Dynasty, Mrs. Sin’s grandson, Fengyou, served as the head manager of Gaozhou, and ran the jurisdiction of "Gao, Luo, Chun, Bai, Lin, Di, Ya and Zhenba county, etc.". The area controlled by the Feng Xian family holds the key to the Maritime Silk Road and is also a necessary place for the "the road to the sea in Guangzhou ". Relying on the maritime geographical advantages of the coastal areas of western Guangdong and Hainan Island, the Feng Xian family is committed to maintaining stability and social order in Lingnan area, preventing pirates from harassing, and actively carrying out overseas trade. While protecting the interests of the family, it has also played an important role in objectively maintaining national unity and consolidating the coastal areas of South China. During the period of Kaiyuan Tianbao in the Tang Dynasty, Feng Ruofang and Feng Chongyin in Hainan were the epitome of the Feng Yan family's control of marine trade.

The customs of the south of the Yangtze River are cultivated by firing and watering, and there is no accumulated food. The barbaric slang took their caves. Each of them collects the resources for the benefit of the country. In addition, the tribe leader, because of the abundance of jade, pearl, rhinoceros, and is rich in the area, the imperial court signed it to collect its benefits. During Song, Qi, Liang, and Chen all remained the same.

The Feng Xian family is a typical representative of the "Chieftain lived the edge of terrain" mentioned in the Sui Shu Food Chronicle. The types of goods that the Feng Xian family engages in overseas trade are diversed. Here we only take the slave trade and the spice trade as examples, and briefly elaborate.

From the Six Dynasties to the Sui and Tang dynasties, it was a transitional period from the slave tribal society to the feudal society in Lingnan, with the Gaoliang area as the core. It was also the peak period when "Kunlun slaves" were imported into China in Southeast Asia and other places. The Feng Xian family actively participated in the "slave" trade. According to archaeological results in recent years, statues of Kunlu slaves and bronze statues of female "Kunlu slaves" were also found in the Gaoliang area of ​​the Feng Di era.

(South China Sea) counties often have Gaoliang slaves and ships each year. Foreign businessmen used it to trade in currency. In the old days, the state and county went to run the market at half price, bought and sold them. The profits were several times higher and it’s common for the government.

This is the scene observed in the early years of Liang Tianjian (502), when Wang Sengru became the governor of South China Sea. "The profit is several times high, and it is common for the government. It can be seen that the slave trade with "Gaoliang slaves" lasted long and obtained huge profits.

According to "Old Tang Shu · Legend of Feng An", Zhenguan period in Tang Dynasty, in the early years, "Ang’s slaves are more than 10,000 people, living in a place of 2,000 miles. " The number of slaves in Feng Ang's family is unprecedentedly high. Slaves and gold and silver together became the means and medium of bribery. Feng Ang's wife once bribed Xiao Lingzhi, the governor of Guangzhou, with a slave. "(Tang Gaozong) In July of the second year of Yonghui (651), Xiao Lingzhi, the governor of Huazhou, was the former governor of Guangzhou. He was killed on the imperial court by receiving treasures and slaves from Zuo Zhiyuan and Feng Ang’s wife, which made the emperor furious when told by ministers.”

Japanese monks recorded that during the Tang Tianbao period, Feng Ruofang, the leader of Wan'an Prefecture on Hainan Island, "often robbed two or three Persian ships every year, taking goods for his own goods, and plundering people as slaves. It took three days from the north to the south, five days from the east to the west, and the village is not the same. It is always the place where Ruofang’s slaves live. Feng Ruofang's family has a large number of slave sources. In addition to overseas trade, he even obtained them by robbing Persian merchant ships.

As for the spice trade. From the Han and Wei dynasties to the Sui and Tang dynasties, fragrance and other perfumes in China were in high demand. Royal aristocrats and monks use spices as luxury goods, which are widely used in house incineration and building materials. Lingnan is not only an important source of spices in China, but also a necessary place for spice trade with Southeast Asia and South Asia on the Maritime Silk Road. The Lingnan area centered on Gaoliang and Hainan in the Feng Di era was one of the earliest spice production and tributary trade bases in China.

"Taiping Guangji" quoted "Foreign History of the National History" as saying: "Tang Taizong asked Feng Anyun, the leader of Gaozhou: ‘Is it far from your home to the spice base? 'And he said, 'The house is covered with incense trees on the left and right. However, the young has no fragrance, only the old smells good.  It can be seen that at that time, Lingnan Chenxiang, a luxury product, had drawn interest and attention of Tang Taizong.

Feng Ruofang, the leader of Wanning Prefecture, who had entertained the famous monk Jianzhen, "would like to meet guests, often using mastic as candles, burning more than 100 pounds. Behind his house, Su Fang wood accumulated like a mountain; The rest of the property is also as that much. "mastic", or frankincense, is a precious spice on par with agarwood. Later, Jianzhen successfully crossed Japan for the sixth time, among the items brought to Japan were many precious spices, including the spices given by Feng Ruofang.

During the period from Liang in the Southern Dynasty to Sui and Tang dynasties, the Feng Xian family gained huge benefits by actively participating in overseas trade along the Maritime Silk Road with Southeast Asia, India, Persian and other countries, including slaves, spices and other commodities, and transported to China and foreign countries. It is precisely by virtue of the strong financial resources obtained by the maritime trade that the supports its political and military activities, expands its influence, and establishes its good relationship with the central government. Due to the hugeness of the family, it is inevitable that an arrogant figure like Feng Zizhen will appear, and then be regarded by the court as a thorn in the flesh, which led to the looting and suppression of the Feng Yan family in the Wu Zetian era, and the family power was seriously suppressed. Twenty years later, with the rise of the Hercules in the court, the Feng Xian family in Lingnan has revived. Although it is far less than the glory of Mrs. Sin and Feng Angs’ era, it is still a very important and powerful family in Lingnan. As Huang Zuo, a historian of the Ming Dynasty, said: "The surname Feng is the surname of Gaozhou since Feng Ang, and there are dozens of descendants acted as governors of Counties. At the end of the Tang Dynasty Feng family is particularly rich.”