Tales That Travel
The International Astronomical Union named a small crater on the Moon after the Moroccan explorer Ibn Battouta in 1976. The crater, located on the Moon’s visible side, is called the Ibn Battouta crater. Ibn Battouta is regarded as one of the four great medieval travellers. Born in Tangier, he spent nearly 30 years exploring over 30 countries across Africa, Europe, and Asia, including China, covering approximately 120,000 km. In 1355, he documented his travels in a work known as The Rihla. This account has attracted significant academic interest due to its rich details about diverse cultures.
A forthcoming book will explore how this account was translated and published in China over the past century. Titled Ibn Battouta’s Rihla in China, the book is approximately 200,000 words long and divided into five sections. The first section examines the initial translation of The Rihla into Chinese. The second section analyses the different translated versions. The third section discusses the publication of these translations, while the fourth section focuses on global responses to the work and the fifth section talks about its international impact.
The book’s author, Wu Fugui, draws on his expertise in diplomacy, research, and literature to provide a comprehensive analysis from historical, cultural, and societal perspectives. The book highlights the strong connection between Ibn Battouta and China, emphasising the long-standing friendship between Morocco and China.
Memory of the roads
As a specialist in modern Arabic, an expert on Middle Eastern affairs, and a former senior Chinese diplomat in the region, Wu has long held a deep admiration for Ibn Battouta. However, it was not until his posting in Morocco in the 1990s that he fully realised the significance of this iconic figure.
With statues of Ibn Battouta adorning museums, schools, airports, and theatres, along with a festival dedicated to him, his influence is present everywhere in Morocco. This profound respect expressed by the Moroccan people inspired Wu to undertake a meticulous study of the work that established the explorer’s reputation.
Wu was particularly captivated by Ibn Battouta’s experiences in China. When the Moroccan explorer arrived in China in 1345 via the Maritime Silk Road, he visited cities such as Quanzhou, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, and Beijing. In his account, Ibn Battouta offers a vivid portrayal of Chinese society during the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), describing its multifaceted nature and recounting his interactions with officials, scholars, and merchants. He commends the political stability, economic prosperity, and cultural vibrancy of the period while expressing admiration for Confucian principles. Ibn Battouta also highlights China’s advancements in science and technology, particularly in navigation. These observations provide a valuable resource for future generations interested in the social history of the Yuan Dynasty.
The Rihla in China
This internationally acclaimed masterpiece has been translated into many languages and holds a special place in the hearts of readers worldwide. It was first introduced to China a century ago when Professor Zhang Xinglang translated and annotated a Chinese version from the German and English editions in 1924. His work, The Collection of Historical Materials of Communications between China and the West, published in 1930, was the first Chinese version of this travelogue.
In August 1985, a translation from Arabic into Chinese was published for the first time. This version, based on the revised Egyptian edition of The Rihla, was translated by Ma Jinpeng, a professor of Arabic at Peking University and a renowned expert on Islam.
The complete Chinese edition of the book was published in November 2008. Compiled by Professor Li Guangbin and housed in the library of the Academy of the Kingdom of Morocco, this version comprises 1.8 million words and has been described as an “emblematic translation.” On 4 December 2009, King Mohammed VI signed a letter of commendation recognising Li’s research on The Rihla, titled Research on Travel Notes of Ibn Battouta from Morocco to China.
Upon his return to China, Wu had the opportunity to meet the descendants of these three translators. He was deeply impressed by the significance of their contributions to fostering friendly exchanges between China and Morocco. Immersing himself in the study of their work, Wu spent nearly a decade analysing the essence, quality, and relevance of their translations, using practical examples. “As an Arabic language expert, it is my duty to document the achievements of their research so that it can be passed on to future generations,” Wu told ChinAfrica.
Immortalising the legacy
According to Wu, Ibn Battouta and his The Rihla embody the spirit of the Arab nations and represent a universal intellectual heritage. The explorer’s statue, displayed at the Maritime Museum in Quanzhou, Fujian Province, China, symbolises this recognition. By meticulously collecting and studying Chinese academic research on this subject, Wu aims to enhance Sino-Moroccan friendship and foster cultural exchanges and mutual inspiration between Chinese and Arab civilisations.
Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Morocco in 1958, the two nations have maintained a strong traditional friendship. Ibn Battouta and his The Rihla, which have helped people in both countries gain insight into each other’s cultures, are frequently referenced during bilateral meetings. Notable mentions include then Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai’s visit to Morocco in 1963 and King Mohammed VI’s visit to China in 2016.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has also paid tribute to Ibn Battouta on several occasions, describing him as a “benevolent ambassador” for fostering exchanges between China and the Arab world, and as a significant figure in the history of the Maritime Silk Road. He emphasised the importance of the Chinese and Moroccan peoples working together to preserve and promote the spirit of Ibn Battouta while advancing their bilateral relations in this new era.
Wu plans to establish a travel agency that will organise themed tours for Chinese tourists in tribute to Ibn Battouta. The initiative aims to strengthen connections between the tourism and cultural sectors of both countries. According to Wu, Morocco’s visa-free policy for Chinese visitors, coupled with the reopening of the direct air route between Casablanca and Beijing, is facilitating these exchanges.
Wu vividly recalls his first visit to Tangier, where he paid homage to the renowned Moroccan explorer. Standing at the very spot where Ibn Battouta began his epic journey, he felt transported back in time, imagining the explorer embarking on his incredible voyage around the world more than 600 years ago. This poignant memory continues to inspire Wu to follow in Ibn Battouta’s footsteps by promoting people-to-people exchanges between China and Morocco.
