contact with africa during the tang dynasty

Question

Were Africans among the foreign population in the Tang capital of Chang An? If not, did Chinese sailors / explorers / merchants have contact with black Africans during the Tang Dynasty? I ask because I have seen an authentic Tang Dynasty sancai porcelain camel with a black African rider.

Ruby · Answer

You know, Tang Empire once established a relationship with the Arab Empire in northern Africa. It is said that Chinese people arrived in the africa to the south of Sahara Desert. Chinese ships arrived at the at the coastal area of the Eastern Africa too. You were right. china wares and coins of Tang Dynasty were found in Egypt, Kenya and Zanzibar.

Brian · Answer

Thanks, Ruby, That's fascinating about the Chinese wares and coins being found in Zanzibar and Kenya. By the way, that Tang figure I mentioned isn't a rider on a camel, it's an equestrian figure, vetted authentic (Oxford TL) as period Tang. Clearly, the rider is African.

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Contact with Africa during the Tang Dynasty