Sogdian Ancient Letters

The “Ancient Letters” are letters discovered by Aurel Stein in a watch-tower to the west of Dunhuang. The letters were written in Sogdian, a language formerly spoken in part of the Silk Road. The letters appear to be in a mailbag lost or confiscated in transit. They are largely concerned with commercial matters, but also describe daily events and news that provide readers with a glimpse into the lives of foreign merchants in China. One of the letters mentions that the writer (a woman) and her daughter needed to rely on charity from the priest of a local Zoroastrian temple. Other letters describe political events in China. By comparing the news and events with those found in the Chinese chronicles, the date of the letters are determined to be around 307-313 CE.

Below is a translation of a portion of one of the letters (translated by Nicholas Sims-Williams). As can be seen from the image of letters further down on this page, there are small missing parts on the letters. As a result, the translation below has gaps and filled-in words. 

"To the noble lord Aspandhat, blessing (and) homage. And (it would be) a [good] day [for him] who might see you healthy (and) safe, happy, free from illness (and) content. Fr[om Fri-khwataw] your servant. And [for me the] day (would be still) better if [I might see] you [my]self [and] might pay homage to you from nearby, [as] (homage is offered) to the gods.

[From] inside (China) [I] have heard worse, not better, (news) day (by) day, and whatever I might write concerning A[khurmaztakk](?), how he himself went (away) and what he had . . . I have become isolated, and, behold, I stay here in Guzang and I do not go hither (and) thither, and there is no caravan(?) (departing) from here. In Guzang (there are) 4 bundles of "white" for dispatch, and 2,500 (measures of)(?) pepper for dispatch, and a double prasthaka of n(••y)t, and 5 prasthakas of rysk, and half a stater of silver. When Ghawtus went (away) from Guzang I went after him, and I came to Dunhuang, (but) I was prevented(?) from straying(?) outside (China). (If) . . . Ghawtus had seen [=found?] a level route, then I would have brought out the "Blacks." Many Sogdians were ready to leave, (but) they could not leave, for Ghawtus went by(?) the mountains. I(?) would (have) remain(ed) at Dunhuang, but they [=the Sogdian inhabitants] were destitute. I depend(?) on charity(?) from your 'pr'k, for I am serving(?) . . . in Guzang, and [they . . .] me, and they make me . . ., and they obtain my . . ., [and] they increase (it) with our . . . And . . . I am very wretched, and . . . the . . .

I heard thus: Kharstrang [owed(?)] you twenty staters of silver, and he declared(?) thus: I (will) bring(?) (it). He gave me the silver, and I weighed it, and (there were only) four and a half staters altogether. I asked: If he [sent] twenty staters, why do you give me four and a half staters? He said thus: Aspandhat found me on the way and he gave (it) to me(?). {He said thus: (There are) seven and a half staters of silver.} And for four staters I obtained four loads of 'st(k)[•](m). And the "Blacks" took the silver, for they said thus: We(?) have no money. For (according to them it is) better (that) I should be wretched than they! (If) you should hear how Akhurmaztakk has done me harm, then you should pay heed (to this) too.

Sent by your servant Fri-khwataw. This letter was written from Guzang in the third month on the thirtieth (day)."

Below are image of two letters:

For more information about the ancient letters, see the publication below:

The Historical Context of the Sogdian Ancient Letter