Chao Ju Kua

Chao Ju Kua was the superintendent of maritime trade in the province of Fujian. He is remembered for his book “A Description of Barbarous Peoples”, or “Records of Foreign Nations”, completed in 1225, on the various people and places with whom the Chinese traded.

Chao Ju Kua was a member of the Imperial family under the Sung dynasty (960—1278). He held the position of superintendent of maritime trade in Quanzhou, Fujian, and in his official capacity was thrown into contact with merchants of Arabia, Persia, and India, who came to trade. He used his opportunities collect information on foreign countries, which he published in a work in two volumes, under the title of “Records of Foreign Nations”. Volume one treats of Further India, the Archipelago and the Philippines, Japan, Korea, the Loo-choo Islands, Ceylon, Spain, Cochin-China, Tongking, and the dominions of Islam. The second volume contains a description of the various articles imported into Quanzhou, followed by an account of the island of Hainan.