Origin of the Alans

[Alanus]

Hi, Evan and Michael

I think you're both correct, if we consider the Yuezhi were Kushans and the Alans extended from the major group. The Kushans arrived at the Jin court wearing chainmail, described as a "delegation from Kucha," in other words-- Kushans, not Sogdians. I find it hard to believe the Chinese waited until 716 to acquire a style of armor they knew about for 3 1/2 centuries. When seeing something new and valuable, the Chinese usually jumped on it.

Among other things introduced to China by the Yuezhi, we can add the sitting Buddha statue/concept. They were the first group on the Indian subcontinent to raise Sakyamuni from a person to a mythical being, the ultimate human sitting on a partially-opened lotus (the lotus a symbol of perfection). Prior to this Yuezhi transmutation, the Buddha was represented as standing... and he was thin.

   
Sakyamuni before he gained weight.