Research On Wiilliam Woodville Rockhill’s Two Investigations About Tibeten Region

William Woodville Rockhill was the first American entering Tibet, the pioneer of American Tibetan studies. To continue his scientific investigations, Rockhill entered Tibet region two times. He composed a series of first-class works about Tibetan studies, which influenced the western world deeply and provided precious resources for current Tibetan studies. This article mainly focuses on the process of William Woodville Rockhill’s two preliminary investigations about Tibet region and his results, and also shows his career of Tibetan studies and its influences.This article is divided into four parts. The first part shows Rockhill’s interest and career of Tibetan studies, including the origin of his career, his study of Tibetan and Chinese, and different phases of his research, that is to say he was absorbed in the translation and annotation of Tibetan buddhist scriptures at an early stage. Later, he concentrated on Tibetan history geography and ethnology research and many other aspects.The second part of this article discusses Rockhill’s first time of investigation to Tibetan region and the results of this investigation. This part introduces the historical background and Rockhill’s preparation of this investigation, and puts emphasis on the routine, process and the results of the first time investigation. From December of 1888 to August of 1889, Rockhill went through Beijing, Taiyuan, Xi’an, Lanzhou and reached Hsi-ning, and then he entered Tibetan region via the north of Kokonor.after blocked at north of Namtso area,he went to eastern Tibet and returned Shanghai by the way of Jyekundo. Derge and Ta-chien-lu. Along the way, Rockhill recorded lakes and rivers, plants and animals, town feature,business and people, customs and native languages, which were the major achievements of his first investigation. After finishing this investigation, Rockhill wrote The Land of Lama, a book containing his major achievements of this investigation.The third part of this article discusses Rockhill’s second time of investigation about Tibetan region, including his preparations, the routine and the achievements of the second investigation, and the routine and achievements of the second investigation will be discussed in detail. From December of 1891 to October of 1892, Rockhill started from Beijing, reached Salar tribe via Kalgan. Kuei-hua Cheng, Ning-hsia Fu, Lan-chou Fu and Hsi-ning Fu, and investigated this tribe. Then he reached Namrutso via Kokonor area, and then he returned Shanghai via Chamdo, Batang and Ta-chien-lu. The major achievements of this investigation could be divided into two natural investigations and humanities study, including the records of mountains and rivers along the routine, the acquisition of plant and animal specimens, the investigation of Ethnolinguistics and Folklore, and so on. The major achievements of Rockhill’s second investigation were showed in his book The Mongolia and Tibet Travel Diaiy During 1891 and 1892.The fourth part of this article discusses the influences of Rockhill’s twice investigations about Tibetan region, which were mainly reflected in academic and society. In the aspect of academic influence, Rockhill’s investigations and his achievements had solidified his academic status as a famous Tibetologist, promoted the development of American Tibetology, supplemented the deficiency of the Chinese historical materials and provided an important reference for Tibetan studies and social history research. In the aspect of social influence, He inspired American’s concerns and enthusiasm about Tibet, contributing to the American’s public understanding of the Tibetan region.