The Silk Road
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Feature: Chinese archaeologists marching westward along Silk Road
by Xinhua writers Qu Junya, Zhang Yuan, Peng Qian BEIJING/TASHKENT, Dec. 30 (Xinhua) -- A row of temporary houses alongside a Chinese national flag are eye-catching in wilderness on the outskirts of Samarkand in eastern Uzbekistan. A home since late 2013 to Chinese archaeological staff, the site could be a stop on the ancient Silk Road or on the migration route of the ancient Greater Yuezhi (Rouzhi) nomads. Working together with Uzbek colleagues, Chinese researchers are trying to excavate material remains and piece together memories from a Greater Yuezhi migration, restoring a missing part of Central Asian history. RESTORING CENTRAL ASIAN HISTORY "Where the Greater Yuezhi people had gone is a common topic of history, anthropology and linguistics," said Wang Jianxin, chief archaeologist at the Institute of Silk Road Studies under the Xi'an-based Northwest University of China. In seeking their traces more than 2,000 years ago, the joint team between archaeologists from the Chinese university and Uzbekistan has been engaged in excavations in both the Central Asian country and the neighboring Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China. The ancient nomads were a branch split from the Yuezhi people who were first reported in Chinese histories living in the west of the modern Chinese province of Gansu. An answer to the mystery of their whereabouts is also about the ethnic origin and composition in Central Asian countries. Chinese and Uzbek researchers have found earthen and stone winter settlement sites left by other ancient nomads. In July, they unearthed a large ancient tomb, where gold-embedded turquoise ornaments were found along with the female remains in the major burial chamber. Though their study shows the tomb in southern Uzbekistan was built by the Kangju people, the Yuezhi's contemporaries, the findings have helped map the then domains of the two powers, narrowing the range of possible moving routes of the Greater Yuezhi people. CONTRIBUTING TO WORLD ARCHAEOLOGY AND HISTORY Zhang Qian, the envoy sent by an emperor of China's Han Dynasty to seek a military alliance in the west with the Greater Yuezhi, eventually arrived in their land via Kangju after the ordeals of a long travel. Like this China-Uzbekistan joint project, Chinese historical records are providing increasingly more archaeological clues to help better restore and understand the Oriental history. As regards archaeological excavation, it is known that theories and working approaches can be similar, but how to interpret and determine the excavated involves more, such as the knowledge of history, culture and customs, as well as the way of thinking. "Human factors matter more in this science," said Chen Ling, a research fellow at the School of Archaeology and Museology, Peking University. "Mistakes sometimes did occur," he said, citing the Soviets misreading Chinese eave tiles and pan-and-roll roofing tiles at a Silk Road site in the 1950s. As a result of ignorance of Chinese architecture, a Buddhist temple site was restored as a mosque, and it would have "led to a sequence of distortions afterwards," Chen said. Noting an increase in archaeological collaboration between China and other countries, Chen believes Chinese researchers are contributing more to the Oriental history restoration as well as the world history interpretation. SERVING BELT AND ROAD INITIATIVE For Chinese researchers, the joint project with Uzbekistan also combines the past with the present. It highlights both the historical context and the cultural element of China's Belt and Road Initiative aimed at common development and prosperity. Above all, it was Zhang Qian's diplomatic mission in ancient China that prompted the prosperous trade route now known as the Silk Road. On top of sharing results, a Uzbek ownership of the unearthed relics and a whole-course participation by both sides in excavation and study are among the principles guiding the archaeological collaboration, Wang said. Doing protection while doing excavation is also a must-do. The Chinese expert described such an archaeological excavation as "responsible." Similar joint projects are also going on beyond the Uzbek section of the initiative's routes. For example, looking for remains from the ancient Xiongnu nomads in Mongolia, and from the maritime silk road in Vietnam, Cambodia and Myanmar in Southeast Asia, and in as far as Egypt and Kenya in Africa. Culture is an important element in the Belt and Road Initiative, and it serves as a bridge to help increase the understanding between peoples, said Wang Wei, director general of the Archaeological Society of China. "It is the archaeologists' duty to push the exchange and mutual learning between world civilizations," said Wang.
History of the Silk Road
The Silk Road is the world's oldest, and most historically important overland trade route. The name evokes images of caravans wading through desert sand, and smell of exotic spices, and continues to fascinate travelers. Its long history, closely linked with that of China, explains the political and economic reasons for its success. Ancient Trade Route The Silk Road is actually the collective name given to a number of ancient trade routes linking China and Central Asia. The long and winding part in Northwest China, with a history of more than two thousand years, starts from the old capitals of Luoyang and Xi'an, crosses the Yellow River at Lanzhou, follows the "Gansu Corridor", and stretches along the edge of deserts and mountain ranges. Silk Silk Silk Silk, the most luxurious fabric of all, was almost exclusively made in China until the secret was revealed in the 7th century to the West. This precious commodity attracted Central Asian merchants, who in exchange brought horses, cattle, furs, hides, and luxuries, such as ivory and jade, to China. New Commodities New goods were also introduced to the Chinese by the traders: cucumbers, walnuts, sesame seeds, figs, alfalfa, and pomegranates, as well as new skills, e.g. using grapes to make wine, enriching China's ancient civilization. The Silk Road in the Han Dynasty Terracotta Army Terracotta Army in Xi'an Originally, the Chinese traded silk within the empire, from the interior to the western borders. The caravans were often attacked by small Central Asian tribes, and in order to assure the safety of the trade, the Han Government sent General Zhang Qian (200–114 BC) as an envoy to build relationships with these small nomadic states. Starting from Chang'an (today's Xi'an), the capital of the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC–220 AD), and crossing the vast Western Regions, Zhang reached Loulan, Qiuzi, and Yutian, and established trade relations with these small, but important kingdoms. Loulan, Qiuzi and Yutian were later all abandoned for unknown reasons, but travelers today can still see the ruins of these three once flourishing places. Loulan, on the western banks of Lake Lop Nur, about 200 km (120 mi) south of Urumqi, was subsequently covered by the desert. Qiuzi was in the present Kuche County of Aksu Prefecture, about 400 km (250 mi) southwest of Urumqi. Yutian is now called Hetian, and is a small prefecture level city on the southwest fringe of the Taklamakan Desert, about 1,000 km (600 mi) southwest of Urumqi. Zhang's officers went even further into Central Asia. All of the kingdoms Zhang and his delegation visited sent their envoys to Chang'an to express their appreciation for the new relationship, and to show their respect to the Han Government. From then on the merchants traveled on this route safely, and began to carry silk from China to other parts of the world. The Silk Road in the Tang Dynasty Turpan Turpan In the early Tang Dynasty (618–917) the Silk Road was controlled by the Tuque Tribe, allying with small states in the Western Region against the government, and disrupting trade. The Tang Dynasty later conquered the Tuque Tribe, reopened the route, and further promoted trading, resulting in a boom in trade with the West. The famous Chinese monk Xuanzang (602–664) traveled the Silk Road during this period. He began his trip from Chang'an (today's Xi'an), passed through the Hexi Corridor (the area west of the Yellow River), Hami (Xinjiang Region), and Turpan (Xinjiang Region) and continued westward to India. At the time it was commonly believed that people in those states were brutal and wild, and Xuanzang was surprised by the warm reception he received along the way. The change in his attitude contributed greatly to the Tang government's relationship with these nomadic tribes. However, by 760 AD, the Tang Government had lost control of the Western Region and trade on the Silk Road ceased. The Silk Road in the Yuan Dynasty Grand Buddha Temple in ZhangyeGrand Buddha Temple in Zhangye Trade on the Silk Road revived and reached its zenith during the Yuan Dynasty (1271–1368), when China became largely dependent on its silk trade. Genghis Khan conquered all the small states, unified China, and built a large empire under his rule. Marco Polo (1254–1324) traveled along the Silk Road visiting the Yuan capital city Dadu (today's Beijing). In his famous book about the Orient he mentions a special passport in the form of a board. It was issued by the Yuan government to the merchants to protect their trade and free movement within the country. Other preferential treatment was also given to the merchants, and trade boomed, silk traded for medicines, perfumes, slaves, and precious stones. As overland trade became increasingly dangerous, and travel by sea became more popular, trade along the Silk Road declined. While the Chinese did maintain a silk-fur trade with the Russians north of the original Silk Road, by the end of the fourteenth century, trade and travel along the route had decreased significantly. Explore the Silk Road with China Highlights silk road Today the Silk Road still tells many stories of ancient times, and the exchange of cultures. Take a tour to discover the history and culture of the Silk Road. 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Revisiting the Silk Road
BEIJING, June 29 -- In northwest China's vast sun-scorched desert, a camel train plods along the ancient Silk Road. The caravan bells sound as beautiful as they did some 2,000 years ago. The 7,000 km road linking the Orient and Occident, was once jammed with caravans of Chinese silk, Indian spices and Persian brocade. Now the camels carry tourists from around the world. "Those merchants must have been expecting a good price for their goods after all this hardship," said Beijing accountant Guo Ying, 25, after her bumpy camel ride. Centuries after war and competition from sea routes brought decay, the Silk Road is rising again. It was along the road that explorers and pioneers -- most famously the Middle Kingdom's imperial envoy Zhang Qian and the Venetian merchant and traveller Marco Polo -- introduced to their own people the other side of the world. Both East and West are looking again at the routes that maintained stability and prosperity from China to the Mediterranean for many centuries. At a construction site in northwest China's Jiayuguan, Chang'an and Mitsubishi trucks haul construction materials for a new train terminal. The high-speed link between Lanzhou and Xinjiang will soon be launched and passengers will travel at over 200 km per hour, at least 20 times as fast as on camelback. "Caravans are quaint, but we need more railways and air routes," said Lou Qinjian, 58, governor of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, at one extremity of the route. Lou's weather-beaten face shines with passion and perseverance. One year taking office, his province has found itself much nearer the center of Central Asia. Shaanxi now trains at least 1,000 students from Central Asian countries every year. Lou has organized direct flights between Almaty in Kazakhstan and Shaanxi's capital Xi'an. Some 1,500 years ago, merchants from Central Asia, the Middle East and Western Europe braved the Gobi Desert and nomadic bandits to arrive at Chang'an, the historical name of Xi'an, then the world's largest metropolis. Getting cargo across the border today is much easier. At the northwest land port of Horgos, customs procedures have been streamlined as the vast landlocked west is opened to Asian neighbors. Cross-border trade with Kazakhstan at Horgos is expected to grow by 14 percent by December. President Xi Jinping's proposed "Silk Road Economic Belt" revival project could involve over 40 Asian and European countries and regions with a combined population of 3 billion. For Chinese retailer Huang Jie in Kazakhstan, Xi's idea is great news. Over 20 years ago, Huang married a Kazakh man and started a store selling cooking utensils in Almaty, once a major logistic hub on the Silk Road. Almost all the goods in Huang's emporium are imported from China. "They sell very well here," she said, evidenced by a daily turnover that can hit 9,000,000 tenge (around 50,000 U.S. dollars). The caravan trade in Central Asia was mainly East to West from the 4th to 8th century, and dominated by the Sogdians, mostly from Uzbekistan. Uzbek Olimpiade, 52, is well known for his business acumen inherited from his Sogdian ancestors, and also for his mastery of Chinese culture, such as Kung-fu and calligraphy. Olimpiade studied in the Confucius Institute at Tashkent and has been to China four times to learn Kung-fu. His latest epiphany is that martial arts and calligraphy share a lot in common. "Even with Kung-fu, the ancient Silk Road would have been too dangerous for me," he said. Residents of Byzantine capital Istanbul would have agreed with Olimpiade. The city was the starting point for numerous arduous trips along the road over past millennia. Today, products from east China's Yiwu, the world's largest wholesale market, are piled high in Istanbul's Grand Bazaar. Yavuz Onay, chairman of the Turkish Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, is planning to make China a bigger business partner. "I am endeavoring to be Marco Polo in the 21st Century," he said. Onay gave up on universities in London and New York and went to Shanghai as a postgraduate. He now helps the Turkish to do business in China and brings Chinese investors to his country. "To revive the Silk Road, we should have more camels installed with engines," he said. High-speed rail from Istanbul to Ankara and a Bosphorus rail tunnel between Asia and Europe are both part of Turkey's effort to make itself a key juncture on the new Silk Road. "We have been in action to connect Turkey with Central Asia and Europe, even as far as Britain, with high-speed railways," said Omer Onhon, Deputy Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkey. In southern China's Guangzhou City, Marco Polo also has his fans. Among all the ports that contributed to the maritime Silk Road, Guangzhou is the only one where maritime trade never ceased. Last year, Xi proposed the "Maritime Silk Road of the 21st Century" along the less well known ocean route that linked the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Yemeni expat Ali Ismail Mahyiddin has found his fate closely related to the maritime Silk Road which made Guangzhou -- his current home -- a cultural and religious metropolis. "Everyone here is always ready to help me," he said. Mahyiddin runs his own restaurant in Guangzhou, serving both Chinese and Yemeni dishes. The name of his restaurant, Saba, refers to the Yemeni dynasty at the time when the maritime route thrived and brought the Arabian peninsula into the early global trading system. The magic of the Silk Road continues. Over 20,000 Arabians were living in Guangzhou last year, with over 1,000 enterprises, offices and restaurants. Thirteen years after his first encounter with China -- an accidental business trip -- Mahyiddin is now waiting for a Chinese "green card", or permanent residence permit. "I hope to get it as soon as possible," he said. "I am used to living here; this is my home."
Knowledge Graph
Examples
1 The Silk Road is the world's oldest, and most historically important overland trade route.
2 Trade on the Silk Road played a significant role in the development of the civilizations of China, the Subcontinent, Persia, Europe, the Horn of Africa and Arabia, opening long-distance political and economic relations between the civilizations.
3 In addition to economic trade, the Silk Road was a route for cultural trade among the civilizations along its network.