FINAL REVIEW / 22 DECEMBER 2009

Cultural Exchanges on the Silk Road

Outline

1. The Silk

2. The Silk Road

3. On the Silk Road

4. Cultural Exchanges on the Silk Road

5. Reflections on the Silk Road

East-West Exchanges Across the Eurasian Continent

A “steppe route” used by the nomadic peoples

A “sea route” used by the coastal seafarers

An “oasis route” used mainly by the sedentary people

The Silk Road
The Silk Road
Richthofen proposed the concept of the Silk Road (“Seidenstrasse”) in 1877

“The road that links China and Transoxanian (between Amu Darya and Syr Darya) as well as that which links China and India, with silk being the main commodity of trade”

Not a single road, but a network of roads



Travelers on the Silk Road丝绸之路上的途人

1、张骞
2、鸠摩罗什
3、玄奘
4、成吉思汗






鸠摩罗什 Kumarajiva (344∼413 C.E.)


玄奘 Xuanzang (602-664 C.E.)

While in India玄奘在印度
Painting in the Indian Parliament, commemorating Xuanzang’s stay in India and acknowledging his contributions to the Indian culture and historiography




The pagoda ordered by Emperor Taizong to house the scriptures Xuanzang brought back to China




A relic of the Buddha, Kushan Empire (2nd C.)

Excavated in early 20th century

Asoka’s Pillar near the birthplace of Buddha
Erected around 300B.C.E.
Excavated around 1910
Vanished Kingdoms on the Silk Road丝绸之路上消失的古国
Loulan 楼兰

Niya 尼雅（精绝）








Niya Site (精绝国遗址)



Some Residents on the Silk Road丝绸之路上的一些居民
Tocharians 吐火罗人
Han 汉人

Qiangs 羌人

Sogdians 粟特人

Turks 突厥人

Mongols 蒙古人













Religions on the Silk Road丝绸之路上的宗教
1. Buddhism 佛教

2. Zoroanstrianism 祆教

3. Manichaeism 摩尼教

4. Nestorianism 景教

5. Islam 伊斯兰教















Gandhara Art 犍陀罗艺术
Buddhists in India originally did not have images of Buddha, believing that it was impossible to portray him.

Buddhists in Bactria felt a need to worship Buddha with human features. Hence, they applied the Greek sculpture and painting techniques to Buddha and other deities.




The Story of Paper 纸的故事

Paintings on the Silk Road丝绸之路上的绘画





Stories of Writing Systems文字的故事


Transformations of the Phoenician Alphabet

The Aramaic script
The Syriac script
The Sogdian script
The Uighur script
The Mongolian script
The Manchurian script


An Aramaic Inscription (3rd century B.C.E.)阿拉美文石刻
Manuscript in Syriac Script古叙利亚文写本

Letter Written in Sogdian Script (4th century)
粟特文书信
A Document in Uighur Script回鹘文


Manchurian writing
满文
Khitan Characters契丹文字
Tangut (Xi Xia) Characters西夏文字
Jurchen (Nuzhen) Characters女真文字



Tang Dynasty Document Unearthed in Caucasus 高加索出土的唐代文书
























Reflections on the Silk Road丝绸之路上的所见所思






Communication in the 13th and 14th Centuries





Thank you!