Review the History of the Silk Road

The poetic word Silk Road (Silouyoulai, Sichouzilu or Silu in Chinese) appeared first in a book China (1877) by German geographer Richthafen and was later acknowledged in The Ancient Silk Road between China and Syria (1910) by Albert Herman. Now, this beautiful name has been widely used to symbolically indicate the east-west line of communication between Asia and Europe in ancient time, and is loved by people of the world.

The opening of the Silk Road and its contribution
Around 200 B.C., that is, approximately in late Qing Dynasty and early Han Dynasty, Xiongnu (or Hun) that had been active in Mongolian grassland to the north became stronger than ever, not only forcing the countries in the Western Region to subject to it, but defeating Liu Bang, the first Emperor of Han Dynasty himself in Baideng Area. West Han Dynasty, after 40 years of prosperity (during reign of Emperor Wen and Jing), became powerful.

In the reign of Liu Che (Emperor Wu of Han Dynasty), the national strength became even more powerful with many brilliant generals and advisers. His reign was considered one of the most splendid periods of the history of China. Emperor Wu of Han Dynasty was an emperor of great wisdom and talent. With a strategy of befriending distant states while attacking those nearby, he not only defeated the Hun and forced them to retreat to the north, but opened the Silk Road which connected Europe, Asia and Africa, rewriting the history of the development of civilization of the whole human race. The total length of the Silk Road is 7,000km (14,000li). Starting from 200BC to 15th Century when sea transportation became flourishing, it connected the ancient Chinese civilization with that of India, Greece, and Persia. Through it, not only large amount of (and most important of all cargoes) silk was transported to the west, but also the techniques of planting mulberry and raising of silkworm, gunpowder, compass, bronze smelting, papermaking, printing etc. were also introduced to mid-Asia, Iran, Rome. On the other hand, various products, Buddhism, Nestorianism (a sect of Christianity), Islamism, astronomy, calendar system, mathematics, medical science, music, and arts were also introduced to China. Silk Road was an artery of East-West communication starting from China, and was the main route of Chinese expansion during its flourishing period and was the main route through which Chinese civilization was exported and communication of China and western civilization and trade was carried out. It took China as its center, radiating to various directions, including south to Indochina Peninsula and the South Sea, east to Korea Peninsula and, after crossing the sea, Japan. Japanese civilization was heavily influenced, through the Silk Road, by Chinese and western civilization. A Japanese, Fujidoumeihou once wrote, Eastern capital Louyang and Western capital Chang’an are the two ancient capitals and the centers of the 3000 years’ history of China. Especially during Han Dynasty, which lasted long before and after the birth of Christ and Tang Dynasty of 7A.D. to 10A.D., the flower of Asian civilization bloomed into full blossom in these two ancient capitals. Japan had sent more than 10 envoys to Tang. And Buddhism and Buddhist arts were passed to the two ancient capitals of China from the west, which lay thousands of miles away.

The oriental and western civilization merged here and was disseminated through Korea peninsula of sea to NARA and KYOTO, Japan. The Silk Road, which had brought glory to history for more than one thousand years, was centered at Chang’an, radiating brilliance of Han and Tang.

Written by www.travel-silkroad.com
Translated by Beijing Star-light Translation Center
September 12, 2002