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    THE ANCIENT SILK ROAD: A CHANNEL THAT LINKED THE WEST AND EAST

    Written by: Jia Ying Yi and Wu Yanchun
    Posted on: July 28, 2012 | | 中文

    More than two thousand years ago, Zhang Qian, an imperial envoy of the Han dynasty (200 B.C), left Xi’an and travelled towards the west, crossing the Gobi-desert and high mountains, until he reached the Ancient Regions and the oases of Central Asia. On this great expedition, he brought Chinese silk with him, taking it to the places he visited on his journey. Silk, as a symbol of the eastern civilization, served to attract the interest and curiosity of the people in the west. The subsequent emergence of the Silk Road opened prospects for the peoples of both regions to pursue friendly communication and cooperation. Through this great channel, the five ancient civilizations of the world at the time met, the consequences of which impacted history. It is for this reason that the Silk Road has been a recurrent theme in the cultural history of the world.   

    The world famous Silk Road made it possible for the political, economic and cultural exchanges between the ancient west and east to be realized, and helped to develop friendly relations among the peoples that lived along it. The name itself was coined by the German scholar F. Von Richthofen. Later, another German scholar by the name of A. Herman, put forth the idea that the concept of the ancient Silk Road could be extended to ancient Syria; it was a view that was quickly and widely accepted. At the end of 19th and the beginning of the 20th century, the term came into frequent use by many western explorers who travelled to Xinjiang and Central Asia, such as Sven Hedin of Sweden. Hedin even wrote a book titled “The Silk Road”.      
        
    In fact, this land channel linking the west and the east had existed 3000 to 4000 years before Zhang Qian traversed it. However, the route did not become well known until it became prosperous during the Han Dynasty. This success was born after Emperor Wu sent Zhang Qian on a diplomatic mission to the ancient Western Regions, as the classics of the time record. During his mission, Zhang Qian developed several relationships among the people of Central Asia, where he visited the Fergana Valley, the Samarqand Basin and the Balkhash Lake area. The route Zhang Qian travelled eventually became the one that was officially used and, soon, merchants began to utilize it for trade. Zhang Qian himself brought articles from China, silk being the most important commodity, to the Western Regions and Central Asia. In return, he also brought back to China the products and the culture of those regions he visited, including the music of the Western Regions. The opening of this route facilitated the people of both regions in devoping a greater understanding of each other. This saw the Silk Road became prosperous and busy with activity. It became a channel that linked the western and eastern civilizations, and in order to protect it, the rulers of each dynasty of China built beacon towers and stationed troops along it.

    The Silk Road was never a fixed “road”, and its routes changed with time. However, the main route remained unaltered; it began from Chang’an (the present Xi’an), crossed the Tarim Basin and the Pamirs (Congling), passed through Central Asia and Western Asia, before finally reaching the eastern bank of the Mediterranean. The total length of the route was about 7000 kilometers long.  
     
    Present day Xinjiang, which lies at the heart of Asia, was one of the regions by which the ancient Silk Road passed. There were three routes through Xinjiang that constituted part of the early Silk Road: the grassland route which passed by present day Jimsar, Yili, to reach Balkhash Lake area and further westward to the northern bank of the Black Sea; the southern route which went by Loulan and along the Kunlun Mountains to Shache (Yakend) and further across Congling, providing a path to Central Asia, Western Asia and Europe; and the northern route, which went along the Kunque River, northwest to Loulan, westward through Yingpan, Kucha and Shule, across Congling, and finally reached Europe.       

    Subsequently, two new routes were formed. These were the northern route, which began at Yumen Gate, went northwest, passing by present day Hami, Turpan, Jimsar, and linked the old grassland; and the middle route, which began at Turpan, went westward along the Tianshan Mountains and passed by Yanji and Kucha, linking with the old northern route. The southern route remained the same.   

    In the late 7th century, the role of the ancient Silk Road underwent a decrease in significance, as sea transportation became more common. However, it still remained an important channel of communication between the west and east. In the early 19th century, a Spanish journalist wrote about the trade in Samarqand, saying that “the commodities from all the directions gathered at Samarqand, and the silk from China was beautiful.” He also wrote that he had “seen a Caravan from China and it had 800 camels!”

    As the silk was transported to Central Asia, Western Asia and Europe, so were the techniques of raising silkworms and weaving silk. The jade, leather and blankets of present day Xinjiang, and the ironware, pottery, lacquerware, peaches, apricots, rhubarb and cinnamon of ancient China were also introduced to the west. At the same time, glassware, special stones, economic crops, spices, medicinal herbs, as well as Nestorianism, Buddhism and Islam were introduced to China from these other regions. The economic and cultural exchanges between the west and the east enriched the material life of the people of the time. It was these exchanges that fostered learning and the evolution of new cultures.    

    The ancient Silk Road was not only a route for trade, but also a road of friendship. Its role in the development of the societies that benefited from it is recorded in history, and its contribution to bringing the west and east closer is acknowledged the world over.
     


    As the new year begins, let us also start anew. I’m delighted to extend, on behalf of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and in my own name, new year’s greeting and sincere wishes to YOULIN magazine’s staff and readers.

    Only in hard times can courage and perseverance be manifested. Only with courage can we live to the fullest. 2020 was an extraordinary year. Confronted by the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Pakistan supported each other and took on the challenge in solidarity. The ironclad China-Pakistan friendship grew stronger as time went by. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor projects advanced steadily in difficult times, become a standard-bearer project of the Belt and Road Initiative in balancing pandemic prevention and project achievement. The handling capacity of the Gwadar Port has continued to rise and Afghanistan transit trade through the port has officially been launched. The Karakoram Highway Phase II upgrade project is fully open to traffic. The Lahore Orange Line project has been put into operation. The construction of Matiari-Lahore HVDC project was fully completed. A batch of green and clean energy projects, such as the Kohala and Azad Pattan hydropower plants have been substantially promoted. Development agreement for the Rashakai SEZ has been signed. The China-Pakistan Community of Shared Future has become closer and closer.

    Reviewing the past and looking to the future, we are confident to write a brilliant new chapter. The year 2021 is the 100th birthday of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan. The 100-year journey of CPC surges forward with great momentum and China-Pakistan relationship has flourished in the past 70 years. Standing at a new historic point, China is willing to work together with Pakistan to further implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, connect the CPEC cooperation with the vision of the “Naya Pakistan”, promote the long-term development of the China-Pakistan All-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership with love, dedication and commitment. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan said, “We are going through fire. The sunshine has yet to come.” Yes, Pakistan’s best days are ahead, China will stand with Pakistan firmly all the way.

    YOULIN magazine is dedicated to promoting cultural exchanges between China and Pakistan and is a window for Pakistani friends to learn about China, especially the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is hoped that with the joint efforts of China and Pakistan, YOULIN can listen more to the voices of readers in China and Pakistan, better play its role as a bridge to promote more effectively people-to-people bond.

    Last but not least, I would like to wish all the staff and readers of YOULIN a warm and prosper year in 2021.

    Nong Rong Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
    The People’s Republic of China to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
    January 2021