|
Preface
to the First Issue
 |
One
must eat to live, not live to eat; there must be profit
for business, yet profit is not the sole aim of business.
Business
investment, where the benefits to the society are considered,
is a meaningful investment. The business of deriving
economic value while promoting culture is one that I
have great enthusiasm for. The Silk Road development,
with its commercial and cultural values, is truly a
project worth devoting my energy and years' of experience
to.
|
Hong
Kong is a vibrant and dynamic international city. Relationships
among people, business enterprises and political interests
are subject to fast and frequent changes. These changes lead
to stress - one of the greatest and most inevitable miseries
of urban living. However, by taking a leisurely journey through
the historical space and time, you will realize that everyday
change is nothing more than a flash of lightning across the
sky. Whether you succeed or fail, it matters not so much -
as long as whatever you do is meaningful to your community
and your nation, you will find fulfillment and satisfaction.
Back
to Top
Silk
and the History of the Silk Road
Legend has it that the process of producing silk and its many
uses was discovered by Leizu, wife of Huangdi, and references
to sericulture have been made from the very beginning of China's
written history. Archeologists have discovered relics from
the Neolithic era showing that silkworms, mulberry trees and
woven silk cloth existed in the Yellow River Valley at that
time. The Shijing (The Book of Songs) records numerous poems
detailing the activities of silk production.
From
this time the gradual progress of the silk trade westwards
can be seen through the history of other countries. In the
work Arthasastra, a high-ranking official-cum-merchant of
India described the transportation of silk to India from a
place called "Cina" four hundred years before the birth of
Christ. The word "Cina" is almost certainly derived from Qin,
the ruling family of the Qin Dynasty (221-207 BC). The Roman
scholar Gaius Pliny the Elder (23-79 AD) stated in his book
National History that silk was produced in "Seres" (China),
where the word "Seres" was derived from the Greek "Sere" which
referred to silk. After the silk was woven into beautifully
designed and embroidered fabrics in China, it was then transported
to Rome and sold to be made into exquisite gowns for Roman
noblewomen.
The
westward transport of silk led to the gradual joining together
of the routes from East to West into what we think of as the
Silk Road. A large influence on the development of the Silk
Road was the sending of General Zhang Qian in 138 BC on a
diplomatic mission to Xizu (The Western Territories) by Emperor
Wudi of the Han Dynasty in an attempt to unite those countries
into a military alliance against the aggressive Huns. This
event led to greater mutual understanding and friendship between
the Emperor and the countries of the Western Territories.
Trading along the Silk Road reached its height during the
Sui and Tang dynasties (581-907 AD). As a result, relations
between China and the West took a great leap forward and the
Silk Road became an important channel for the cultural and
commercial flow between China and the West. Many legends and
stories have passed down to us from this time, weaving a colourful
picture of the Silk Road culture.
Although
the Silk Road got its name from its importance in transporting
silk to the West, there were countless other goods transported
back and forth along the Silk Road, including tea-leaves,
porcelain wares and iron utensil from China, while spice,
precious stones, leather, glass and agricultural products
from the West. Apart from the physical exchange of goods,
there was the exchange of culture and technology. The four
great inventions of China - paper, gunpowder, printing and
the compass, were carried westward along the Silk Road, while
the three great religions of the world, Buddhism, Islam and
Christianity traveled eastward to China. The Silk Road thus
contributed greatly to the development of human civilization
as we know it today.
|
However,
the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD) saw the development of
profitable marine routes for trade in addition to the
Silk Road. The sea routes from the southern coastal city
of Canton (Guangzhou) to the Middle East were well developed.
Even greater expansion was achieved in the Yuan and Ming
Dynasties, (1279-1644 AD), an especially noteworthy feat
being seven expeditions made to the India Ocean and the
Eastern Coast of Africa by the famous Chinese eunuch,
Zheng He during 1405-1422 AD. Advances in navigation and
resulting economic benefits led to great improvements
in the efficiency of marine transportation, and trade
via the sea routes rose to such an extent that it eventually
replaced the Silk Road. |
Today,
the Silk Road is no longer important the way it was in the
sense of facilitating trade and cultural exchange, yet it
remains an important and fascinating cultural resource.
Back
to Top
The
Three Sections of the Silk Road
The
Silk Road is not single straight thoroughfare. It is actually
a group of routes linking China and the West. Within China,
it goes through the province of Shaanxi, Ningxia, Gansu and
Xinjiang; outside China, it traverses Middle Asia, including
Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, Syria and Turkey.
First,
The Western Section stretches from Middle Asia to India and
Pakistan, then to westward to West Asia and Europe.
Second,
The Middle Section refers to the section west of Dunhuang
to the border of Middle Asia. This section is divided into
three routes in order to bypass the mountains and deserts:
the north, middle and south routes. They pass through such
cities as Urumqi, Turpan, Kuqa, Kashi and Hotan.
Third,
The Eastern Section starts from Xi'an and goes westward through
the Hexi Corridor through cities such as Lanzhou, Wuwei, Zhangye,
Jiuquan and ends at Dunhuang Oasis by the Gobi Desert.
Back
to Top
The
Story of Zhang Qian
Zhang
Qian was a General of the Han Dynasty. He was an influential
character in the history of the Silk Road, and his legendary
life story is still told today.
The
Han Dynasty had long been threatened by the Huns. The Emperor
Han Wudi therefore began seeking alliances with other kingdoms
in the Western Territory in order that together they might
defeat the powerful enemy. In 138 BC, Han Wudi sent Zhang
to visit the Yueh-chih people to discuss such an alliance.
However, on the way Zhang was captured by the Huns, who recognized
his ability, and insisted him to marry a woman chosen from
their tribe. His new wife had even born him a son. Yet he
never forgot his mission. After eleven years among the Huns,
he escaped and reached "Yueh-chih", but was later
recaptured. He eventually returned home after a total of thirteen
years.
Emperor
Wudi had not lost faith in his General and in 119 BC Zhang
was again sent to develop political contacts, this time with
the Wusun people. Zhang also sent representatives to other
Central Asian countries as far away as Anxi (todays' Iran).
Although
Zhang never did achieve his original mission of securing allies
for his Emperor against the Huns, he effectively opened up
the gateway for cultural and economic exchange between the
East and West. Zhang's journeys were recorded in two works
titled Shiji (Historical Records of China) and Hanshu (Book
of the Han) which together greatly enhanced the knowledge
and understanding of the Han (Chinese people) about the western
kingdoms. Zhang is now known as the "Great Traveller" in the
history of China.
Back
to Top
|
