Huo Wei: Archaeological Research on the Highland Silk Road from the Prehistoric Period to the Tang Dynasty

The concept of the "Plateau Silk Road" is an extension of the narrow sense of the Silk Road, and it is a broad concept. Specifically, it refers to the transportation network and its main lines from the Central Plains of China via the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, or starting from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, for exchanges between the East and the West, and between China and foreign regions in different periods.

In the past, archaeological work on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau started late, and there was a lack of strong archaeological evidence to discuss this concept. In recent years, great progress has been made in archaeological work in Tibet. A batch of important archaeological materials has been unearthed from the prehistoric era to the Han and Tang Dynasties (which can be roughly equivalent to the early "small states" era of Tubo and the Tang Dynasty Tubo Dynasty in terms of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau). A large number of Han and Jin Dynasty and Tang Dynasty silk fragments directly related to the concept of the Silk Road; components of jewelry such as gemstones and pearls commonly seen in Eurasian and maritime trade; many of the unearthed gold and silverware are imitations of Sasanian Persian Dynasty and Sogdian system gold and silverware from Central Asia; a large number of winged mythical creatures and large horned animals, etc., which reflect the cultural colors of the Eurasian grasslands, are decorated on gold and silverware.

Achievements of the National Social Science Fund of China

Title: Archaeological Research on the Plateau Silk Road from Prehistoric to Tang Dynasty

Author: Huo Wei

Publisher: Science Press

Publication Time: April 2023

Synopsis

Based on archaeological materials for observation and analysis, and combined with documentary materials and other methods for comparative research, this book proposes and conducts systematic and in-depth scientific research on the proposition of the "Plateau Silk Road" in the form of thematic research.

The contents of each chapter in the book are based on the new archaeological discoveries on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in recent years, and are discussed in combination with Han-Tibetan literature and multidisciplinary research in history, ethnology, geography, etc., demonstrating the concept, main lines, and transportation network of the "Plateau Silk Road." It constructs the basic pattern of the Plateau Silk Road from prehistoric to Tang Dynasty, providing important evidence for forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation, with academic innovation significance, academic value, and practical significance.

Contents

Introduction

Section 1: The Problem /001

Section 2: Definition of the Concept of "Plateau Silk Road" /003

Section 3: Theoretical Basis of the Plateau Silk Road /005

Chapter 1: The Earliest Pioneers of the Plateau Silk Road

Section 1: Cultural Exchange in the Prehistoric Era of Tibet /008

Section 2: The Development of the Main Transportation Lines of the Early Plateau Silk Road /028

1. Western Qinghai-Tibet Plateau /031

2. Southwestern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau /034

3. Southeastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau /035

4. Northeastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau /037

Section 3: New Evidence Provided by Archaeology in Western Tibet /038

Chapter 2: The Formation of the Prehistoric Transportation Network in Western Tibet

Section 1: Early Tombs in Western Tibet and Their Relationship with Surrounding Cultures /043

1. The Basic Cultural Features Reflected by Early Tombs /044

2. Analysis of Cultural Elements in Early Tombs /052

3. The Formation of Regional Centers and the Interaction of Cross-Regional Cultures /060

Section 2: Yangtong "Chieftains" and the Opening of the Silk Road /066

1. Discovery of "Chieftain" Tombs and Their Funeral Customs in Western Tibet /067

2. Foreign Contacts and Exchanges of the Yangtong "Chieftains" /071

3. Early Development of the "Plateau Silk Road" in Western Tibet /076

Section 3: The Far-Reaching Influence of the Han and Jin Dynasties Silk Road in Western Tibet /082

1. Silk Road Transportation and the Formation of Regional Civilization Centers /082

2. The Far-Reaching Influence of the Han and Jin "Plateau Silk Road" /086

Chapter 3: The Prehistoric Passage in the Eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

Section 1: Luhuo Stone Coffin Burial and Prehistoric Cultural Passage /092

1. Luhuo Stone Coffin Burial is One of the Earliest Stone Coffin Burial Cultures in China /092

2. The Spread of Stone Coffin Burial Culture and the Prehistoric North-South Passage /095

3. Luhuo Stone Coffin Burial and "Hor" Culture /098

Section 2: Northern Bronze Culture Elements in Stone Coffin Burials in Western Sichuan Plateau /099

1. The Proposal of "Northern Bronze Culture Elements" in the Archaeological Data of "Southwestern Barbarians" /099

2. Northern Bronze Culture Elements in Early Stone Coffin Burials /102

3. Influence and Diffusion of Northern Bronze Culture Elements /110

4. Population Migration and Cultural Exchange /119

Section 3: The "Tibetan-Qiang-Yi Corridor" in Archaeological Perspective /124

1. The "Tibetan-Yi Corridor" is the Main Artery Connecting the Southwest and Northwest Regions /125

2. The "Tibetan-Yi Corridor" is an Important Passage to Yunnan and Southeast Asia /128

3. The "Tibetan-Yi Corridor" is an Important Node of the "Plateau Silk Road" /131

4. The "Tibetan-Yi Corridor" and the "Belt and Road" /133

Section 4: Western Tibet and the Hengduan Mountains: Inspiration from the Double Disc-Shaped Pommel Bronze Dagger /135

1. Double Disc-Shaped Pommel Bronze Dagger Unearthed in Western Tibet /135

2. Double Disc-Shaped Pommel Bronze Dagger Unearthed in Southwest China /137

3. The Relationship with the Bronze Sword Group in the Northern Region /141

4. The Southward and Westward Movement of the Northern Grassland Culture /145

Chapter 4: The Establishment and Expansion of the "Plateau Silk Road" During the Tubo Dynasty

Section 1: The Foreign Exchange Road Network Formed by the Tubo Dynasty in the 7th-9th Centuries /150

1. The Opening of the "New Road" - "Fanni Road" /151

2. The Transportation Route from Tubo to Central Asia /153

3. The Passage from Eastern Tubo to Tianzhu (India) through the "Shushendu Road" and "Dianmian Road" /155

Section 2: "The Inscription of the Great Tang Envoy to Tianzhu" and the "New Road" Fanni Road in the Early Tang Dynasty /157

Section 3: New Archaeological Discoveries of Sino-Nepalese Cultural Exchange in the Gyirong River Valley /167

1. New Discoveries and Research on the Rock Carvings of Risong Gongbu /167

2. The Relationship Between the Rock Carvings of Risong Gongbu and Other Remains /171

3. Relevant Records in Tibetan Historical Materials /176

4. The Traditional Combination of Maitreya, Avalokite艣vara, and Ma帽ju艣r墨 /180

5. Brahmanical Pagoda Architecture and Newly Discovered Stone Stele Bases /181

Section 4: Discovery of Han and Jin Silk in Western Tibet and the Northwest Passage /188

1. The Discovery Process and Age Estimation of Ancient Silk Fabrics /189

2. Yangtong (Zhangzhung) in the Early Tang Dynasty /195

3. The Northwest Road Through Tubo to India and the Western Regions in the Early Tang Dynasty /205

4. Speculation on the Origin of Silk /210

Section 5: The Introduction of Tea and Tea Drinking Customs into Tibet /211

Section 6: Tubo and Inner Asian Civilization in the Archaeological Perspective of the Tang Dynasty /220

1. Tubo and Inland Asia /220

2. The Connection Between the Tubo Dynasty and Central Asia /222

3. The Connection Between Coffin Paintings, Tubo Horse Gear, Plastic Arts, etc., and Surrounding Cultures /247

Section 7: Cultural Exchanges Between China and Foreign Countries Seen in Tubo Gold and Silverware and Silk /253

Section 8: Golden Masks and the Silk Road /282

1. Golden Masks Discovered in Archaeological Excavations on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau /283

2. Archaeological Observations on the Age, Type, and Usage /289

3. The Cultural Significance Implied by the Golden Mask /297

Chapter 5: The Qinghai Road of the Plateau Silk Road

Section 1: Ancient Qinghai and the Silk Road Seen in Cultural Relics and Archaeology /304

1. Foreign Exchanges in Qinghai from Prehistoric to Han Dynasty /306

2. The "Qinghai Road" During the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties /309

3. The Management of the "Qinghai Road" by Tubo in the Tang Dynasty /314

Section 2: Sogdians and the Qinghai Road /319

Section 3: Tubo Horses and Knight Images on Gold and Silverware /329

Section 4: Recent Archaeological Discoveries and the Multicultural Exchange During the Tubo Period in Qinghai /342

1. Archaeological Discoveries of Tomb No. 1 in Reshui XueWei, Dulan in 2018 /343

2. Quangou Tomb No. 1 Integrating Han and Hu Cultures /362

3. New Archaeological Data and New Research Insights /371

Chapter 6: The Path of Buddhist Transmission on the Eastern Foothills of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in the Tang Dynasty

Section 1: The Historical Background of Tubo Buddhist Cliff Statues in Eastern Tibet /374

1. Ethnic and Cultural Integration Seen in the Inscriptions of Statues /376

2. The Tang-Tubo Alliance and Tubo Buddhism /384

3. Cultural Heritage Reflecting the Friendly Relations Between Han and Tibet /388

Section 2: Jiannan Yizhou in the Perspective of Tang-Tubo Exchanges and Tubo Cliff Statues in Eastern Tibet /391

1. Tubo Statues in Eastern Tibet and the "Tang-Tubo Ancient Road" /392

2. The Relationship Between the Introduction of Tang Dynasty Chan Buddhism into Tubo and Yizhou /396

3. Tubo and Yizhou "When the Tang-Tubo Alliance was First Established" /402

4. The "Cultural Background" of Cliff Statues in Eastern Tibet /406

Section 3: Cultural Interaction in Tubo Cliff Statues in Eastern Tibet /407

1. Yixi Yang Recorded in the Inscription of Tubo Buddhist Cliff Statues in Eastern Tibet /408

2. Yixi Yang and His Religious Activities in Ancient Tibetan Documents from Dunhuang /413

3. A Historical Monument of Han-Tibetan Harmony /418

Section 4: New Archaeological Discoveries in the Mahavairocana Buddha Hall in Yushu, Qinghai /420

1. A Brief History of the Investigation of the Mahavairocana Buddha Hall /420

2. New Archaeological Discoveries /424

3. Preliminary Discussion on Related Issues /428

Section 5: A Re-examination of the Cliff Statues in Lebagou and Other Places in Yushu, Qinghai /431

1. Lebagou Guxiuzema Statues /431

2. Lebagou Wunasangga Rock Carvings /439

3. Lebagou QiaGang Statues /452

Section 6: The Newly Discovered Mahavairocana Hall in Gatuo Town, Markam, Tibet /460

1. Zixu Mahavairocana Buddha Hall Statues /461

2. The Layout Characteristics and Age of Mahavairocana and the Eight Great Bodhisattvas /465

3. The Relationship Between the Newly Discovered Statues and the Markam Transportation Node /467

Chapter 7: Conclusion

1. The Historical Significance of the "Plateau Silk Road" /472

2. The Most Important Main Lines and Road Networks of the Plateau Silk Road /475

3. People of All Ethnic Groups on the Plateau Jointly Created the Great "Plateau Silk Road" /479

Appendix 1: Comparison Table of Han and Tibetan Proper Nouns /481

Appendix 2: Genealogy of Tubo Zampus /488

References/490

Index/527

Postscript/536