The Tang Dynasty Ancient Road was opened in the early 7th century AD with the increasingly close tang-Bo relationship.
It was the main transportation route for political, economic and cultural exchanges between the Central Plains Dynasty and the Tibetan Dynasty on the Tibetan Plateau, and its formation experienced a long process of historical development. The "Long Dao", "Gaoping Dao", "Hexi Dao", "Qiangzhong Dao" and "Tuguhun Dao" opened up during the period from the pre-Qin to the Wei and Jin Dynasties and the Northern and Southern Dynasties connected the Central Plains with the western region and the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, laying a solid foundation for the opening of the Tangbo Ancient Road. In the eighth year of Zhenguan, Songzan Gambu sent an envoy to Chang'an, opening the prelude to Tang-Bo relations. Later, with the entry of Princess Wencheng and Princess Jincheng into Tibet, Tang Fan's relationship became increasingly close. The Tang Dynasty Ancient Road opened a post station, and envoys, merchants and monks from both sides exchanged endlessly, becoming a "golden bridge" connecting the Han and Tibetan nationalities.
【Tang】 Horseback shooting hunting gold ornaments
Based on the cultural relics excavated in recent exhibitions and archaeological excavations, this article selects representative cultural relics along the Tang Dynasty Ancient Road in Shaanxi, Gansu and Qinghai, and introduces and evaluates them for the benefit of readers.
The part of Shanxi
Shaanxi section
The Shaanxi section of the Tangbo Ancient Road runs from Xi'an to Longxian, which is the starting part of the Tangbo Ancient Road, passing through today's Xi'an, Xianyang and Baoji areas, and the approximate route is Chang'an (Xi'an City) - Huaili Yi (Xingping City) - Ma SongYi (Xingping City) - Wangyuan Yi (or Wugong County Yi) - Longwei Yi - Qishan County Shi Pig Yi (Qishan County) - Fengxiang Province (Fengxiang County) - Fengyang County Yi (Qianyang County) - Longzhou Zhishou Fengyuan County (Long county). Chang'an, as the starting point of the Tang Dynasty Ancient Road, was the most majestic and open and inclusive city in the world at that time, which integrated the achievements of Chinese and Western civilizations and created transcendent civilization achievements.
Tang Dynasty Gold-plated animal head agate cup
Height 6.5, length 15.6, mouth diameter 5.6 cm. It was excavated in October 1970 in Hejia Village, a southern suburb of Xi'an City, Shaanxi Province, and is now in the collection of the Shaanxi History Museum. The whole piece of beautiful agate is carved, similar in shape to the Western "Laitong", one end is carved into a cup mouth, the other end is carved into a vivid and cute animal head, the mouth is flowing, and the mouth is inlaid with gold plugs. This agate cup is likely to have come to China from the Western Regions as a messenger of cultural exchange, but it is not excluded that it was written by craftsmen from Central or West Asia who lived in Chang'an, or that tang dynasty craftsmen learned foreign crafts and used foreign tribute materials to make masterpieces.
【Tang Dynasty】 Agate cup with gold beast head
Tang Dynasty Three-colored camel figurines carrying goods
It has a height of 29.1 and a length of 45 cm. The Tang Tomb No. 31 of Guo Du Township, Chang'an District, Xi'an Was excavated and is now in the Xi'an Museum. The camel figurine is glazed with yellow, brown and green, the hump head is raised high, and the limbs are bent on the knees. On the back of a cushion of oval felt, between the twin peaks of the hump is mounted with saddles, on which there are colored packs, white ivory, blue silk, and on both sides with horse pedal pots, white flower mouth plates, phoenix pots and other things, which is a typical fine Tang Sancai glaze.
【Tang Dynasty】 Three-color cargo sleeping camel figurines
Tang Dynasty Three-colored pisces pot
Height 28, caliber 9 cm. Excavated in 1957 from the Three Bridges of Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, the Shaanxi Provincial Institute of Archaeology. The pot has a flat round belly, and the entire body is glazed with three colors except for the fishtail. The pot system consists of two carp with their abdomen connected, and the shoulder of the vessel, that is, the top of the two fish heads, has a hole, which can be tied through the rope, and the mouth is small. The pot is ingeniously conceived and uniquely shaped, and is one of the few xiao-shaped wine vessels in Tang Sancai that imitates the image of animals.
【Tang Dynasty】 Three-colored Pisces pot
Tang Dynasty Maple leaf pattern depicts a golden blue glass plate
Height 2.1, outer diameter 15.8 cm. The glassware that came to Chang'an from Western Asia is a sacrifice specially designed for Buddhist offerings.
【Tang Dynasty】Maple leaf pattern depicts a golden blue glass plate
The part of Gansu
Gansu section
The Gansu section of the Tang dynasty ancient road runs from Tianshui to Lanzhou and then to Linxia. The general route is Qingshui County - Qinzhou Zhishou Shangyi County (Tianshui) - Fuqiang County (Gangu County) - Longxi County (Wushan County) - Weizhou Zhishou Xiangwu County (Longxi County) - Weiyuan County - Linzhou Zhishou Didao County (Lintao County) - Lanzhou - Daxia Chuanyi (Guanghe County) - Hezhou Zhishou Fenglinguan - Mantianling (Xiaojishishan). This section of the route is roughly the same as the route of the Silk Road in the region, and the Tang and Longyou prefectures passing through it are important barriers to the west of Chang'an. The development and development of the Tangbo Ancient Road, Gansu is one of the main roads and active areas, the political, economic and cultural integration and collision of various ethnic groups, leaving countless brilliant and magnificent historical and cultural and artistic treasures in Gansu, showing the glory of ancient civilization.
Tang Dynasty Sancai Hu people ride camel figurines
Van Gogh 72.2, width 25, camel height 95.5, length 65 cm. Yejiabao excavated from Qin'an County, Gansu Province, collected by the Gansu Provincial Museum. The Twin-Peaked Camel, looking forward with its head held high, stood still on the ground, making a hissing sound, and next to it stood a bearded man with deep eyes and a high nose, holding fists with both hands, and the posture was like pulling the reins, because of the long time, the reins and laos had been lost. Hu merchants used camels as means of transport, carrying gemstones, spices, and agate, and returned full of silk, porcelain, and tea, and exotic customs, religions, and cultures also came, and they made special contributions to cultural exchanges and trade exchanges between the East and the West.
【Tang Dynasty】 Sancai Hu people ride camel figurines
Tang Dynasty Gilded bronze Hu Teng dance figurines
Height 13.5 cm. Collected in 1940 by Shandan County, Gansu Province, collected by the Museum of Shandan County, Gansu Province. This bronze figurine is currently the only "Hu Teng Dance" statue seen in China, the dancer has deep eyes and a high nose, wears a pointed hat, wears a narrow-sleeved long shirt, and the skirt is flying. Foot bending head soft boots, right arm uplifted, left foot standing on a lotus-covered round platform, right leg flexion and extension uplift, do dance. From the Northern Dynasty to the Sui and Tang Dynasties, music and dance from the Western Regions were introduced to the Central Plains in large quantities, and Hule song and dance became a popular Chang'an fashion.
【Tang Dynasty】 Gilded bronze Hu Teng dance figurines
The part of Qinghai
Qinghai section
The Tangbo Ancient Road spans five provinces and regions, more than half of which is in Qinghai, which is the only way to Qinghai, Tibet and even Nepal and India in the central plains, and is also the traditional Tangbo Ancient Road route. From Minhe to Yushu via Xining, the approximate route is Longzhi County (ruins of the northern ancient city of the ancient yan basin) - Huangshui County (Ledu County) - Tangbian Prefecture's westernmost county Ofancheng (Xining City) - Suirong City (Huangyuan County North Ancient City Site) - Shibao City (Tubo Tieling City) - Chiling (Riyue Mountain) - Dafeichuan (Gonghe County) - Dulan - Naluyi - (Daheba Township, Xinghai County) - Duomi Kingdom (service tubo, centered on Yushu Batang Grassland) - Yaniu River (Tongtian River) - Lieyi (Jielong Township, Yushu County) - Truncated Branch Bridge (Ziqu River Valley, Yushu County). This section is located in The Key Chong, since the Han Dynasty Zhang Qian chiseled through the western region, has been an important hub on the southern line of the Silk Road, successively controlled by the Western Qiang, Tuguhun, Tubo and other ethnic groups, has always been the focus of the Central Plains Dynasty and the national regimes that control the region for control of the Silk Road.
During the Sixteen Kingdoms period of the Wei and Jin dynasties, the golden mussel shell feathers were coveted
Length 13.7, width 10.4, height 3.5cm. The tomb of Wei Jin of Nantan Brick and Tile Factory in Xining City was excavated and collected by the Qinghai Provincial Museum. Yu Qian is an ear cup used in ancient drinking, popular in the Warring States to the Wei and Jin Dynasties, for daily life utensils, mostly with wooden tires as utensils, there are also copper ear cups, mussel shell material is relatively rare. Qinghai Province is inland and does not produce mussels, so it is more likely that the feathers came from the Central Plains.
【Wei and Jin Sixteen Kingdoms Period】 Golden Mussel Shell Feather
Tang Red Land Zhongqiao Tsushima Brocade
Length 21, width 13 cm. Qinghai Dulan Ancient Tomb excavated, Haixi Prefecture Museum of Nationalities collection. This fabric is well preserved, brightly colored, with red as the base, and yellow and black in between. The pattern is two basically complete beaded doughs, and the pattern is a Tsushima pattern within the two doughs. The horse stands on a flower platform with lotus petals, facing each other. The mane is banded with wing wings. There are two knotted streamers at the back of the neck, and the wings are curved upwards like curly grass. The legs of the horse are tied in three legs, and the front and back legs are lifted up, full of movement. The motifs of this type of "winged horse" originated from the Sassanid and Persian dynasties, and are a form of expression of the popular "Pegasus" motif in the West. This pattern was processed and transformed in the process of being introduced to China, which is the result of cultural exchanges.
【Tang】 Red earth in the middle of the horse pattern brocade
Tang Pointed to the Golden Cup
Caliber 9.5, height 4.3, base diameter 5.1 cm. Qinghai hot water cemetery excavated. The gold cup is round, open, curved abdomen, abdomen with a circle of folded edges, round bottom, dwarf circle foot, hammer molding, all-over phototropic no ornamentation. At the rim of the mouth is a cup with a flat and wide finger pad. This kind of vessel shape is found in the Tang Dynasty and the Sassanid and Sogdian systems of gold and silverware, and this kind of belt cup is obviously influenced by the West, some may be directly made by foreign craftsmen, and some are imitations of foreign utensils in the Tang Dynasty.
【Tang】 鋬 refers to the Golden Cup
Tang Tibetan Bu bone
Length 15.6, width 3.3 10.3 cm. Dulan County, Haixi Mongol Autonomous Prefecture, was excavated from the guanhe site along the reservoir, and the Qinghai Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology is in the collection. The bone is the shoulder blade of the animal, and its ink book is in the tibetan text, and the bone is used for the purpose of the bone. Guanche ruins are the first Tubo period settlement sites found in Qinghai. The bone is of great academic value for the study of ancient Tibetan sacrifices, witchcraft rituals, and Tubo tombs.
【Tang】 Tibetan Bu bone