以丝绸为中心的中古时期中西文化交流考察

An investigation on the cultural exchanges between China and the West in the medieval period centered on silk

蚕丝技艺是中华民族的杰出发明,丝绸自其被域外民族认知以来,就受到了广泛而持久地追捧,成为服饰界的宠儿。尤其是在中古时期,随着西北陆路"丝绸之路"迎来其发展的黄金时期,丝绸大量输出至西方世界,在这一时期丝绸的域外传播过程中,除了官方基于外交、军事和政治考量的大规模丝绸输出外,民间的丝绸贸易也迅速展开有重要作用。在交通和通信技术极不发达的中古时期,中西方之间远距离的丝绸贸易活动主要是通过中亚商业民族——粟特人为媒介进行的,他们对中国丝绸文化深入而广泛的传播有重要作用。

Silk technology is the most outstanding invention and creation of the Chinese nation.Since it was recognized by foreign nations,silk has won wide and lasting pursuit and become the favorite of the clothing fashion industry.Especially in the medieval period,as the northwest land"Silk Road"ushered in the golden period of its development,silk was exported to the western world in large quantities.During the extraterritorial transmission of silk in this period,in addition to the largescale silk export based on diplomatic,military and political considerations,the folk silk trade also developed rapidly.In the middle ancient times,when the transportation and communication technologies were extremely underdeveloped,the long-distance silk trade between China and the West was mainly carried out through the medium of Sogdians,a commercial nation in ancient Central Asia.They made outstanding historical contributions to the the deep and wide spread of Chinese silk culture.By combing the silk products and related historical and cultural relics found in the cities and towns along the ancient land"Silk Road"since modern times,this paper explores the important contribution of the Sogdians to the world dissemination of Chinese silk and its penetration into the world of Chinese culture.