丝绸之路与西南历史交通地理

The Silk Road and the Historical Traffic Geography of Southwest China

历史上的丝绸之路是西方人向东方扩张的结果,而非中国商品主动向外输出的产物。中国古代以"天下之中""天朝无所不有"自居,形成宗藩制度和朝贡体系,缺乏对外贸易的概念和需求。商人社会地位低下,无法自由出境,绝大多数时间无法合法从事对外贸易。西南的交通路线却提供了主动外贸的通道,连接印度以至中亚,意义重大。对西南历史交通地理的研究,包括交通工具、设施、路线、制度、人流物流、起始地与腹地、连接地与影响地等,需要文献、考古、调查考察等多学科综合研究。

The historical Silk Road was the result of the expansion of Westerners into the East rather than the product of the active export of Chinese goods. Taking itself as 'the center of the world' and'having everything it needs',China established the suzerain-vassal system and tributary system and lacked the concept of and demand for foreign trade. With a low social status, merchants were unable to leave the country freely and could not legally engage in foreign trade most of the time.However,the traffic route in Southwest China provided a channel for active foreign trade,connecting the region with India and even central Asia. Hence,this channel was of great significance. Research on the history of the traffic geography in Southwest China involves vehicles,facilities,routes,systems,people flow,goods,starting places,hinterlands,connecting places and affected areas.The research thus needs to be conducted on a multi-disciplinary basis from literature, archaeology,investigation and so on.