Qilu Evening News Qilu One Point Reporter Qu Peng

Correspondent: Meng Xiao

When the camel bell crossed the thousand-year-old wind and sand, Xuanzang's westward footprints carved an eternal mark on the Silk Road. Zhang Anfu, a professor of history at Shanghai University, led the team to measure the Silk Road with their feet, freeze the ruined ancient temples with the lens, and transform the text code of "The Western Regions of the Tang Dynasty" into a palpable and sensible dialogue of time and space. They experienced the danger of "high anti-veil" vehicles in the Bedieli River Valley, touched the wisdom of the echo wall in the ancient city of Gaochang, and witnessed the power of faith on the Tangbo Ancient Road - this is not only an academic expedition, but also a civilization tracing the origin of the contemporary "Belt and Road" spirit. Professor Zhang Anfu and his team recorded the shocking cultural exploration journey in the "Walking the Silk Road" series, which is not only an affectionate look back on history, but also a vivid annotation of the current cultural inheritance.

Zhang Anfu, professor of history at Shanghai University

1

Come to the scene and touch the history

Qilu Evening News:In recent years, there has been an endless stream of books on the Silk Road, what inspired you to create such a series of books on the Silk Road? What unique perspectives does it have compared to other books of its kind?

Zhang Anfu:Over the years, our team has been deeply involved in the field of the Silk Road, continued to carry out seminars and research, and went to the field many times to conduct detailed investigations on the relics related to the Silk Road. In this process, we not only collected a large amount of precious first-hand information, but also gained a profound and unique understanding of the Silk Road in the exploration again and again. From the perspective of the cultural inheritance of the Silk Road, the publication of this series of books on the Silk Road is like a bridge, building a convenient passage for the public to the depths of the history of the Silk Road. With vivid brushstrokes and meticulous and rigorous attitude, the book series systematically integrates the fragments of Silk Road culture scattered in all corners of history, so that readers can clearly and truly touch the development of Silk Road culture.

"Follow Xuanzang on the Silk Road"

Zhang Anfu is the editor-in-chief

By Rin

Lingnan Ancient Books Publishing House

Qilu Evening News:In the process of researching the Silk Roads, you chose to retrace the route and go to the site in person. What do you think is the unique significance of this kind of fieldwork for the study of the Silk Roads? How does it help us understand history and culture more deeply?

Zhang Anfu:Through field trips, we were able to get up close and personal with the various relics of the Silk Road that have survived to this day, such as earthen ruins, city ruins, beacons, and Buddhist ruins. These relics bear witness to the glory of the Silk Road in the past, which was once a national defense route, a trade route and an important faith route for China. During the investigation, we were able to touch the historical context and deeply feel the depth of the Silk Road culture. This first-hand experience gives us a deeper understanding of the evolution of history and culture, which is essential for the inheritance of the Silk Road culture. Only by experiencing it first-hand can we more truly appreciate the cultural connotation behind those ancient ruins, and can we tell readers the story of the Silk Road in a more vivid and three-dimensional form.

Qilu Evening News:In the process of "re-walking the road of Xuanzang", how did you and your team plan the investigation route? Is it completely in accordance with Xuanzang's route back then? What challenges did you encounter during the walk and how did you overcome them?

Zhang Anfu:We plan the itinerary based on Xuanzang's clear record of the route in the "Records of the Western Regions of the Tang Dynasty", focusing on the places that Xuanzang described and the current relics to carry out a key investigation. The tour starts in China, passes through Central Asia, and finally arrives in South Asia. Before the trip, we did a good job of making various preparations, and explored the Xuanzang route in depth for the Broken Leaf City, Talas and other places along the way, and confirmed its historical status as a road of trade and faith.

However, with it comes challenges. When crossing the Tianshan Mountains (that is, the Lingshan Pass mentioned by Xuanzang), there were many difficulties, the weather was unpredictable, and there were many problems such as the national border and the formalities. In 12/0, we went to Wushi County again for inspection. After leaving the Bedieri Fengsui ruins, you will follow the mountain road into the Bedieli River Valley. At that time, the snow melted, and the driver was worried that the road would be icy and difficult to pass when he returned, and as the altitude continued to rise, the car appeared "high and reversed" and frequently stalled. So, the driver advised us to stop for a short time and return as soon as possible. The Beldieri Pass is 0 meters above sea level, and "Bedieli" means "to pay the price". In the end, we had no choice but to return at a distance of 0 km from the boundary pillar, and we still regret it to this day. With the assistance of so many tools today, we can't cross that snow-capped mountain, and people can't help but sigh that Xuanzang and his party were able to climb over it on foot, which is really admirable.

When Xuanzang crossed Lingshan Mountain, his heart must have been turbulent. One waiter after another froze to death in front of his eyes, causing him great physical and mental suffering. This unforgettable experience accompanied Xuanzang throughout his life. After returning to Chang'an, he once told his disciples that they had walked in the mountains for 7 days and went through hardships before they got out of Lingshan, and many people in the team were frozen to death, and nearly half of the cattle and horses were not spared. Xuanzang didn't want to recall this painful experience, but when he had a "cold illness", those memories would still surface involuntarily.

2

Silk road rhyme, seeking a thousand years

Qilu Evening News:Xuanzang is the prototype of Tang Seng in "Journey to the West". In your research and walking, what kind of person do you think Xuanzang is?

Zhang Anfu:Xuanzang's experience along the way, he encountered many unimaginable difficulties and obstacles, and also experienced many temptations, but he was able to stick to his inner principles, with clear goals and unwavering goals. At the same time, Xuanzang is also a sincere and sincere person who is full of respect and loyalty to the country, and this spirit is really admirable. As a key figure in the cultural dissemination of the Silk Road, Xuanzang's perseverance is an indispensable symbol of the inheritance of Silk Road culture.

Qilu Evening News:In the ruins of the ancient city of Gaochang in Turpan, there is a "Xuanzang lecture office". How did the experience in Gaochangguo affect Xuanzang's subsequent journey? How did this experience shape his subsequent journey?

Zhang Anfu:Back then, Gaochang Wang Lu Wentai and Xuanzang met for the first time, and they were like old friends for many years and became brothers. Lu Wentai was enthusiastic about Xuanzang, but Xuanzang was devoted to the Buddha and determined to go to the Buddha's hometown to seek the true scriptures, and he did not waver in the face of Gaochang's wealth and glory. In the end, Lu Wentai was moved by Xuanzang's firmness and decided to raise the strength of the whole country to support him in his westward journey to seek the law, not only preparing the letters of state for Xuanzang from the west of Gaochang to the 24 countries in the area controlled by the Turkic Khan, but also attaching generous gifts to each letter. Because of this, Xuanzang's journey after that was much smoother, reducing many difficult obstacles along the way.

During Xuanzang's stay in Gaochang for more than ten days, he opened the altar to preach the Fa, and the place where he preached still remains. In the midsummer of 2017 years, we arrived in Gaochang City, and the flaming mountain in the distance was like a burning red flame, which was dazzling. Cen Shen, a poet of the Tang Dynasty, once described that "the mountains are full of fire clouds and have not opened, and the birds dare not come for thousands of miles", and the story of "Tang Sanzang Road Blocking the Flame Mountain, Sun Xingzhi's Three-tone Banana Fan" in "Journey to the West" was created based on this scene.

We also went to the "Xuanzang Lecture Office", which is a rather spectacular building. The plan of the lecture hall is circular, and the perimeter is a square courtyard wall. The middle wall is divided into two layers, and the upper layer is retracted inward, which can play a role in soundproofing and eliminating echoes, ensuring that listeners from near and far can clearly hear the sound of the sermon, as if through time and space, we can all feel the solemn scene of the sermon back then.

This experience in Gaochangguo made Xuanzang deeply realize the importance of using royal power to support the spread of Buddhism and the study of scriptures, which had a profound impact on his later establishment of good relations with the king of India and Li Shimin, Taizong of the Tang Dynasty.

Qilu Evening News:比玄奘早兩百多年，東晉時期的高僧法顯也曾西行取經。儘管路途艱難，但信仰的力量推動著他們前行。您如何看待佛教在絲綢之路形成過程中的意義？

Zhang Anfu:In ancient times, the westward and eastward travels of Buddhists to seek the Dharma and spread the Dharma to the east brought great expansion to the route of the Silk Road. Take Fa Xian as an example, at the age of 70, he also embarked on the road of westward travel to seek the Fa. Although he took a different route from Xuanzang, both of them experienced countless hardships and hardships. Their courageous explorations not only demonstrated their firm faith, but also added a rich cultural heritage to the Silk Road.

In the early days, the Silk Road was not only a channel for cultural exchanges, but also an important route for commercial trade. At that time, most of the business dealings revolved around the trade in luxury goods, and Buddhism was the main faith that spread in the early days. Interestingly, religious and commercial groups often travel together. The religious team can provide spiritual support to the caravan and allow the merchants to get spiritual comfort during the arduous journey; The caravans provided material assistance for the spread of religion, enabling Buddhism to spread more widely. The two relied on each other and promoted each other, and together they propelled the Silk Road to prosperity, and Buddhism played a key role in the cultural bond in this process.

3

Cultural exchanges, mutual exchange without borders

Qilu Evening News:Xuanzang's westward journey was an important event in the cultural history of the Silk Road. What do you think of Xuanzang's position and role in the Silk Road culture? What profound impact did his journey to the west have on cultural exchanges in later generations?

Zhang Anfu:Xuanzang, a high monk in the Tang Dynasty, set off from Chang'an in the first year of Zhenguan (7 years). He traveled all the way through the Western Regions, Central Asia and other places, and went through many difficulties and dangers before finally arriving in India. After more than ten years of seeking law in India, he returned to Chang'an in the nineteenth year of Zhenguan (0 years). Since then, Xuanzang has written his westward journey into "The Western Regions of the Tang Dynasty", which fills the gap in the historical records of Central Asia and India in the 0th century, which is of great significance.

Xuanzang is regarded as an outstanding messenger of the spread of faith on the Silk Road, and an outstanding master in the field of Buddhist scripture translation, which is a milestone on the road of faith on the Silk Road. His journey to the west led many monks in later generations to embark on the road of seeking the Dharma, such as the Tang Dynasty monk Wukong was influenced by Xuanzang and went to India, Afghanistan and other places for exchanges. Xuanzang's westward journey, in a sense, also greatly promoted the exchange and integration of Eastern and Western cultures, leaving valuable spiritual wealth for future generations.

Qilu Evening News:Xuanzang detoured the Western Regions to reach Tianzhu, and the Tangbo Ancient Road walked by Princess Wencheng and Pro-Tubo greatly shortened the distance to Tianzhu. What do you think of the impact of Princess Wencheng's entry into Tibet on the Silk Road? Is there some cultural connection between her journey to her relatives and Xuanzang's journey to the west?

Zhang Anfu:Princess Wencheng's entry into Tibet opened up a shortcut from Guanzhong to South Asia via Tibet. Since then, many people have followed this road to India. Indian culture was introduced to the Western Regions and the Central Plains through Tibet and Central Asia, forming two cultural transmission paths. Although the route through Tibet is close, it is more difficult to walk; The route through Central Asia was long, but relatively easy. These two routes have a close cultural connection, through which the ancient Indian civilization and the Chinese civilization are closely linked, and the Silk Road has witnessed the exchanges, exchanges and mutual learning between the world's major civilizations.

為追尋文成公主的足跡，探索雪域高原的歷史密碼，自2018年起，我們開展了對唐蕃古道的考察。考察隊從西安出發，經過天水、蘭州、臨夏進入青海省境內，又從類烏齊進入昌都，沿川藏線經波密、林芝到達拉薩，從拉薩前往山南瓊結考察了藏王墓，此後，又從拉薩經那曲、格爾木、西寧等地返回西安，調研行程近萬公里。我們先後走訪了唐朝的皇家寺廟扶風法門寺以及曾“接文成公主回娘家”的西安廣仁寺；在秦長城的起點臨洮縣遇見“哥舒翰紀功碑”，“北斗七星高，哥舒夜帶刀。至今窺牧馬，不敢過臨洮”的傳說躍然眼前；在當地老鄉的説明下，考察隊探訪了唐代龍支城所在地青海民和縣古鄯鎮；在湟源縣冒著大雨、跋山涉水尋訪唐蕃曾艱難爭奪的石堡城。

The most impressive thing is the story about Princess Wencheng that circulates everywhere along the way: Sun Moon Mountain is a hill formed by Princess Wencheng who left her homesick treasure mirror broken into two halves, and the inverted river not far away is to soothe Princess Wencheng's grief and turn westward; In the jade tree, on the rocky cliffs of Bena ditch and Leba ditch shrouded by banners, there are marks left by Princess Wencheng when she worshiped the Buddha.

Qilu Evening News:This series of books mentions the journeys of Chinese historical figures in different historical periods along the Silk Road. How do you understand the role of the Chinese in foreign exploration in the early stages of history?

Zhang Anfu:For thousands of years, the Silk Road has not only been the main channel for trade between the East and the West, but also an important route for monks to seek Dharma and missions to travel, leaving a large number of moving historical stories, which have become an important theme for people to understand the history of the Silk Road. The value of early historical figures in foreign explorations is comparable to that of Alexander, Darius, and Roman and Persian merchants to the east. From Zhang Qian's "hollowing out the Western Regions" to Xuanzang's westward journey, the pace of Chinese exploration abroad has never stopped, which is a powerful testimony of exchanges and mutual learning between Chinese civilization and early world civilizations, and highlights the backbone role of Chinese in foreign exploration.