Mystery of the Ancient Road

Author: Wang Rong
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2003-01-01
Features: The entirety of the Western Regions is not all recorded in history books, and the voices of the Western Regions are even less likely to linger in memory. Through the ages, the miraculous has fallen into dust, waiting for us to explore; across the vast deserts, treasures are buried in the sands, waiting for us to uncover. The Mystery of the Western Regions aims to explore the material and spiritual treasures of the Western Regions, advocating for a balance between rigorous science and elegant language to achieve a unique style and a fresh perspective. China has two world-renowned historical legacies: the solid Great Wall and the flowing Silk Road. The vast and extensive regions traversed by the Silk Road have long been referred to as the "Western Regions." On this mysterious land, many significant events in world history have taken place, and the last mysterious remnants of humanity are more often sealed here. The national strategy of "Western Development" will also be implemented on this land. As a complex region that encompasses almost all the factors necessary for the continuation of human society, exploring it from a single angle is insufficient; it must be approached from all-around, multi-perspective viewpoints. Only by observing comprehensively from fields such as philosophy, history, religion, literature, language, art, folklore, economy, archaeology, ethnicity, and even society, geography, nature, ecology, and medicine can we unravel the mysteries.
The entirety of the Western Regions is not all recorded in history books. The voices of the Western Regions are even less likely to linger in memory. Through the ages, the miraculous has fallen into dust, waiting for us to explore; across the vast deserts, treasures are buried in the sands, waiting for us to uncover. The Mystery of the Western Regions aims to explore the material and spiritual treasures of the Western Regions, advocating for a balance between rigorous science and elegant language to achieve a unique style and a fresh perspective.
Exploring mysteries involves adventure and seeking truth with practicality. The wandering scholars who perished in the sands, fulfilling their destiny with death, are what we praise; the scholars and sages who sought knowledge relentlessly, preaching and writing, are also what we welcome; traversing snow-capped mountains, entering caves, gathering in firelands, and scattering at border passes, enduring hardships and wearing out their shoes, exploring for the nation’s treasures and paving the way for the West—these are even more what we seek to highlight.
The Western Regions is a labyrinth, with most of its secrets locked away. Only by brushing away the dust can the jewels shine and the treasures reveal their wonders. Ancient capitals, once submerged, must have their reasons; kingdoms, once vanished, must have their causes. The faded murals narrate stories of bloodshed, while the falling sands record the rise and fall of dynasties. The cliffside grottoes hold the rise and decline of Buddhism, while the clay and stone sculptures reflect the brilliance of the ancients. Rivers that once flowed dry, sandstorms that rage fiercely—are these warnings or retribution? Vast deserts that swallow borders, lakes that vanish—are these natural disasters or human misfortune? The endless yellow sands stretch to the sky, yet underground, streams flow steadily. In the wonders of nature, what mysteries lie hidden?
These are the things, and many more, that The Mystery of the Western Regions seeks to explore and uncover.