Kizil (Maiden in Veil with Knight)

Author: Liu Xiguan, Zhang Ping, Bian Ren
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-01-01
Features: According to the Book of Liang, by the time of the Liang Dynasty, the city of Kuqa had already become a royal capital with "three layers of walls, the outer city being as large as Chang'an, and magnificent palaces adorned with Laozi stones." The history of the Kuqa Kingdom is quite ancient, with its name appearing in Chinese historical records as early as the early Han Dynasty. Through trade routes crossing the Kunlun Mountains and the Pamir Plateau, Indian and Greek cultures suddenly encountered this vast oasis, where they settled, took root, and blended with the local cultures. The land, vast and mystical, with the dry winds and sand of the Taklamakan Desert, the lush poplar forests, and the Tarim River surging and eventually disappearing into the desert, all shimmer with the brilliance of ancient Kuqa culture. The Kuqa Kingdom, now the area of Aksu in Xinjiang, holds a mysterious past shrouded in a thousand years of dust. Historically, Kuqa influenced the Central Plains of China and Central Asia due to its murals, art, music, and more. The Kuqa caves are world-famous, and the ancient cities, watchtowers, and archaeological sites in the Kuqa region all carry an indescribable sense of mystery. Starting from the Tang Dynasty, this area also served as the center of the Central Plains regime's control over the Western Regions. This book presents a visual narrative, accompanied by precise and evocative text, telling a story in a gentle and engaging manner. A vivid historical panorama unfolds before your eyes. The smile of Buddha transcends time and space, touching the human heart. Stories of tragic beauty, such as those between kings and commoners, shepherdesses and knights, are enough to make the vast Taklamakan Desert stir and sigh.