Mysteries of the Western Regions Series: The Mystery of the Ancient Road

Author: Wang Rong
Publisher:
Publishing Date: April 1, 2003
Features: The entirety of the Western Regions is not all recorded in history books, and the voices of the Western Regions cannot long remain in memory. Through the ages, wonders have fallen into the dust, waiting for us to explore; across the vast deserts, treasures are buried in the sand, waiting for us to uncover. The Exploration of the Western Regions aims to discover 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 important events in world history have taken place, and more of humanity's mysterious remnants are 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 the Western Regions from a single angle is insufficient; it must be approached from all aspects and perspectives—philosophy, history, religion, literature, language, art, folklore, economy, archaeology, ethnicity, and even society, geography, nature, ecology, and medicine—to unravel the mysteries.
The entirety of the Western Regions is not all recorded in history books. The voices of the Western Regions cannot long remain in memory. Through the ages, wonders have fallen into the dust, waiting for us to explore; across the vast deserts, treasures are buried in the sand, waiting for us to uncover. The Exploration of the Western Regions aims to discover 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.
Exploration involves danger, and the pursuit of truth demands practicality. The wandering scholars who perished in the sands, meeting their destiny with death, are what we praise; the scholars and sages who sought knowledge relentlessly, spreading their teachings and words, are also welcome. Walking through snow-capped mountains, entering caves, gathering in firelands, and dispersing at border crossings—enduring hardships, wearing out their shoes, exploring for the nation's treasures and paving the way for the West—these are even more qualities 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 have been submerged for reasons; kingdoms have fallen for reasons; faded murals narrate tales of bloodshed; falling sands record the rise and fall of dynasties; cliffs with caves conceal the rise and decline of Buddhism; clay and stone sculptures reflect the brilliance of the ancients. Rivers dry up, sandstorms rage—is it a warning or a punishment? Vast deserts swallow the land, lakes disappear—is it natural disaster or human? Amidst the endless yellow sands, there are flowing underground streams. In the wonders of nature, what mysteries lie hidden?
These are the things, and many more, that The Exploration of the Western Regions seeks to delve into and explore.