History of Asia

Silk Road and Asuka Culture

The Silk Road is a road that crosses the current Uygur Autonomous Region of China from east to west via a trade route. The starting point on the Chinese side is considered to be Chang'an, and the starting point on the European side is considered to be Rome.

The Silk Road itself was not under the control of any country, so the truth is that it is not clear where it starts and where it ends.

The eastern end of the east-west traffic route in the Tang dynasty is recognized as Japan, and the end point of the eastern end of the Silk Road is thought to be Asukakyo and Heijokyo.

At that time, Japan was actively incorporating culture and things with China as a model. For this reason, the missions to Sui and Tang were frequently dispatched to learn Chinese culture.

The period was over 20 times over a long period of 607-894.

Asuka Culture

Asuka culture is a culture that spread during the Asuka period, and is Buddhist-centered . ] There is a feature.

How did the items represented by [Buddhism] and Asuka culture, which were most important in this era, come into Japan? ??

It is said that more than 1000 international students died on a tough voyage across the sea by dispatching envoys to Sui and Tang. After such a dangerous voyage, Japanese young people presented the wisdom, culture and goods of China to the emperor.

When Emperor Shomu died in 756, Empress Komyō dedicated more than 600 items from the Silk Road and Tang dynasty, which were important to her selection, to Todaiji Temple. It was stored in.

Also, in Japan around the first half of the 6th and 7th centuries, what supports the authority of the powerful tribes changes from ancient burial mounds to the construction of temples. Originally, the reason for making the tumulus was to make a rice field because the excavated part played the role of a reservoir. It has also been said.

Also, the introduction of Buddhism and the construction of temples are instead of military bases and emperor's palace . Since it can be substituted for, the aspect as a public project depending on the situation can be seen and hidden, as it is considered to be based on the international situation at that time.

In addition, [ how many people can be moved to build an old burial mound / temple? ] [Is there technology? ] Is thought to have been necessary to show off to domestic rebels and intimate gentry. In addition, knowing information by interacting with great powers and showing that they have the route and bargaining power to obtain rare things also led to rebellion and other deterrents . I think.

* I think there are some people who were tickled by the collector's heart and collected it ...

I think it is natural to collect rare items from other countries because I think as above. At this time, rare items and Buddhism to Japan Silk Road was the route that came in is.

Silk Road

Silk Road Is Rome in the west , Middle East at the relay point , China to the east There will be an image of. The Middle East is a Mesopotamian civilization Originally it was a rich land with abundant green areas, but due to repeated destruction and reconstruction of the irrigation and drainage system, and climate problems, salt remained in the cultivated land and desertification progressed.

In the Middle East, Sasanian Persia was founded in 226. The empire will rule the key point in the silk trade, the road that connects the oasis that is absolutely necessary along the way (it was necessary to pass through Persia at the time of trade). This country is Rome in the west , East China And India We are also actively interacting with each other.

I think it's gradually becoming connected.

Buddhism India around the 5th century BC Occurs in Silk Road since the 3rd century BC And Indian Ocean After that, it spread to Southeast Asian countries, China, the Korean Peninsula, and finally Japan. In India, in addition to the mainland art style, Gandara art that incorporates western art styles such as Greece, Syria, and Persia. Has developed. In China, Northern Wei style in the Northern and Southern courts, respectively. And South Liang Style A statue of Buddha is made, which is also influenced by ancient Greece.

Asuka Culture in Japan Buddhist-related buildings and crafts found as Rome , Sasanian , Hellenistic civilization (Orient civilization + Greek civilization), Northern and Southern Dynasties of China And India Influenced by Silk Road You can see that it has passed.

* Behind the birth of the Hellenistic civilization is the existence of Alexandros, the king of Macedonia, who emerged in the central part of the Balkan Peninsula, aiming for the fusion of the eastern and western worlds. Alexandros, who conquered a large area in a short period of time, built more than 70 cities during his expedition and relocated many Greeks. As a result, the Greek civilization has become widespread in the Orient civilization. The Orient region generally refers to the region that currently spans countries such as Iran, Iraq, Syria, Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt.

This Silk Road Göktürk among the ethnic groups actively involved in the trade There is also (Tsukutsu). Sui The champion of Central Asia, who was divided into east and west by the measures of Sui It is also the people who contributed to the collapse of. Prince Shotoku They were the ones who came up with such a bullish foreign policy ...

When I think about it, I think it's the same as it is now.