- The National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage covers 439 remains and artifacts in Xinjiang, China -
The National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage (Director-General Choi Jong-deok) of the Cultural Heritage Administration has published "Encyclopedia of the Silk Road Eastern Region: Xinjiang of China" by compiling the studies of remains and artifacts in eastern Xinjiang, China, which is part of the Silk Road.
Over the four years since 2016, more than 30 Korean researchers have participated in "Encyclopedia of the Silk Road Eastern Region: Xinjiang of China" with the aim to promote research on the Silk Road, which greatly influenced Korean history and culture, and to overcome the limitations to collect and access data.
It includes a total of 439 entries, including 28 overview entries that help understand the history and culture of the Silk Road and the Xinjiang region, and 411 entries on remains and artifacts in major regions.
Geographically, the region was divided into roads north and south of the Tianshan Mountains, while the contents were divided into history, archeology, Buddhism, crafts, and clothing. In addition, the glossary covers a variety of remains and artifacts, including old castles, tombs, Buddhist temples, dwellings, and petroglyphs. It also features plenty of images, such as photographs and maps, to make it easier for readers to understand. References, a list of illustrations, and an index were included as appendices so that they can be used as basic data for research in related fields.
The "Encyclopedia of the Silk Road Eastern Region: Xinjiang of China" is significant in that it compiled the domestic and international research findings accumulated thus far. In particular, Korean relations experts reflected the results of domestic research as well as recent research trends in an effort to look at the Xinjiang region from our own perspective, moving away from the previous western-oriented view.
The National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage also plans to publish "Encyclopedia of the Silk Road Western Region: Central Asia" in 2021 following "Encyclopedia of the Silk Road Eastern Region: Xinjiang of China" published this time.
The Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, located northwest of China, was called "Western Regions" in ancient times and is also called "East Turkistan," which means the land of Turks located east of the Pamir Mountains. The current name "Xinjiang," meaning "new borderland," was made by the Qing Dynasty in the 18th century. In Xinjiang, which consists of various mountain ranges, deserts, grasslands, and oasis cities, the coexistence of various races and cultures led to exchanges between East and West civilizations, and the remains and artifacts of the time have been well preserved due to the dry desert climate. Since the end of the 19th century, many western explorers and investigators have discovered a variety of remains and artifacts, and research is still being actively conducted today.
The National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage has been carrying out the "Restoration of Korea's Ancient Culture Network" project since 2015 to find and restore the roots of Korean ancient culture and to shed light on exchanges with countries, such as Central Asia and Mongolia, on the Silk Road. As the first outcome, it published the Korean translation of "The Silk Road of Kazakhstan" (2017), which provides a comprehensive introduction to the Silk Road in Kazakhstan, followed by "Gold of the elite of Kazakh Steppes" (2018), which provides a broad understanding of Kazakhstan's golden culture and exchanges with ancient Korean nations.
As a responsible operation agency, the National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage of the Cultural Heritage Administration will continue to conduct surveys and research on Eurasian culture and the ancient Silk Road, including Central Asia and China, and share its achievements with the public.
Department in charge: Artistic Heritage Division of National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage
Persons in charge: Research officer Jeong Chang-un (042-860-9192), Researcher Lee Myeong-ok (042-860-9194)