Western missionaries discovered in the northern part of China in the Tang Dynasty (7th century) are just like the early years of the Eastern Han Dynasty, when Buddhism spread from the "Silk Road" sub-tunnels on the north and south sides of the Taklimakan Desert to the western countries. There are still many stories about the introduction of Buddhism into the western regions. However, at home and abroad, "the basic view of academic circles is that Buddhism was introduced to the western regions as early as the 2nd century BC and as late as 1 century BC". Accordingly, after Buddhism was introduced to the western regions in Khotan in 87 BC, it spread from the Buddhist holy land in Khotan to Yecheng, shache, Tashkurgan, Kashi, Aksu, Kuqa, Yanshou and other places on the northern road of the Silk Road from 60 BC to 10 BC, as well as Qiemo, Ruoqiang, Milan, Loulan and other places in the northeast. Apart from Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, Manichaeism and Nestorianism also came to China along the Silk Road, and gained many people's beliefs. Along the branches of the Silk Road, it spread to Korea, Japan and other Asian countries.

Zoroastrianism is China's attitude towards Persian Zoroastrianism (this may be related to Islam, which is hostile to Zoroastrianism in the western regions). ), which spread eastward along the Silk Road in the 5th-1century, is considered to be the earliest religion introduced to the western regions. Zoroastrianism was once the state religion of Persia, and it was forced to move eastward after the rise of the Arab Empire. According to records, all countries in the western regions believed in Zoroastrianism at that time, but in China, it was supported by the emperors of northern countries in the Southern and Northern Dynasties. There were also many shrines in the Tang Dynasty where Hu merchants prayed for blessings. In order to control the development of Zoroastrianism, local rulers set up the post of Sabo, trying to bring religion into the national management system. However, this religion basically disappeared after the Song Dynasty. Its religious customs have been preserved by Uighurs and Tajiks and become a national cultural custom.

Nestorianism is a branch of Syrian Christian Nestorius Sect. According to historical records, Nestorianism won the favor of the emperor in the early Tang Dynasty. Li Shimin once approved Christians to build temples in Chang 'an, formerly known as Persian Temple, and later renamed Roman Temple and Daqin Temple. During Tang Gaozong's time, Arrow was regarded as the exorcist of the town, and later the statue of the emperor of the Tang Dynasty was hung in the church. After the An Shi Rebellion broke out in 755 AD, Beijing Christian Yisi helped put down the rebellion and was given a purple robe. Since 635, Nestorianism has developed smoothly in China for 150 years, and it is called "three religions" in the Tang Dynasty together with Zoroastrianism and Manichaeism. Nestorianism gradually weakened after the difficulties of Huichang law, but it continued until Catholicism entered China in the Ming Dynasty.

After the Yuan Dynasty, the Silk Road from west to east was gradually ignored, which indirectly stimulated the rise of European sea power. After the publication of the Travels of Kyle Polo in China, China and Asia have become prosperous and civilized countries that many Europeans yearn for. Spanish and Portuguese countries began to try to bypass the Mediterranean route and the old Silk Road controlled by Italy and Turkey and connect with China by sea, hoping to get more profits from it than the Silk Road trade. Some countries also hope to spread their religion to the East. 1492, one goal of Columbus's voyage was to finally reach China and create another trade route better than the Silk Road, but he led Europe to discover the new American continent in great disappointment. So the explorers after Columbus opened the colonial era of the new American continent. /kloc-After the 0/7th century, the Netherlands and Britain also expanded their influence in Africa, America and the South Pacific. /kloc-At the beginning of the 9th century, although the European powers were all over the sea, China was still regarded as the most prosperous and ancient civilization by the west. Scholars believe that this is the spiritual influence brought by the Silk Road in the history of communication between China and the West, and it also creates the impression that the West can make huge profits through its trade with China in the modern 200 years. The route of the overland Silk Road

Generally speaking, the Silk Road can be divided into three sections, and each section can be divided into three routes: North, South and China.

Eastern section: from Chang 'an to Yumenguan and Yangguan. (Opened in Han Dynasty)

Middle section: from Yumenguan, Yangguanxi to Congling. (Opened in Han Dynasty)

Western section: from the green ridge to the west, through Central Asia and West Asia, until Europe. (opened in Tang Dynasty)

The following are the names of important cities in various sections of the Silk Road (ancient place names in brackets).

Eastern section

In the route selection of the eastern section, we should consider the safety and convenience of crossing Liupan Mountain and the Yellow River. The third line starts from Chang 'an or Luoyang, joins Wuwei and Zhangye, and then goes along the Hexi Corridor to Dunhuang.

Northern Line: Jingchuan, Guyuan and Jingyuan have the shortest routes to Wuwei, but it is not easy to pass water along the way.

South Line: From Fengxiang, Tianshui, Longxi, Linxia, Ledu, Xining to Zhangye, but the road is long.

Midline: Jingchuan to Pingliang, Huining, Lanzhou to Wuwei, with moderate distance and supply. Xi 'an (Chang 'an): Xumishan Grottoes, Maijishan Grottoes, Bingling Temple Grottoes Wuwei (Liangzhou) Zhangye (Ganzhou) Jiuquan (Suzhou) Dunhuang (Shazhou): Mogao Grottoes and Yulin Grottoes.

During the period of 10, in order to bypass the territory of Xixia, the government of the Northern Song Dynasty opened up the "Qinghai Road" from Tianshui to the western regions. It became a new trade route after the Song Dynasty. Tianshui Xining Fucheng Suoerkuli Basin (Suoerkuli)

middle piece

Caravans on the Silk Road. The route of the central region is mainly the western region, which changes with the change of oasis and desert. There are many forks and branches in the middle of the third line, especially the fourth town Anxi (established in 640).

South Road (also called Yutian Road): It starts from Yangguan in the east, along the southern edge of Taklimakan Desert, and passes through Ruoqiang (Shanshan), Hotan (Yutian), shache and other places. Jing Congling. Yang Guan Ruoqiang (Shanshan) and Qi Munnia (Jingjue) are one of the 36 Western Regions in the Western Han Dynasty. Hotan (Khotan)

Zhongdao: It starts from Yumenguan, along the northern edge of Taklimakan Desert, and passes through Lop Nur (Loulan), Turpan (Auto Market, Gaochang), Yanqi (Yuli), Kuqa (Kucha), Aksu (Gu Mo) and Kashgar (Shule) to Fergana Valley (Dawan). Yumenguan Loulan (merged from Shanshan and now belongs to Ruoqiang County, Xinjiang) Turpan (Gaochang): Gaochang Old Town, Yarhar Ancient Town, Baizixi Thousand Buddha Cave Yanqi (Yuli) Kuqa (Qiuci): Qizil Thousand Buddha Cave, Kumutura Thousand Buddha Cave Aksu (Gu Mo) Kashi (Shule).

North Road: It starts from Anxi (Guazhou), passes through Hami (Yiwu), Jimsar (Tingzhou) and Yining (Yili), and ends in broken leaves. Hami, the waterway is rich in Hami melon Urumqi, which means the broken leaves of the beautiful grassland Yining (Yili)

Jessie Duan

From the jungle west to Europe, it is the western section of the Silk Road, and its north, south, middle and south lines correspond to the three lines in the middle section respectively. The route from Caspian Sea to Constantinople was opened in the middle of Tang Dynasty.

Northern line: along the Aral Sea, the Caspian Sea and the northern shore of the Black Sea, Itil passes through broken leaves, Virote, astrakhan and other places to Istanbul (Constantinople). Urumqi Almaty (Kazakhstan) Zambur City (Virote, now Kazakhstan City) tokmak (Broken Leaves, now Kyrgyzstan City) Sarai (Russia) Istanbul, Sark (Constantinople, now Turkey City)

Central Line: Starting from Kashgar, take Fergana Valley, Samarkand, Bukhara, etc. Go to Mashhad (Iran) and join the southern line. Kashgar or Peshawar, Kashgar: Khala Horin Avenue Kabul Bamiyan: The famous Bamiyan Buddha was destroyed by the Taliban in 200 1 year.

South Line: Starting from Pamirs, you can enter Pakistan and India from Kashmir, and you can also travel to Europe from Peshawar, Kabul, Mashhad, Baghdad and Damascus. Mashhad (Iran) Sabze Valh Hecatompylos (Fandou and Xie) may be located between Iranda Mugan and Shahrud today. ) Tehran Hamadan Kerman sahan Bakubai (Iraq) Baghdad Abu Hareb Fallujah: Follow the Euphrates River to Aleppo. Ramadi Alibo (Syrian) Damascus adana (Turkish) konya Antioch bursa Constantinople (Istanbul).