中国文化英语教程Unit-7

Zhang Qian, Trail Blazer
What is the history background of the Silk Road? What are the purposes?
• During the reign of Emperor Wu, there were 36 small kingdoms in the Western Regions. All of them were later conquered by the Huns, who then posed a direct threat to the Western Han and blocked the dynasty’s path west.
2) It also helped to promote the exchange of science and technology between east and west.
3) The Silk Road served as the main channel for ancient China to open up to the outside world, as well as for fresh impulses from other cultures to enter the country, which contributed a significant share to the shaping of Chinese culture.
Note
the Mesopotamian plains: 美索不达米亚平原（西南亚一地区）
“两河流域”，即底格里斯和幼发拉底两河流域平原，在叙利亚东 部和伊拉克境内。
To be continued>>>
Introduction
What is the significance of the Silk Road?
Note Ferdinand von Richthofen
贾迪南德·冯·李希特霍芬(1833—1905) 德国地理学家、地质学家，对地理学方法和 地貌学研究有贡献，曾到中国和日本旅行， 著有《中国：旅行成果和根据成果的研究》。
Introduction
Route:
The Silk Road began in Chang’an (present-day Xi’an, capital of Shaanxi Province), passing through Gansu and Xinjiang to Central Asia, West Asia, and to lands by the Mediterranean.
Zhang Qian, Trail Blazer
• Zhang Qian (c. 164—114 BC) • a general of the Western Han Dynasty
Note Zhang Qian: 张骞
西汉外交家，汉中成固（今陕 西城固）人，对开辟从中国通 往西域的丝绸之路有卓越贡献。
Introduction Zhang Qian, Trail Blazer Opening to the “West” Murals in the Kuche Grottes
Introduction
• The Silk Road refers to a transport route connecting ancient China with Central Asia, West Asia, Africa, and the European continent.
Introduction
Introduction
What is the significance of the Silk Road? 1) The Silk Road functioned not only as a
trade route, but also as a bridge that linked the ancient civilizations of China, India, the Mesopotamian plains, Egypt, and Greece.
• Emperor Wu appointed Zhang Qian to lead a team of more than 100 envoys (使者) to the Western Regions. The mission was to unite the Indo-Scythic people against the Huns.
Unit 7 The Silk Road
Content
Lead-in Text study Exercises
Lead-in
永昌锦
Yongchang (“everlasting prosperity”) brocade of the Eastern Han Dynasty, showing a high level of textile technology
Lead-in
浅褐色菱纹罗地信期绣
Diamond-pattern embroidery of the Western Han Dynasty
Lead-in
缂丝紫鸾鹊谱
Bird-and-flower embroidery of the Northern Song Dynasty
Text study
Fra Baidu bibliotek
Zhang Qian, Trail Blazer
• Zhang Qian’s team set out in 138 BC. • They were captured by the Huns and held under
• It appeared as early as the second century.
Introduction
• The term “Silk Road” was first noted down by the German geographer Ferdinand von Richthofen at the end of the 19th century.