The Silk Road, it's romantic story.

The Silk Road is the ancient trade route passing from the shores of the Mediiterranean through Bukhara and Samamrkand to Dunhuang and on to Zian in central China. In the 1980s, NHK had TV program special show  called "the Silkroad", and as a result suddenly the Silk Road became a big boom. Poeple went to the Silk Road tour, this exotic mood song Ihoujin became a big hit. Some TV commercials and films used the  scenes froom the Silk Road.

25 years have passed since then. This year NHK has begun showing the Silk Road 2. Three programs Loulan. Turpan. Yining have already aired. I loved watcing it. Why is the Silk Road si orivicatuve? Of course  the fact that it played sucn an important part in Asis's history and the exotic nature of that time period might lend something to that.  Thinking of nature's severity in the Takla Makan Desert, Tian Shan, it was really amazing that people could travle such a great distance even today much less in the ox and sandal days of 2nd century BC.

But more than that,  the Japanese love to read this old Chinese story "Journey to the west". People are familier with it because of books, and an animation by Osamu Tezuka, and not to mention a very popular TV drama Monky (which aired in the UK and Australia too).  Of course Japan has a lot of influence, which originated from those Silk Road days. In Shosoin, there is an old 5 strings lute (biwa), which is  a national treasure. It is the only 5-stringed Lute in the world.  The lute came from Centeral Asia during the 4th century via the Silk Road. Normaly China and Japan use 4-stringed lutes even now.  So where did that 5-stringed lute come from?  There is a small oasis city Kucha, in Xinjiang Uyghurs Autonomous Region. In Kucha, there is Kizil Thousand Buddha Caves. This Buddha in a cave painting is depicted with a 5-stringed lute. This means that perhaps in the 6th century or so, that 5-stringed lute made it's way to Japan via a lengthy excursion along the Silk Road.  That was 1500 years ago!! Hmm romantic.  The feelings evoked by lute and the Silk Road are so romantic and people have always ben drawn to that, like this.

Comments

[kamol]

bu qanday

[Mari]

Hi Robert
Silk Road sex books and Rockstar buddhas? Ha such oliental crazy is exotic for north american? he he

Hi kerryfeliz
Really I envy you. When we visit there, no AC would be fun and nicer than very cool. We could experience real silk road.

[kerryfeliz]

hi,greetings from singapore! I have travelled the silk road with local tour agency few years back. It started from Xinjiang to Xi-an. a interestiing experience. It was winter then and the hotel facilities ain't good. the heaters are not working most of the time. We travelled by tour bus, train and plane. Silk road rocks!

[robert]

the Kama Sutra was written in the 2nd Century B.C......uh..maybe I didn't need to share that fact here? Hmmm but I bet it would've been a good place to hang out and sell books to the passing merchants...."look buddy, you're gonna be walking a looooong time, why don't you buy this here "relationship instruction manual" to help you pass the time..*wink*" I wonder if that explains the early popularity of the Kama Sutra? If so..One more thing to thank that ol' Silk Road for. Can you imagine when the first five stringed lute was introduced? They were probably like "Okay, someone was walking too close to the wrong end of a camel!" Buddha was all "Oh give it to me. I bet I can play it!" ah those were the good ol' days. Silk Road Sex Books and RockStar Buddhas. Makes me nostalgic (¯__¯)Ÿ