A History of the World in 100 Objects
Silk princess painting
Jun 11, 2010
Explore the Silk Road, an ancient trade route connecting the Pacific to the Mediterranean. Learn about a fragile painting from the Buddhist kingdom of Khotan illustrating the secrets of silk manufacture. Hear from Yo Yo Ma and Colin Thubron about the impact of the Silk Road on the imagination. Discover the movement of people, goods, ideas, and music along the Silk Road.
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Quick takeaways
- The painting of the Silk Princess depicts the transfer of silk production knowledge along the Silk Road, highlighting its role in the movement of goods, ideas, and technologies.
- The Silk Road facilitated the trade of not only luxury goods but also ordinary goods and people, contributing to the exchange of cultures and the development and spread of religions.
Deep dives
The Legend of the Silk Princess
The legend of the Silk Princess, depicted in a 1400-year-old painting, tells the story of a princess who smuggles the secrets of silk production to her new home, the Oasis Kingdom of Kortan on the Silk Road. The painting shows the princess hiding silk worms, mulberry seeds, and silk cocoons in her headdress. The painting, discovered in a long-abandoned city on the Silk Road, is a key document of the transfer of silk production knowledge to the west, revealing the importance of the Silk Road in the movement of goods, ideas, religions, and technologies.
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