A History Of The Study Of Han And Tang Silk Weavings Unearthed In Xinjiang (1949-2000)

China was the first country in the world to invent silk,and our ancient silk weaving techniques are well developed and have always been world leaders.Through the spread of the Silk Road,China’s silk was exported to all parts of the world and has had a wide and far-reaching impact on world history.The wide variety,exquisite patterns and gorgeous colours of the ancient silk fabrics unearthed along the Silk Road reflect the superb weaving techniques of ancient times,and provide an important source for the study of ancient textile techniques.Xinjiang is located on the Silk Road and was an important region where Eastern and Western cultures converged,exchanged and developed in a pluralistic manner.The dry and rainy climate has preserved many precious silk weavings from the Han and Tang dynasties,reflecting the exchange and fusion of Eastern and Western silk weaving cultures and arts.The study of silk weaving in Xinjiang is of great value for the in-depth study of the ancient history and culture of Xinjiang,ancient textile craftsmanship,the social history and culture of the Silk Road during the Han and Tang dynasties,economic exchanges,ideological patterns,and trade and transportation.This paper analyses and summarises the state of research on silk fabrics excavated in Xinjiang during the Han and Tang dynasties,and clarifies the academic development of the study of silk fabrics in Xinjiang.The research on excavated silk weaving in Xinjiang has gone through a process of late start and weak development to continuous systematic improvement,with the scope and content of research expanding,the number of research teams and talents increasing,and the professionalism and comprehensiveness of research strengthening,building a higher platform for the research and conservation and restoration of excavated silk weaving in Xinjiang,and establishing a more professional and scientific research system.The article begins with a systematic review of the status of successive excavations of Han and Tang dynasty silk-weaving tombs excavated in Xinjiang and of the exquisite silk-weaving materials unearthed.Secondly,it divides the study of silk weavings from the Han and Tang dynasties excavated in Xinjiang into two major stages: the rise and the boom,according to the chronological order of historical development,taking the founding of New China and the reform and opening up as the nodes.The focus,main research content,research methods,research results and development changes of silk weaving research in Xinjiang at different stages are analysed and summarised.Finally,the article summarises the background and characteristics of the different stages of silk weaving research in Xinjiang during the Han and Tang dynasties,and explains the trends in the development of silk weaving research in Xinjiang from different perspectives,and analyses the important value and significance of research on silk weaving excavated in Xinjiang in terms of China’s ancient textile craftsmanship,Xinjiang’s history and culture,and Silk Road research.