巫新华：昆仑河源与中国古代丝绸之路

丝绸之路指在古代人类各大文明的孕育、发展和形成过程中发挥了决定性的交流、互动作用，并使其各自成长发展，进而推动人类现代文明进程的亚欧大陆东西方古代交通路线和相关地理文化区域。

　　公元前138年，汉武帝刘彻派张骞出使西域，随后主动控制了被匈奴隔断已久的丝绸之路，并亲自确定昆仑、河源于西域（今新疆）。2013年，中国国家主席在出访中亚和东南亚国家期间，先后提出共建“丝绸之路经济带”和“21世纪海上丝绸之路”的重大倡议，得到国际社会高度关注。

The Silk Road serves as the ancient route that connects the east with the west, the Asian with the European continent, and refers to the related geographic and cultural regions. It played a decisive role of interflow and interaction in the breeding, development and forming of the civilizations created by mankind in ancient times, and then promoted the process of modern civilization.

In 138 BC, Liu Che, the 5^th emperor of the Western Han Dynasty, called reverently Han Wudi after death, sent Zhang Qian, the first envoy of the Western Han Dynasty, to visit kingdoms in the Western Region, and soon after controlled the Silk Road that had been cut off for a long time by Xiongnu, an ancient nomadic people living in the north of China. He claimed that the Kunlun Mountains and the source of the Yellow River are in the Western Region (present Xinjiang province of China). In 2013, When Chinese president Xi Jinping visited Central Asia and Southeast Asia, he proposed the initiative of jointly building the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21^st- century Maritime Silk Road, which has attracted the close attentions from all over the world.

　　中国文明的丝绸之路原生性

　　丝绸之路，其实是亚欧大陆东西方文化交流之路的约定俗成之说。它首先是作为亚欧大陆古代其他文明区域通向东亚文明核心区——中国文明的主要陆路通道，同时也是古代中国向外汲取域外精彩文化的必由之路。

　　从这个角度来讲，有三点必须强调：丝绸之路是亚欧大陆古代文明区域通向东亚中国文明的道路；丝绸之路具有中国古代文明的原生性，即古代中国文化在世界大文明区域中表现出一定的高地性质；与推进人类古代各主要文明发展壮大无关的交通路线不能算作丝绸之路。

 
　　丝绸之路出现的原因，在于亚欧大陆其他文明区域沟通东亚文明轴心古代中国。在早期文明时代，欧亚大陆有两个农业核心，一个是中国（东亚），大概开始于一万年前，另一个是始于差不多同时代的西亚。这两个农业核心的内容完全不一样，东亚以粟黍、水稻种植和猪、狗驯养为主；西亚以小麦、大麦种植与黄牛驯养为主。随后，东亚、西亚的农业慢慢向外传播，一条传播路线是北非，一条是地中海周边，还有一条是南亚和中亚。随之形成的文明有：两河流域是美索不达米亚文明，埃及是埃及文明，巴基斯坦是印度河文明，欧洲是地中海文明，东亚则是中国文明。

  
　　在欧亚大陆两个农业核心地区之间，有一个大范围的荒漠绿洲与草原地区，它把两个农业核心地区连接起来。目前，国际学术界的主要看法是，这两个文化系统共同推动了世界文明的历史进程。在欧亚大陆或者在全世界的历史中，也可以看到中国史前历史的影子。

The creativity of the Silk Road derived from the Chinese civilization

The notion of Silk Road which connected the east with the west, the Asian with the European continent, is accepted through common practice. It is first and foremost the main land route through which the civilizations of other Eurasia regions were introduced to the center of East Asia, China. Concurrently, Ancient China must take this route to absorb the essence of the civilizations of others.

Hence three points have to be strengthened: the Silk road leads the ancient civilizations of Eurasia to China of East Asia; it implies its creativity of the civilization of ancient China, which means that ancient China occupies the “cultural highland” among other big civilizations in the world; other routes having nothing to do with promoting the development of the major civilizations in ancient times cannot be called the Silk Road.

Ancient China, the Axis that fostered the interflow between the other regions of Eurasia and East Asia, contributes to the birth of the Silk Road. At the early stage of civilization, there were two agricultural centers in Eurasia, Ancient China in East Asia about 10,000 years ago and Western Asia in approximately the same era. The two agricultural centers were disparate that in East Asia people relied mainly on growing millet and rice, and raising pigs and dogs, while in Western Asia people gave priority to growing wheat and barley, and raising cattle. Subsequently, the agriculture of East and Western Asia began to be introduced to the outside world along several routes, North Arica, the peripheral areas of the Mediterranean, and South Asia and Central Asia. Different civilizations took shape during that course: Mesopotamia Civilization, the Indus Valley Civilization of Pakistan, the Mediterranean Civilization of Europe and the Chinese Civilization of East Asia.

A vast expanse of oasis and grassland lying in between the two agricultural centers links them. At present, the international academic community holds that the two cultural origins have jointly pushed forward the course of history. China could find its position of prehistory in the history of Eurasia or even of the world.

　　丝绸之路沟通东西方文明

　　在科学发展的今天，中国历史文化研究出现了一个有趣的现象，即学术界主张的文明起源与神话提示文明起源的诸多内容，居然在昆仑山和黄河河源这个观念上一致起来。我们现在能看到的上古有关昆仑与河源神话传说，都是由生活在中原地区的古人记载下来的。而这些神话传说的中心却不以中原为主，而是以西北方向今新疆境内的昆仑山、叶尔羌河、帕米尔高原为主，由此可见中国西域的重要性。

　　人类古代文明在亚欧大陆发生、发展、成长壮大的实现，有一个无法回避的文明交流关键地带，这就是古代中国西域。也就是说，古代世界文明区域陆路文化交流渠道必经以西域为代表的中亚地区，而且是唯一通道。

　　西域的唯一性地位是由亚欧大陆自然地理环境决定的。打开亚欧大陆地形图可以清晰地看见，帕米尔高原以南有连续不断的自然天险：喀喇昆仑—青藏高原、云贵高原、澜沧江—湄公河河谷、亚热带丛林等高山雪峰、峡谷激流、丛林险滩，天然险阻完全制约了古代亚欧大陆较大规模的陆路东西方向人类的迁移。只有帕米尔高原通道和昆仑山北缘通道成为亚欧大陆中部最南端的唯一大通道。由帕米尔、昆仑山向北，天山、阿尔泰山这两个东西走向的大山脉自然也就成为第二、第三大通道地区。但阿尔泰山以北是酷寒的西伯利亚寒带落叶林分布带，完全不适宜亚欧大陆古代人类进行大规模东西向往来。如此一来，亚欧大陆中部的地理区域，只有古代西域是唯一能够自东西方向沟通东西方各古代文明区域的地带。

　　现今，新疆仍然拥有古代西域在亚欧大陆东西交通的所有独特优势，是中国“丝绸之路经济带”上东联中国内陆与东亚各国、西通亚欧乃至非洲最便捷的区域。这样的形势与地位其实仍然是亚欧大陆人类文明发展一脉相承的一种历史必然。也就是说，今天的新疆仍然具有自古以来曾经拥有的优势，也必将发挥自己独有的作用。

The Silk Road links the east and the west

Today, an interesting phenomenon of the study of Chinese history and culture occurs that the academic community and the mythology reach unanimity on the notion of Kunlun Mountains and the source of the Yellow River when it comes to the topic of the origin of culture despite many divergences of views by the two parties. Now, what we read about the mythology of Kunlun Mountains and the source of the Yellow River in ancient times was recorded by ancient people who once lived in the Central Plains (in the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River). In the mythology, the Central Plains is not regarded as the center, rather, to its northwest the Kunlun Mountains, Yarkand River and Pamirs Plateau (in present Xinjiang) were taken as the center, which shows the importance of the Western Region of China.

When it comes to the emergence, development, and maturity of the ancient civilization of Eurasia, a key area that bears the mission of facilitating the civilization communication and defies neglecting is the Western Region of ancient China. Central Asia represented by the Western Region serves as the sole and inevitable route for the cultural exchange by land in ancient times.

The uniqueness of the Western Region hinges on the natural and geographic environment of Eurasia. When unfolding the map of topography, a clear natural barrier stretching long and unbroken would come into view: from Qaraqurum Mountains to Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, and to Yunnan-Kweichow Plateau, from Lancang River to Mekong River Valley, plus subtropical jungle, snow peak of high mountains, torrent of valley and rapids and so on. A range of natural barrier blocks the way for transportation accessible to people from east to west on a large scale by land. Thus, the route through Pamirs Plateau and the northern side of Kunlun mountains farthest to the south of Eurasia becomes the paramount path. To the north of Pamirs Plateau and Kunlun Mountains, Tianshan and Altai Mountains, running from west to east, are the second and third path respectively. A range of deciduous forests of Siberian frigid zone are dispersed over the area on the north of the Altai Mountains, which makes the impossibility of traversing from the west to the east for ancient people living in Eurasia. Therefore, the ancient Western Region, situated at the center of Eurasia becomes the only answer to the trouble, facilitating the communication between the east and the west.

Now, Xinjiang still remains the unique edge it once had, possessing the most convenient road for traffic from the east Chinese mainland to other countries in East Asia and in Eurasia, and even to Africa. It is the inexorable trend of the development of human’s civilization, and will continuously give full play to its unique function.

 

　　昆仑河源观念源自西汉

　　《史记·大宛列传》记载：“汉使穷河源，河源出于阗，其山多玉石，采来，天子案古图书，名河所出山曰昆仑云。”《汉书·西域传》记载：“河有两源，一出葱岭，一出于阗，于阗河北流与葱岭河合，东注蒲昌海，其水亭居，冬夏不增减，皆以为潜行地下，南出于积石，为中国河云。”以上记载的意思是，以张骞为代表的汉使凿空通西域，旅途所见西域南山、葱岭以及葱岭河（叶尔羌河与塔里木河）、蒲昌海（罗布泊）即是古代中国最重要的文化圣地昆仑山和黄河河源。

这是一个影响中国2000多年的历史文化观念。“昆仑山与黄河河源在西域”是由汉武帝在听取张骞等出使西域使者的考察汇报之后，仔细查阅地图和文献，经周密研究思考之后的决定。此后，黄河源自葱岭、昆仑便成为历代王朝的官方观念，此类记载累累于史籍。

 
　　张骞考察黄河河源时，所到达的地方在现今的帕米尔高原，即昆仑山西段，也是昆仑山山脉实际起源的帕米尔山结。就现代科学结论而言，他看到的并非实际地理学上的黄河河源，河源实际在昆仑山东段的青海省境内。然而，由于受上古一贯的大昆仑文化内涵以及古代地图、图册、文献均记载河源在西域的传统观念的强大影响，以及以张骞为代表的西行出使大臣和往来商旅亲眼所见帕米尔以西昆仑山水全部西流，并最终汇聚于罗布泊，而罗布泊水无论冬夏与旱涝，水量从不增减的奇景。再加之许多精彩的物品、文化均自西域（新疆）而来的客观现实，使西域具有一定的神秘色彩。

　　汉武帝基于西域是唯一西通其他文明区域的通道地位，根据先秦上古中国一贯说法和当时积累的上古文献和图册，将中国河（黄河）河源地点定于昆仑和葱岭。这样确定的河源虽然地理学上的误差在1300公里左右，但是文化、历史学上的误差却为零。

The notion of Kunlun Mountains and the source of the Yellow River dates back as early as the Han Dynasty

An account of the Biography of Dayuan in Historical Records reads that “The envoys of the Han Dynasty (206BC-221AD) represented by Zhangqian, were sent to the Western Region on the mission to trace the source of the Yellow River, and they found the Yellow River rises in Yutian of Xinjiang and the mountains there abounds with the jade. So they had the jade mined and brought some to the emperor, who drew the conclusion that the source of the Yellow River is in the Kunlun Mountains through substantially textual research.” Another account carried in the Biography of the Western Region in the History of Han reads that “The Yellow River has its two sources in the Pamirs Plateau and Yutian respectively. The river of Yutian running to the north converges with the rivers of the Pamirs Plateau (the Yarkand River and the Tarim river) into one, which flows to the east into Lop Nor (a vast dried salt lake), where the water always remains at the same level, never rising or ebbing. People all think that it flows underground to the south until it makes it appearance from Jishi Mountain under the name of the Yellow River.” What is said above reinforces the significance of the Pamirs Plateau and Lop Nor to culturally sacred place Kunlun Mountains and the source of the Yellow River.

The notion has affected the Chinese people for more than 2000 years. Adopting the outcome of the survey of the Western Region conducted by Zhangqian and other envoys, along with the careful consideration and consulting the related maps and documents, Han Wudi came up with the idea that the Kunlun Mountains and the source of the Yellow River are in the Western Region. From then on, the official side holds the same statement from generation to generation, which is carried in all kinds of historical records.

Where Zhangqian arrived when he tried to trace the source of the Yellow River is the present the Pamirs Plateau, namely, the western area of the Kunlun Mountains and convergent area of the Pamirs Plateau (the Kunlun Mountains’ real origin). As far as the modern scientific conclusion is concerned, the source of the Yellow River he found is geographically not the real one which is in the eastern area of the Kunlun Mountains in Qinghai province. Influenced by the traditional ideas, the maps and documents as mentioned above and the experiences of the envoys, plus masses of the elaborate objects and the culture introduced from Xinjiang, people tend to make a mystery of the Western Region.

The judgment by Han Wudi about the location of the resource of the Yellow River leads to the geographical error of 1,300 kilometers or so, yet is of complete correctness owing to its important contribution to the culture as well as to the history.

　　昆仑河源的政治文化内涵深厚

　　据《穆天子传》记载，周穆王登昆仑，拜谒山上的黄帝之宫，为丰隆（雷神）的坟墓封土，并举行祭祀昆仑山的仪式。类似的记载也多见于《山海经》，所指的昆仑已经极为接近现在的新疆。《穆天子传》《山海经》成书于战国时代，当时秦穆公已平定西戎，西戎大部已经经昆仑山、帕米尔山西迁。此类书是上古中国昆仑文化的真实记录，同时很可能主要依据秦穆公平定西戎所掌握的情况和上古时期流传下来的周穆王游历昆仑的传说，一定程度上证明了古代西域山河的重要性。至汉代，汉武帝则正式把文化昆仑、神话昆仑落实为真实的地理学山脉，并将黄河源头也定于此。

      
　　张骞通西域的目的是联合西域诸国，抗击匈奴；同时断绝匈奴对西域昆仑河源这个沟通东西方的科技、物流大通道的利用（断匈奴的财路、军事后勤来源）。这就是著名的“断匈奴的右臂”，其实就是控制昆仑河源道这个西域大商道。同时，黄河的上源在昆仑山，中原、西域同饮黄河水，也就是一家人了。由此，政治上的需要和地理上的真实发生了一致性碰撞，于是，黄河河源在西域的观念进一步确立与流行就有了它的时代必然性。

　　昆仑、黄河数千年来一直是中国文化和王朝皇脉的象征。秦汉以降，寻找黄河源头并加以祭祀，便成为皇权天授、天子正统性的直接体现，为国之大事。自汉武帝起，历代王朝都把黄河源头认定在目前起源于新疆昆仑山、帕米尔高原山麓流经塔克拉玛干全境的塔里木河诸支流。晚清新疆省的出现与保有，便是几千年来中国与昆仑、河源有关统治哲学的现实反映。保住河源、昆仑就等于保住了国脉，维护了皇权道义，以保清王朝万世基业。

     
　　2014年3月，总书记指出：“体现一个国家综合实力最核心的、最高层的，还是文化软实力，这事关一个民族精气神的凝聚。我们要坚持道路自信、理论自信、制度自信，最根本的还有一个文化自信。”这表明国家和民族的繁荣富强，不仅要靠经济实力，最终还要通过文化符号来表达、通过文化力量来展示。习总书记提出文化自信，实际上是对中国文化软实力的极大重视。

 
　　汉武帝在2000多年前确定“昆仑山、黄河河源在西域”，充分表明西域山河之于古代中国文化的重要，以及古代中国对丝绸之路的重视。当下，关于昆仑河源丝路古道和昆仑河源道文化研究又一次成为国家需要。立足中国文明的强大、丰富内涵，我们极有必要在这方面形成中国学术界自己的强势学术话语权，在设立我们自己主导的学术或文化话题取得主动，以话题引导国内外舆论和文化关注，用最新的学术研究成果服务于现代中国社会发展需要和国家主权的维护。

The Kunlun Mountains and the Yellow River contain a deep and rich politics and culture

According to The Biography of the King Zhou Muwang, he once ascended the Kunlun Mountains to pay his homage at the palace of Huangdi (legendary ruler and ancestor of the Chinese Nation), to mound the grave of Feng Long (deity of thunder), and to perform the sacrificial rites in showing respect for the Kunlun Mountains. Such similar records were extensively written in The Book of Mountains and Seas (a Chinese classic over 2000 years old), in which the Kunlun Mountains it mentioned is very close to the present Xinjiang. The two books The Biography of the King Zhou Muwang and The Book of Mountains and Seas were written in the Warring State Period (475BC-221BC) when the king Qin Mugong had defeated Xirong, a barbarian horde from the west, who had been forced to move to the western area via the Kunlun Mountains and the Pamirs Plateau. The significance of the Western Region in ancient times attaches to both the truth about the Kunlun Mountains recorded in such books as mentioned above and the related mythology and legends which were also put down in writings. It was not until the Han Dynasty that the locations of Kunlun Mountain and the source of the Yellow River were ascertained by Han Wudi, leaving mythology paling into insignificance.

Zhang Qian was sent to the Western Region for the purpose of joining hands with countries there to fight back Xiongnu, and meanwhile, depriving them of the utilization of the route via the Western Region which leas to the outside world for them to get money and military provisions. It was called “sever the right hand of Xiongnu”. As the Yellow River runs from the Kunlun Mountains all the way down to the Central Plains, the people living by the river, regardless of by the upper reaches or by the down reaches, all collect water from the same river, which makes them think they are of the same family. So the view that the Yellow River rises in the Western Region is wide spread thanks to both the political needs and the geographical facts. It is chosen by the times.

The Kunlun Mountains and the Yellow River always represent the dynasties and the imperial families over thousands of years. Since the Han Dynasty, tracing the source of the Yellow River with offering sacrifices becomes the major national affair as it is a way of justifying the authority of the emperor. Each emperor after Han Wudi all takes the view that the Yellow River flows from the Kunlun Mountains of Xinjiang and the foot of the Pamirs Plateau, past tributaries of Tarim river of Taklimakan Desert, and down to the Central Plains. As to the establishment of Xinjiang Province and claiming to its title by the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), it is a total reflection of the ruling philosophy over the Kunlun Mountains and the Yellow River throughout the ages for the ruling class thinks the possession of them implies they hold the imperial power in hands to ensure the dynasty lasting forever.

In March 2014, president Xi Jinping noted that “It is the soft power that manifests the core and highest comprehensive strength of a country, and has an important bearing on the cohesive power of a nation. We must have self-confidence in the path, theory, institution, and the foremost culture.” It means that the prosperity and strength of a country are decided not only by the economic strength but also by the culture as its brand to exhibit to others. The self-confidence in culture said by president Xi Jinping shows he highly sets store by the soft power.

The conclusion that “The Kunlun Mountains and the source of the Yellow River are in the Western Region” made by Han Wudi as early as 2000 years ago reveals the importance of the Western Region to Chinese Ancient culture, and of the Silk Road which was thought highly in ancient China. Today, the study on the Kunlun Mountains, the source of the Yellow River, and the Silk Road again becomes a necessity for China. As China boasts its deep and rich culture, we have the advantage in forming our own academic thought, and the initiative in directing public opinions at home and abroad through creating our own topics. We will use the new study outcomes to better serve our country in its development and to defend the national sovereignty.

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