From Buddhism to Nestorian Christianity: The Importance of the Silk Roads in the Movement of Ideas and Religions across Central Asia

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In celebration of UBC Library’s centennial, author and former British Library curator of Chinese collections Dr. Frances Wood, will speak on the movement of ideas and icons across Central Asia facilitated by the Silk Road trade routes.

The rich variety of religions was evidenced by the great cache of manuscripts discovered in Dunhuang in 1900. Since the first removal of manuscripts to London by Aurel Stein in 1907 and to Paris by Paul Pelliot in the following year, scholars have been astounded by the richness of this manuscript hoard. In addition to showing the significance of Buddhism in the daily life of Tang China, these treasures also reveal the importance of religion to the Sogdian traders who dominated the northern Silk Road and underline the cosmopolitan nature of Tang China.