This volume includes outstanding scientific articles on documents written in ancient languages such as Tocharian, Sogdian, Khotanese, and Old Uyghur. Its chief aims are to contribute to the present state of research by adding essential findings on newly discovered historical documents; to present a multi-dimensional investigation of diverse aspects including the history, religion, art, literature, and social life along the Silk Road; and to outline potential future research directions for non-Han literature studies and inspire research into other aspects, such as economics and comparative studies.

Provides new, high-level systematic studies on non-Han language documents discovered along the Silk Road Contributes to studies on the ancient Silk Road, the history of Western Regions, and the political complexity in ancient Xinjiang Presents research findings by leading international academics

Autorentext
Dr. Xiao Li , a professor at the School of Chinese Classics, Renmin University of China, has participated in archaeological fieldwork and pursued extensive research on the prehistoric and historical periods in northwestern China and Central Asia. With his outstanding experience, both in fieldwork and theoretical research, he has considerable expertise in the archaeology and history of Xinjiang, the origin and development of the central Asian civilizations, and the modes of interactions between Xinjiang and Central Asia.

Inhalt

1. Across-regional and Local Characteristics of Mythologies: on the Basis of Observing the Lop Museum Carpets.- 2. Legends and Ceremonies: Based on the Observation of the Qu Shu Collection at Xinjiang Lop Museum.- 3. Wang Shuhe Maijue in Iran.- 4. Relation between Sogdiana and Turfan during the 10th - 11th centuries as reflected in Manichaean Sogdian texts.- 5. Four New Kharoh Documents kept in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Museum.- 6. A New Kharoh Document from Kucha in the Hetian County Museum Collection.- 7. An Examination of Khujand.- 8. The Xinjiang Region Museum Collection An Interpretation of a Kharoh Letter.- 9. A New Transcription and Translation of the Kharoh Deed of Divorce in Hetian Museum.