Investigation on the exchange of incense and medicine along the Silk Road from the perspective of medical archaeology
- VernacularTitle:医学考古学视野的丝绸之路香药交流之考察
- Author:
Li ZENG
1
,
2
;
Xiang QI
1
,
2
;
Congcang ZHAO
1
,
2
Author Information
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords: fragrant medicine; Silk Road; medical archaeology; exchanges between China and foreign countries
- From: Journal of Xi'an Jiaotong University(Medical Sciences) 2023;44(2):323-330
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
- Abstract: From the perspective of medical archaeology, on the basis of sorting out the relevant archaeological findings, and starting from the diachronic nature of spice exchange, this paper divides the development of ancient Chinese fragrant drugs into the occurrence period (pre Qin), the development period (Qin and Han dynasties), the maturity period (Wei, Jin and Tang dynasties), the prosperity period (Song and Yuan dynasties), and the popularity period (Ming and Qing dynasties). The Silk Road has played a vital role in promoting the exchange of fragrant medicine culture. Since the opening of the Silk Road in the Han Dynasty, fragrant drugs from Southeast Asia, South Asia, Central Asia, and the east coast of the Mediterranean Sea have been imported into China. The exchange of fragrant medicine culture coincides with the development trend of the Silk Road. This kind of exchange has a two-way nature. While foreign fragrant drugs are continuously imported into China, Chinese medical concepts and technologies are also promoted abroad. The impact of the exchange has many effects. It has not only promoted the progress of medicine, but also promoted the friendly exchanges between China and foreign countries and the mutual dissemination of ideas and cultures, and greatly enriched the material and cultural life of the people of all countries.
