Silk Road

A proliferation of cultural exchange has transpired from the very inception of Silk Road exchange in prehistory to modern day, by way of China's borrowing of religious ideas, commodities, and material culture originating from Silk Road regions. We seek to demonstrate how extensive the impact of the aforementioned has been in manifesting themselves and remaining firmly ensconced in present day China.

Islam was introduced to China by merchants travelling along the Silk Road, having a significant impact on the culture of north-western China. This is evident in the architecture and customs observed by people within the region. Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar is an example of Islamic architecture in modern times. Completed in 2002, it features arches, domes and is constructed of sandstone- elements not commonly found in Chinese architecture.

Buddhist practices such as vegetarianism, Tantrism, and Vajra Sutra were introduced to China through pilgrimages from India. It came to China in various forms, such as myth and legend, texts such as Mahayana and Prajna Paramita, and practices in the form of rituals that were brought back by traveller Xuanzang. Their impact on China was manifested in the form of Buddhist practices such as vegetarianism, which was influenced by legends from India, and meditation which was influenced by the Vajra Sutra.

The receptiveness of Tang China to Buddhism is reflected in their adoption of religious iconography, in their artistic representations of Buddhas, Bodhisattvas and other divine beings, and the lion being imbued with religious symbolic significance. Accordingly, Buddhist influence on religious art was curtailed by the anti-Buddhist persecutions of 845 AD.

Horses were indispensable to China for transport and military purposes, and were a heavily pursued commodity from the Turkic people of the north.