Hong Kong Institute for the Humanities and Social Sciences, The University of Hong Kong

絲綢之路不僅是一條地理學或社會史意義上的橫向路線，更在一定程度上引動了時代樣貌的變遷。這些縱橫交錯的線索，根源於一個更加複雜的“場域”。中古時期活躍在絲綢之路上的粟特商隊，擁有冒險精神、商業才能以及多語言優勢，往來東西之間，販運絲綢、寶石、香料等，並在絲路沿線建立或大或小的聚落，也是鉤連東西方藝術、文化、思想與信仰的重要媒介，對中西亞、南亞和東亞文明的演進起著重要的作用。本講座以一個北齊造像上的圖像細節為鎖鑰，解讀一個粟特商隊的身份、人生故事及其映照出的絲路圖景。

The Silk Road is not merely a geographical or sociohistorical route but also, to a considerable extent, a catalyst for historical ups and downs. These crisscrossing nets stem from a more intricate “field.” Possessing a spirit of adventure, commercial acumen, and multilingual proficiency, Sogdian merchant caravans played a leading role along the Silk Road during the medieval period. Traversing east and west, they transported silk, gemstones, and spices, and established settlements of varying sizes along the Silk Road. Moreover, they served as crucial mediators connecting Eastern and Western arts, cultures, ideologies, and religions, exerting significant influence on the spread of civilizations in Central and West Asia, South Asia, and East Asia. This lecture takes a detailed image from a Northern Qi sculpture as a key and interprets the identity and life stories of a Sogdian merchant caravan, as well as the Silk Road panorama it reflects.