New book charts story of China’s ancient shudao

China Intercontinental Press has published a new book which charts the story of one of ancient China's major transportation routes.

Following Cultural Relics Along the Ancient Shudao uses cultural relics as its core narrative thread to interpret the history and culture of the ancient shudao, a road network more than 2,000 years old, that linked the Sichuan Basin with the Central Plains.

The book brings together 150 precious cultural relics from 38 museums across China, accompanied by nearly 200 high-definition images. Combining archaeological objects with historical records, it reveals the true character of the ancient highway while reconstructing the journeys of emperors, generals, merchants, scholars and ordinary travelers who once traversed it.

Recent archaeological discoveries feature prominently in the publication. For example, Wan Jiao, a researcher from the Sichuan Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, notes that the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC)'s conquest of Ba and Shu states in Southwest China in 316 BC was a turning point for shudao. Before that time, the road consisted mostly of wild paths. After the conquest, Qin turned it into a nationally administered highway.

The book also delves into excavated artifacts that confirm this transformation. Among them is a bronze dagger inscribed with the name of Qin counselor-in-chief Lyu Buwei, unearthed in Qingchuan county, Sichuan province, providing compelling evidence of Qin military and administrative control along the shudao.

The publication also sheds light on the finer details of daily life. For example, a Song Dynasty (960-1279) stone stele recording traffic rules shows how movement was governed along the ancient road.

One of the book's authors, Song Yan, says readers should take the book with them to explore the route: "How can you truly experience the charm of the ancient shudao?"

"The only way is to walk it, just as people did in the past. Only by crossing the mountains with your own feet and taking in the scenery at a traveler's pace can you fully appreciate the dangers of the road and the hardships endured by generations who journeyed along it."