Over a thousand years ago, the Romans in the Mediterranean were captivated by the allure of silk from China known to them as "Seres". On the opposite side of Eurasia, the Chinese were fascinated by the concept of "fine wine in a glow-in-the-dark cup". This eastward journey of the grape not only propelled Western material culture into the first wave of "globalization", but also facilitated cultural exchange between ancient Eastern and Western civilizations.

Zhang Qian's mission and the eastward spread of the grape

The journey of Zhang Qian, an envoy of the Han Dynasty (206 BC-220), played a crucial role in the eastward spread of the grape. During his travels to the Western Regions, Zhang Qian encountered the Dawan people in the present-day Ferghana Basin. These people were renowned for their wine production and their love for grapes. Intrigued by this discovery, Zhang Qian brought back grape and alfalfa seeds to the Central Plains, introducing grape cultivation to the region. Emperor Wu of Han (156-87 BC), recorded by the Han Dynasty historian Sima Qian, established expansive vineyards and alfalfa fields near the palace to entertain envoys and nourish horses.

A well-known Tang Dynasty (618-907) poem depicted the scene, "Heavenly horses often nibble on alfalfa flowers, while the nomads offer wine each year." By the time of the Three Kingdoms period (220-280), Emperor Wen of Wei (187-226) praised grapes for their delightful balance of sweetness without being cloying, and sourness without being bitter.

This agricultural development marked a significant milestone in the integration of grapes into the everyday life of ordinary people, greatly enriching the culinary culture of the Central Plains.

During the Tang Dynasty, the popularity of grapes extended beyond consumption, with grape motifs adorning various ornamental objects. Grape patterns flourished, embellishing silver bowls, porcelain, paintings, carvings, textiles, and more, showcasing distinctive Chinese characteristics. Lin Chun's painting Grapes and Insects from the Song Dynasty (960-1279) depicted the delicate nuances of life, featuring clusters of grapes intertwined with dragonflies, mantises, and grasshoppers. These artistic creations provided a rich and delightful spiritual experience, capturing the finesse of traditional Chinese fan-shaped paintings.

In later dynasties, such as the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1616-1911), grape patterns were harmoniously blended with "doucai", a traditional Chinese porcelain decoration technique, and blue-and-white porcelain, encapsulating the ink and brush aesthetics of Chinese ink paintings. These artworks created grape-patterned porcelain imbued with an Oriental character. They carried auspicious connotations of prosperity and good fortune, passed down through generations.

The oriental version of wine culture

The introduction of grapes also gave rise to the flourishing wine culture in the Central Plains. Initially considered a rare and exotic import enjoyed only by the privileged classes, wine gained popularity under the influence of Emperor Taizong (598-649) of Tang. Taizong not only brought back various winemaking methods from his conquests but also personally made wine and shared it with his courtiers. Wine became a favorite indulgence for scholars during banquets, inspiring them to compose passionate poetry expressing their appreciation for the sophisticated taste of wine.

For a time, indulging in the sophisticated taste of wine, enjoying exotic melodies, and singing poems celebrating wine was an integral part of the lives of scholars at that time.

And wine tasting isimperfectwithout an assortment of refined wine vessels. In the eastern chamber of Princess Yongtai's tomb, dating back to the Tang Dynasty, a mural portrays a maid gracefully holding a tall Persian-style goblet, offering compelling evidence of the widespread admiration for wine among the aristocratic class of that era.

The interaction between East and West expanded beyond the trade of material objects to include intellectual and cultural exchanges. The art, myths, and religious beliefs associated with wine in Greco-Roman culture also found their way to China through the path of the grape.

The exchange of silk and grapes between "Seres" (China) and "Daqin" (Rome) involved not only the exchange of material culture but also cultural values, enriching the interaction between these ancient civilizations. The ancient Silk Road served as more than just a trade route. It was a means for transmitting ideas and cultural values between Chinese and Western cultures.

Glassware trade and cultural exchange along the Silk Road

The highly prized "glow-in-the-dark cup", made of nephrite jade from the Qilian Mountains, goes through 20 meticulous polishing processes. The cup was as thin as cicada wings, almost transparent, naturally emitting light at night. During the Han and Tang dynasties, with the opening of the Silk Road, a similar but lighter and more colorful vessel called "liuli (琉璃)" arrived in China from the West. Glass products, like silk in Rome, became a coveted and highly sought after luxury item in China.

Glass is not a product of modern industrial civilization. As early as the Western Zhou Dynasty (1046-771 BC), the Chinese had already acquired the art of making glass, known as "liuli". However, due to the limitations of raw materials and the influence of mainstream culture, China's glassmaking techniques were not well developed before the Han Dynasty.

Fortunately, trade along the Silk Road reignited China's glassmaking techniques. With the influx of glassware from Persia, Arabia, and Byzantium, Chinese artisans learned from their Western counterparts and developed their own exquisite glass vessels during the Tang Dynasty. The trade and dissemination of glassware showcased the interconnectedness and cultural significance of East-West exchanges, resulting in glass products that embraced traditional Chinese aesthetics and characteristics.

Over a thousand years ago, the Eurasian continent thrived with cultural vitality, embodying the notion that "beauty is in the journey, and far places bring fresh horizons". The dialogue between civilizations, with the exchange of ideas and cultural values along the timeless Silk Road, continues to shape our world today.

The views don't necessarily reflect those of DeepChina.

The author is Ji Jiajie.