I am associate Professor in Byzantine studies, faculty member of IHAC, Northeast Normal University, interested in Byzantine literature, law, numismatics, epigraphy, papyrology, sigillography, etc. Now I am working on the Chinese translation of "History" of Agathias. Address: IHAC, Northeast Normal University. Renmin Street No. 5268, 130024, Changchun, China
A Chinese translation of the Kingdom in the Sun, 1130-1194 by John Julius Norwich in China Friend... more A Chinese translation of the Kingdom in the Sun, 1130-1194 by John Julius Norwich in China Friendship Publishing Co. , in 2021
A Chinese translation of the Normans in the South, 1016-1130 by John Julius Norwich, published by... more A Chinese translation of the Normans in the South, 1016-1130 by John Julius Norwich, published by China Friendship Publishing Co. in 2021
JAC-Supplements 8: Sven Günther, Li Qiang, Lin Ying, and Claudia Sode (eds.), Byzantine Gold Coins in the World of Late Antiquity. Papers Read at the International Conference in Changchun, China, 23–26 June 2017, 2021
JAC-Supplements 8: Sven Günther, Li Qiang, Lin Ying, and Claudia Sode (eds.), Byzantine Gold Coin... more JAC-Supplements 8: Sven Günther, Li Qiang, Lin Ying, and Claudia Sode (eds.), Byzantine Gold Coins in the World of Late Antiquity. Papers Read at the International Conference in Changchun, China, 23–26 June 2017, Changchun: The Institute for the History of Ancient Civilizations, 2021; XI, 314 pp.; ISSN 1004-9371; EUR 50.00.
Byzantine gold coinage was immensely important in the political, social, and cultural life of the Near East and the Western Mediterranean during Late Antiquity and into the Middle Ages. Its significance can be judged from archaeological finds in Italy and Gaul as well as the Balkans, the Levant, and Northern Africa. Furthermore, from the 4th century onwards, Byzantine coins begin to appear along the Silk Roads, soon to be taken to countries in the Far East, including China. Since the end of the 19th century, over one hundred Byzantine gold coins and coin imitations have been found in China. The findspots are mainly located in the northern areas, in a crescent extending from Xinjiang in the northwest to the province of Liaoning in the northeast. Chronologically, they mainly belong to a period from the late 6th century to the mid-8th century, i.e., from the late Northern Dynasties to the middle of the Tang Dynasty period, and they reflect the prosperity, exchange, and communication which once existed along the Silk Roads. The international symposium on “Byzantine Gold Coins in the World of Late Antiquity,” held at the Institute for the History of Ancient Civilizations (IHAC) of Northeast Normal University (NENU), Changchun, China, 23–26 June 2017, aimed at delineating the political, economic, social, and cultural-religious conditions behind the flow of Byzantine gold coins not only into China but also within the broader Mediterranean region, into India, Central Asia, and Mongolia, as well as Southeast Asia. Even though some of the papers should be seen as very preliminary considerations on the respective subjects, all the investigations of specific coins in this volume contribute to the current development of building a more integrated and multifaceted picture of the world of Late Antiquity and the Early Middle Ages. We express our heartfelt thanks to all colleagues, students, and friends who have supported the symposium and its publication in various ways. Our special thanks are due to Dr. Rebecca Darley, Dr. Jonathan Jarrett, and Prof. Dr. David A. Warburton for their painstaking review of drafts of papers. Finally, we acknowledge our debt to the National Social Science Fund of China (Program Code 2016BSS007 with the title “Imitations of Byzantine Gold Coins and the Production of Luxuries in the Early Byzantine Empire”) and to the History Department of Sun Yat-sen University (“Grant for Discipline Construction in the History Department of Sun Yat-sen University”) for their generous financial support.
This paper mainly examines how the Chinese invented writing material paper was spread to Byzantiu... more This paper mainly examines how the Chinese invented writing material paper was spread to Byzantium. In the paper, the emphasis is given to the history of paper invention in China, the paper's journey to Byzantium, the efforts of Sogdians, Arabs, and Christians for the spreading, as well as the writing materials and paper's using in Byzantium.
From Constantinople to Chang’an. Byzantine Gold Coins in the World of Late Antiquity. Papers Read at the International Conference in Changchun, China, 23–26 June 2017, 2021
This is the Chinese translation of the paper of Prof. Andreas Rhoby, "A short history of Byzantin... more This is the Chinese translation of the paper of Prof. Andreas Rhoby, "A short history of Byzantine Epigraphy", in Andreas Rhoby ed., Inscriptions in Byzantium and Beyond: Methods – Projects – Case Studies, Wien, 2015, pp. 17-32.
This paper summarizes the recent dynamics of the studies on Byzantine law in the West and China, ... more This paper summarizes the recent dynamics of the studies on Byzantine law in the West and China, including monographs and research papers. This may be interesting to the readers who want to quickly learn the dynamics and trend of the subjet.
The geopolitics pertaining to the Silk Road network in the period from the 6th to the 7th century... more The geopolitics pertaining to the Silk Road network in the period from the 6th to the 7th century (the final, albeit important, period of Late Antiquity) was intertwined with highly strategic dimensions.1 The frequent arrival of hoards of nomadic peoples from inner Eurasia at the borders of the existing sedentary empires and their encounters and interactions formed the complicated political ecology of the period. These empires attempted to take advantage of the newly shaped situation arising after such great movements strategically, each in their own interest. How did they achieve their goals and what problems were they confronted with? In this paper, I will focus on the relations the Western Türks had with Byzantium and use it as an example in order to resurvey these complicated geopolitics. In the first part, attention will be given to the collection of Byzantine literature concerning the Western Türks. Then, on the basis of the sources, the four main exchanges of delegations between the Western Türks and Byzantium will be discussed, in which the important status of the 563 embassy – as it was the first Türk delegation sent to Byzantium – will be emphasized. The possible motives behind the dispatch of the delegations and the repercussions they had will be presented. Finally, through reviewing the diplomatic communication between the Western Türks and Byzantium, attention will be turned to the general picture of geopolitics along the Silk Road, claiming that the great empire of the West – similar to today’s superpowers – by means of their resources (mainly diplomacy) manipulated the geopolitics on the Silk Road, especially the nomadic people pursuing their own survival and interests, who were only treated as pieces on a chessboard for keeping the balance with the rest of the superpowers.
All papers of this peer-reviewed open access journal can be accessed and downloaded at: http://dx... more All papers of this peer-reviewed open access journal can be accessed and downloaded at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1553/medievalworlds_no8_2018.
"The Oriental Trip of Byzantine Gold Coins" was published in an influential Chinese newspaper "Gu... more "The Oriental Trip of Byzantine Gold Coins" was published in an influential Chinese newspaper "Guangming Daily". On the basis of the archaeological finds, the paper traces the journey of the Byzantine gold coins from Byzantium to Central Asia， East Asia， Southeast Asia, etc., and it also emphasizes the significance of the Byzantine gold coins in the interaction of the Mediterranean Sea and the Oriental through the Silk Road.
Turks Tomb with Mural Paintings; Byzantine Coins; Silk Road; Eurasian Steppe As the convincing ev... more Turks Tomb with Mural Paintings; Byzantine Coins; Silk Road; Eurasian Steppe As the convincing evidence, the Byzantine coins discovered along the Silk Road strongly prove that the Byzantine empire kept close interactions and communications with the ethnic groups on the Eurasian Steppe during the period of 6th~9th century. In 2011, a number of gold and silver coins of Byzantine and Sassanian as well as their imitations were found in the Shoroon Bumbagar tomb in Baiannuur sum of Mongolia. It is the largest discovery of the Byzantine coins and their imitations in East Asia, which had been paid intensive attention by scholars. A particular study on them is of great academic and realistic significance. Since the Turks used to be active on the Eurasian Steppe and the desert oasis routes of the Silk Road, analyses and reviews on the discoveries of the Byzantine coins and their imitations along those routes will promote the study of the Turks tomb of Baiannuur sum and provide valuable references and evidences.
The Byzantine Empire played an influential role in the European and even in the world history. Th... more The Byzantine Empire played an influential role in the European and even in the world history. The present huge treasure of the Classical-Byzantine literature, saved and handed down with the help of the advanced Byzantine historiography and its various writing materials, become the important evidence for discovering the Classical-Byzantine history and its signifi cance. This paper intends, through showing how the Byzantine writing materials went through the transformation from papyrus to parchment then to paper, to reveal the effect of different writing materials on the storage and spreading of the Classical-Byzantine literature.
One of the reasons for the durability of the Byzantine Empire is its emphasis on “τάξις” (order).... more One of the reasons for the durability of the Byzantine Empire is its emphasis on “τάξις” (order). As the second golden age in the empire, the Macedonian dynasty had great achievement in politics, economy, culture and military for that reason. The land legislation of the Macedonian dynasty not only adjusted the economic policies but also eased the conflicts among different classes. The Church and monasteries together, as the largest land owners of the empire, were the main targets of the empire’s regulation. Hence, there were rigid provisions in the land legislations for limiting their expansion on land. The O Novel of Basil II (by modern scholars) is the last novel of this period on the control of the Church and monasteries’ expansion on land. It includes strict measures to protect village lands from appropriation by bishops and metropolitans laying claims to small chapels founded within village communes. This novel shows the long-term policy of the Macedonian dynasty on the limitation of the boundless expansion of the Church and monasteries on land, making sure of the profits of small peasants and the steadiness of state’s revenue. Through the accumulation, just during the reign of the Basil II, the empire arrived in its peak in economics and military.
According to archaeological reports and other evidence, it is known that more than 100 Roman coin... more According to archaeological reports and other evidence, it is known that more than 100 Roman coins from the Eastern Roman Empire have been discovered along the Silk Route on the Chinese mainland. This discovery, combined with the rich ancient Chinese sources on foreign matters, demonstrates that active communications between the Eastern Roman Empire and ancient China fl ourished along the Silk Route. This paper will concentrate on three aspects, supplying general information concerning the Roman coins discovered in China, summarizing current research on the main issues raised by them, and supplying the latest bibliography. It is hoped that this research will attract more international scholars of numismatics and Roman history to pay special attention to the discovery in China.
Famer’s Law is an important code in the history of the Byzantine Empire, which regularizes the b... more Famer’s Law is an important code in the history of the Byzantine Empire, which regularizes the behaviors in production and life of Byzantine villages. Its provisions covers the organization of villages, the occupation and utilization of the land, the rights and interests of the peasants, the punishment for illegal activities, etc…sketching the economic life of the Byzantine countryside in the Empire’s mid-period, it has been regarded as an extremely precious material to study the rural economic system of Byzantium. The abroad research on Famer’s Law has been for years since it was found, W. Ashburner’s Greek critical text with its English version are the most authoritative which received considerable recognition by scholars. This study, on the basis of W. Ashburner’s works, provides the Chinese translation and commentary .
A Chinese translation of the Kingdom in the Sun, 1130-1194 by John Julius Norwich in China Friend... more A Chinese translation of the Kingdom in the Sun, 1130-1194 by John Julius Norwich in China Friendship Publishing Co. , in 2021
A Chinese translation of the Normans in the South, 1016-1130 by John Julius Norwich, published by... more A Chinese translation of the Normans in the South, 1016-1130 by John Julius Norwich, published by China Friendship Publishing Co. in 2021
JAC-Supplements 8: Sven Günther, Li Qiang, Lin Ying, and Claudia Sode (eds.), Byzantine Gold Coins in the World of Late Antiquity. Papers Read at the International Conference in Changchun, China, 23–26 June 2017, 2021
JAC-Supplements 8: Sven Günther, Li Qiang, Lin Ying, and Claudia Sode (eds.), Byzantine Gold Coin... more JAC-Supplements 8: Sven Günther, Li Qiang, Lin Ying, and Claudia Sode (eds.), Byzantine Gold Coins in the World of Late Antiquity. Papers Read at the International Conference in Changchun, China, 23–26 June 2017, Changchun: The Institute for the History of Ancient Civilizations, 2021; XI, 314 pp.; ISSN 1004-9371; EUR 50.00.
Byzantine gold coinage was immensely important in the political, social, and cultural life of the Near East and the Western Mediterranean during Late Antiquity and into the Middle Ages. Its significance can be judged from archaeological finds in Italy and Gaul as well as the Balkans, the Levant, and Northern Africa. Furthermore, from the 4th century onwards, Byzantine coins begin to appear along the Silk Roads, soon to be taken to countries in the Far East, including China. Since the end of the 19th century, over one hundred Byzantine gold coins and coin imitations have been found in China. The findspots are mainly located in the northern areas, in a crescent extending from Xinjiang in the northwest to the province of Liaoning in the northeast. Chronologically, they mainly belong to a period from the late 6th century to the mid-8th century, i.e., from the late Northern Dynasties to the middle of the Tang Dynasty period, and they reflect the prosperity, exchange, and communication which once existed along the Silk Roads. The international symposium on “Byzantine Gold Coins in the World of Late Antiquity,” held at the Institute for the History of Ancient Civilizations (IHAC) of Northeast Normal University (NENU), Changchun, China, 23–26 June 2017, aimed at delineating the political, economic, social, and cultural-religious conditions behind the flow of Byzantine gold coins not only into China but also within the broader Mediterranean region, into India, Central Asia, and Mongolia, as well as Southeast Asia. Even though some of the papers should be seen as very preliminary considerations on the respective subjects, all the investigations of specific coins in this volume contribute to the current development of building a more integrated and multifaceted picture of the world of Late Antiquity and the Early Middle Ages. We express our heartfelt thanks to all colleagues, students, and friends who have supported the symposium and its publication in various ways. Our special thanks are due to Dr. Rebecca Darley, Dr. Jonathan Jarrett, and Prof. Dr. David A. Warburton for their painstaking review of drafts of papers. Finally, we acknowledge our debt to the National Social Science Fund of China (Program Code 2016BSS007 with the title “Imitations of Byzantine Gold Coins and the Production of Luxuries in the Early Byzantine Empire”) and to the History Department of Sun Yat-sen University (“Grant for Discipline Construction in the History Department of Sun Yat-sen University”) for their generous financial support.
This paper mainly examines how the Chinese invented writing material paper was spread to Byzantiu... more This paper mainly examines how the Chinese invented writing material paper was spread to Byzantium. In the paper, the emphasis is given to the history of paper invention in China, the paper's journey to Byzantium, the efforts of Sogdians, Arabs, and Christians for the spreading, as well as the writing materials and paper's using in Byzantium.
From Constantinople to Chang’an. Byzantine Gold Coins in the World of Late Antiquity. Papers Read at the International Conference in Changchun, China, 23–26 June 2017, 2021
This is the Chinese translation of the paper of Prof. Andreas Rhoby, "A short history of Byzantin... more This is the Chinese translation of the paper of Prof. Andreas Rhoby, "A short history of Byzantine Epigraphy", in Andreas Rhoby ed., Inscriptions in Byzantium and Beyond: Methods – Projects – Case Studies, Wien, 2015, pp. 17-32.
This paper summarizes the recent dynamics of the studies on Byzantine law in the West and China, ... more This paper summarizes the recent dynamics of the studies on Byzantine law in the West and China, including monographs and research papers. This may be interesting to the readers who want to quickly learn the dynamics and trend of the subjet.
The geopolitics pertaining to the Silk Road network in the period from the 6th to the 7th century... more The geopolitics pertaining to the Silk Road network in the period from the 6th to the 7th century (the final, albeit important, period of Late Antiquity) was intertwined with highly strategic dimensions.1 The frequent arrival of hoards of nomadic peoples from inner Eurasia at the borders of the existing sedentary empires and their encounters and interactions formed the complicated political ecology of the period. These empires attempted to take advantage of the newly shaped situation arising after such great movements strategically, each in their own interest. How did they achieve their goals and what problems were they confronted with? In this paper, I will focus on the relations the Western Türks had with Byzantium and use it as an example in order to resurvey these complicated geopolitics. In the first part, attention will be given to the collection of Byzantine literature concerning the Western Türks. Then, on the basis of the sources, the four main exchanges of delegations between the Western Türks and Byzantium will be discussed, in which the important status of the 563 embassy – as it was the first Türk delegation sent to Byzantium – will be emphasized. The possible motives behind the dispatch of the delegations and the repercussions they had will be presented. Finally, through reviewing the diplomatic communication between the Western Türks and Byzantium, attention will be turned to the general picture of geopolitics along the Silk Road, claiming that the great empire of the West – similar to today’s superpowers – by means of their resources (mainly diplomacy) manipulated the geopolitics on the Silk Road, especially the nomadic people pursuing their own survival and interests, who were only treated as pieces on a chessboard for keeping the balance with the rest of the superpowers.
All papers of this peer-reviewed open access journal can be accessed and downloaded at: http://dx... more All papers of this peer-reviewed open access journal can be accessed and downloaded at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1553/medievalworlds_no8_2018.
"The Oriental Trip of Byzantine Gold Coins" was published in an influential Chinese newspaper "Gu... more "The Oriental Trip of Byzantine Gold Coins" was published in an influential Chinese newspaper "Guangming Daily". On the basis of the archaeological finds, the paper traces the journey of the Byzantine gold coins from Byzantium to Central Asia， East Asia， Southeast Asia, etc., and it also emphasizes the significance of the Byzantine gold coins in the interaction of the Mediterranean Sea and the Oriental through the Silk Road.
Turks Tomb with Mural Paintings; Byzantine Coins; Silk Road; Eurasian Steppe As the convincing ev... more Turks Tomb with Mural Paintings; Byzantine Coins; Silk Road; Eurasian Steppe As the convincing evidence, the Byzantine coins discovered along the Silk Road strongly prove that the Byzantine empire kept close interactions and communications with the ethnic groups on the Eurasian Steppe during the period of 6th~9th century. In 2011, a number of gold and silver coins of Byzantine and Sassanian as well as their imitations were found in the Shoroon Bumbagar tomb in Baiannuur sum of Mongolia. It is the largest discovery of the Byzantine coins and their imitations in East Asia, which had been paid intensive attention by scholars. A particular study on them is of great academic and realistic significance. Since the Turks used to be active on the Eurasian Steppe and the desert oasis routes of the Silk Road, analyses and reviews on the discoveries of the Byzantine coins and their imitations along those routes will promote the study of the Turks tomb of Baiannuur sum and provide valuable references and evidences.
The Byzantine Empire played an influential role in the European and even in the world history. Th... more The Byzantine Empire played an influential role in the European and even in the world history. The present huge treasure of the Classical-Byzantine literature, saved and handed down with the help of the advanced Byzantine historiography and its various writing materials, become the important evidence for discovering the Classical-Byzantine history and its signifi cance. This paper intends, through showing how the Byzantine writing materials went through the transformation from papyrus to parchment then to paper, to reveal the effect of different writing materials on the storage and spreading of the Classical-Byzantine literature.
One of the reasons for the durability of the Byzantine Empire is its emphasis on “τάξις” (order).... more One of the reasons for the durability of the Byzantine Empire is its emphasis on “τάξις” (order). As the second golden age in the empire, the Macedonian dynasty had great achievement in politics, economy, culture and military for that reason. The land legislation of the Macedonian dynasty not only adjusted the economic policies but also eased the conflicts among different classes. The Church and monasteries together, as the largest land owners of the empire, were the main targets of the empire’s regulation. Hence, there were rigid provisions in the land legislations for limiting their expansion on land. The O Novel of Basil II (by modern scholars) is the last novel of this period on the control of the Church and monasteries’ expansion on land. It includes strict measures to protect village lands from appropriation by bishops and metropolitans laying claims to small chapels founded within village communes. This novel shows the long-term policy of the Macedonian dynasty on the limitation of the boundless expansion of the Church and monasteries on land, making sure of the profits of small peasants and the steadiness of state’s revenue. Through the accumulation, just during the reign of the Basil II, the empire arrived in its peak in economics and military.
According to archaeological reports and other evidence, it is known that more than 100 Roman coin... more According to archaeological reports and other evidence, it is known that more than 100 Roman coins from the Eastern Roman Empire have been discovered along the Silk Route on the Chinese mainland. This discovery, combined with the rich ancient Chinese sources on foreign matters, demonstrates that active communications between the Eastern Roman Empire and ancient China fl ourished along the Silk Route. This paper will concentrate on three aspects, supplying general information concerning the Roman coins discovered in China, summarizing current research on the main issues raised by them, and supplying the latest bibliography. It is hoped that this research will attract more international scholars of numismatics and Roman history to pay special attention to the discovery in China.
Famer’s Law is an important code in the history of the Byzantine Empire, which regularizes the b... more Famer’s Law is an important code in the history of the Byzantine Empire, which regularizes the behaviors in production and life of Byzantine villages. Its provisions covers the organization of villages, the occupation and utilization of the land, the rights and interests of the peasants, the punishment for illegal activities, etc…sketching the economic life of the Byzantine countryside in the Empire’s mid-period, it has been regarded as an extremely precious material to study the rural economic system of Byzantium. The abroad research on Famer’s Law has been for years since it was found, W. Ashburner’s Greek critical text with its English version are the most authoritative which received considerable recognition by scholars. This study, on the basis of W. Ashburner’s works, provides the Chinese translation and commentary .
The Book of Eparch is an important code in the history of the Byzantine Empire. It includes a l... more The Book of Eparch is an important code in the history of the Byzantine Empire. It includes a lot of articles dealing with Dealers in bullion and money-lenders, Merchants of Silk stuffs and Perfumers in Constantinople. Jules Nicole firstly found this law in Swiss Library. After being organized and edited, it was published in Greek, Latin and French in 1893, which is the authoritative version in the field of Byzantine research at present. Based upon the Greek version and the English version, this text offers a better Chinese version of the Book of Eparch.
The Military Code or Soldier Law, as an important compilation of laws in the history of Byzantine... more The Military Code or Soldier Law, as an important compilation of laws in the history of Byzantine legislation, concerns the disciplines of the army and the punitive measures to the soldiers and officials violating the disciplines. Comprehending the contents and their relations with other laws in Byzantine Empire will be conducive to the research of the organization and management of Byzantine army, the legal evolution, as well as their impacts on the evolution of Byzantine civilization. Since its discovery, the Military Code has been organized and annotated by different scholars. For the integrity and clearness of the text, this Chinese translation is based on the version of W. Ashburner.
In ancient Chinese literature, since the first century CE, an extremely-west country to ancient C... more In ancient Chinese literature, since the first century CE, an extremely-west country to ancient China was recorded with the name “Da-qin” . It was described as a country located to the west of Parthia (An-xi) and the Great Sea (Da-hai); it was the largest country to the west of China; it was a country full of treasure. In consideration of its detailed description, it has been widely identified with the Roman Empire or part of that. However, apart from the realities in accordance with the Roman Empire, the image of “Da-qin” shows much utopistic characteristics which makes it ambiguous to us. What’s the full image of “Da-qin” and its characteristics? Why such a image? It is hoped that this research will find some proper answers.
In Chinese sources, much information about a Far West state called Da-qin, later Fu-lin was recor... more In Chinese sources, much information about a Far West state called Da-qin, later Fu-lin was recorded. This state is indentified with Roman Empire by the majority of scholars. In this presentation, the general image of this statein Chinese sources mainly from 3rd century C.E to 6th century was discussed and analyzed. The author intends to use the theory of Imagology to explain the cause of the construction of this image.
China and Roman as two great empires on the either side of the same continent, connected by Silk ... more China and Roman as two great empires on the either side of the same continent, connected by Silk Roads, according to the Chinese resources, had frequent communication with products, culture and arts. However, there was no direct official contact before seventh century CE. This essay will present the researches of Chinese scholars on the diplomatic endeavors of them from first to third century CE, and introduce the views of Chinese scholars to the west.
This article briefly summarizes the achievements of Byzantine studies in Chinese
academia in the... more This article briefly summarizes the achievements of Byzantine studies in Chinese academia in the past five years. There have been more than fifteen books published in this period, which shows a great step of Chinese scholars' contribution to global Byzantine studies. We first present and briefly summarize monographs by Chinese scholars according to the year of publication, and then list the translations of international works by Chinese scholars.
The World of the Ancient Silk Road is more attractive to the western audience who are interested ... more The World of the Ancient Silk Road is more attractive to the western audience who are interested in Chinese research in Silk Road studies, and with its rich archaeological, cultural, and linguistic information, it will be a useful reference work for the students and scholars in the field. And it is reasonable to believe that more works on the Silk Road like the Ancient Silk Road will come out with the increasingly frequent cooperations between Chinese and international scholars.
[The Turks between China and Byzantium (552 A. D. - 659 A. D.) their role in the Eurasian politic... more [The Turks between China and Byzantium (552 A. D. - 659 A. D.) their role in the Eurasian politics, diplomacy and strategy]. author: Stefanos Kordosis
The Research of the Relationship between the Ancient Mediterranean Sea and China is the latest wo... more The Research of the Relationship between the Ancient Mediterranean Sea and China is the latest work of Yu Tai-shan, who is a distinguished researcher of Continent China on Sino-West relation. It includes 10 articles which collect and remark on the Chinese ancient sources recording the information of the relation between the Ancient Mediterranean Sea and China, as well as research on the relation among the Ancient Mediterranean Sea and the nomads who lived in the north of China, The methods and views in this work well stand for the current academic level of Continent China on this subject.
This is the Chinese announcement for the second international Byzantine seminar in the Institute ... more This is the Chinese announcement for the second international Byzantine seminar in the Institute for the History of Ancient Civilizations at Northeast Normal University, China. We invited Professor Claudia Sode and Professor Staffan Wahlgren from Cologne and Tronheim to instruct "Byzantine Art and Theology" and "The Heretics, Barbarians and Foreigners in early Byzantine Sources " respectively. The students are of BA, MA and PhD levels in Classico-Byzantine Studies from around 10 different universities of China.
12hrs Reading of Gilgamesh in NENU Library with 120 readers and live musics, 23-04-2018, organize... more 12hrs Reading of Gilgamesh in NENU Library with 120 readers and live musics, 23-04-2018, organized by Michela Piccin, Irene Berti and Li Qiang, supported by IHAC and NENU Library
http://ihac.nenu.edu.cn/info/1003/1111.htm
The First Seminar of Byzantine Studies,
27-30--06-201... more http://ihac.nenu.edu.cn/info/1003/1111.htm The First Seminar of Byzantine Studies, 27-30--06-2017, IHAC, Northeast Normal University
International Symposium “Byzantine Gold Coins in the World of Late Antiquity” Institute for the History of Ancient Civilizations (IHAC), Northeast Normal University, Changchun, People’s Republic of China, 23-25th June 2017
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Books by Qiang Li
Byzantine gold coinage was immensely important in the political, social, and cultural life of the Near East and the Western Mediterranean during Late Antiquity and into the Middle Ages. Its significance can be judged from archaeological finds in Italy and Gaul as well as the Balkans, the Levant, and Northern Africa. Furthermore, from the 4th century onwards, Byzantine coins begin to appear along the Silk Roads, soon to be taken to countries in the Far East, including China.
Since the end of the 19th century, over one hundred Byzantine gold coins and coin imitations have been found in China. The findspots are mainly located in the northern areas, in a crescent extending from Xinjiang in the northwest to the province of Liaoning in the northeast. Chronologically, they mainly belong to a period from the late 6th century to the mid-8th century, i.e., from the late Northern Dynasties to the middle of the Tang Dynasty period, and they reflect the prosperity, exchange, and communication which once existed along the Silk Roads.
The international symposium on “Byzantine Gold Coins in the World of Late Antiquity,” held at the Institute for the History of Ancient Civilizations (IHAC) of Northeast Normal University (NENU), Changchun, China, 23–26 June 2017, aimed at delineating the political, economic, social, and cultural-religious conditions behind the flow of Byzantine gold coins not only into China but also within the broader Mediterranean region, into India, Central Asia, and Mongolia, as well as Southeast Asia. Even though some of the papers should be seen as very preliminary considerations on the respective subjects, all the investigations of specific coins in this volume contribute to the current development of building a more integrated and multifaceted picture of the world of Late Antiquity and the Early Middle Ages.
We express our heartfelt thanks to all colleagues, students, and friends who have supported the symposium and its publication in various ways. Our special thanks are due to Dr. Rebecca Darley, Dr. Jonathan Jarrett, and Prof. Dr. David A. Warburton for their painstaking review of drafts of papers. Finally, we acknowledge our debt to the National Social Science Fund of China (Program Code 2016BSS007 with the title “Imitations of Byzantine Gold Coins and the Production of Luxuries in the Early Byzantine Empire”) and to the History Department of Sun Yat-sen University (“Grant for Discipline Construction in the History Department of Sun Yat-sen University”) for their generous financial support.
Papers by Qiang Li
borders of the existing sedentary empires and their encounters and interactions formed the complicated political ecology of the period. These empires attempted to take advantage of the newly shaped situation arising after such great movements strategically, each in their own interest. How did they achieve their goals and what problems were they confronted with? In this paper, I will focus on the relations the Western Türks had with Byzantium and use it as an example in order to resurvey these complicated geopolitics. In the first part, attention will
be given to the collection of Byzantine literature concerning the Western Türks. Then, on the basis of the sources, the four main exchanges of delegations between the Western Türks and Byzantium will be discussed, in which the important status of the 563 embassy – as it
was the first Türk delegation sent to Byzantium – will be emphasized. The possible motives behind the dispatch of the delegations and the repercussions they had will be presented. Finally, through reviewing the diplomatic communication between the Western Türks and Byzantium, attention will be turned to the general picture of geopolitics along the Silk Road, claiming that the great empire of the West – similar to today’s superpowers – by means of their resources (mainly diplomacy) manipulated the geopolitics on the Silk Road, especially the nomadic people pursuing their own survival and interests, who were only treated as pieces on a chessboard for keeping the balance with the rest of the superpowers.
and military for that reason. The land legislation of the Macedonian dynasty not only adjusted the economic policies but also eased the conflicts among different classes. The Church and monasteries together, as the largest land owners of the empire, were the main targets of the empire’s regulation. Hence, there were rigid provisions in the land legislations for limiting their expansion on land. The O Novel of Basil II (by modern scholars) is the last novel of this period on the control of the Church and monasteries’ expansion on land. It includes strict measures to protect village lands from appropriation by bishops and metropolitans laying claims to small chapels founded within village communes. This novel shows the long-term policy of the Macedonian dynasty on the limitation of the boundless expansion of the Church and monasteries on land, making sure of the profits of small peasants and the steadiness of state’s revenue. Through the accumulation, just during the reign of the Basil II, the empire arrived in its peak in economics and military.
summarizing current research on the main issues raised by them, and supplying the latest bibliography. It is hoped that this research will attract more international scholars of numismatics and Roman history to pay special attention to the discovery in China.
Byzantine gold coinage was immensely important in the political, social, and cultural life of the Near East and the Western Mediterranean during Late Antiquity and into the Middle Ages. Its significance can be judged from archaeological finds in Italy and Gaul as well as the Balkans, the Levant, and Northern Africa. Furthermore, from the 4th century onwards, Byzantine coins begin to appear along the Silk Roads, soon to be taken to countries in the Far East, including China.
Since the end of the 19th century, over one hundred Byzantine gold coins and coin imitations have been found in China. The findspots are mainly located in the northern areas, in a crescent extending from Xinjiang in the northwest to the province of Liaoning in the northeast. Chronologically, they mainly belong to a period from the late 6th century to the mid-8th century, i.e., from the late Northern Dynasties to the middle of the Tang Dynasty period, and they reflect the prosperity, exchange, and communication which once existed along the Silk Roads.
The international symposium on “Byzantine Gold Coins in the World of Late Antiquity,” held at the Institute for the History of Ancient Civilizations (IHAC) of Northeast Normal University (NENU), Changchun, China, 23–26 June 2017, aimed at delineating the political, economic, social, and cultural-religious conditions behind the flow of Byzantine gold coins not only into China but also within the broader Mediterranean region, into India, Central Asia, and Mongolia, as well as Southeast Asia. Even though some of the papers should be seen as very preliminary considerations on the respective subjects, all the investigations of specific coins in this volume contribute to the current development of building a more integrated and multifaceted picture of the world of Late Antiquity and the Early Middle Ages.
We express our heartfelt thanks to all colleagues, students, and friends who have supported the symposium and its publication in various ways. Our special thanks are due to Dr. Rebecca Darley, Dr. Jonathan Jarrett, and Prof. Dr. David A. Warburton for their painstaking review of drafts of papers. Finally, we acknowledge our debt to the National Social Science Fund of China (Program Code 2016BSS007 with the title “Imitations of Byzantine Gold Coins and the Production of Luxuries in the Early Byzantine Empire”) and to the History Department of Sun Yat-sen University (“Grant for Discipline Construction in the History Department of Sun Yat-sen University”) for their generous financial support.
borders of the existing sedentary empires and their encounters and interactions formed the complicated political ecology of the period. These empires attempted to take advantage of the newly shaped situation arising after such great movements strategically, each in their own interest. How did they achieve their goals and what problems were they confronted with? In this paper, I will focus on the relations the Western Türks had with Byzantium and use it as an example in order to resurvey these complicated geopolitics. In the first part, attention will
be given to the collection of Byzantine literature concerning the Western Türks. Then, on the basis of the sources, the four main exchanges of delegations between the Western Türks and Byzantium will be discussed, in which the important status of the 563 embassy – as it
was the first Türk delegation sent to Byzantium – will be emphasized. The possible motives behind the dispatch of the delegations and the repercussions they had will be presented. Finally, through reviewing the diplomatic communication between the Western Türks and Byzantium, attention will be turned to the general picture of geopolitics along the Silk Road, claiming that the great empire of the West – similar to today’s superpowers – by means of their resources (mainly diplomacy) manipulated the geopolitics on the Silk Road, especially the nomadic people pursuing their own survival and interests, who were only treated as pieces on a chessboard for keeping the balance with the rest of the superpowers.
and military for that reason. The land legislation of the Macedonian dynasty not only adjusted the economic policies but also eased the conflicts among different classes. The Church and monasteries together, as the largest land owners of the empire, were the main targets of the empire’s regulation. Hence, there were rigid provisions in the land legislations for limiting their expansion on land. The O Novel of Basil II (by modern scholars) is the last novel of this period on the control of the Church and monasteries’ expansion on land. It includes strict measures to protect village lands from appropriation by bishops and metropolitans laying claims to small chapels founded within village communes. This novel shows the long-term policy of the Macedonian dynasty on the limitation of the boundless expansion of the Church and monasteries on land, making sure of the profits of small peasants and the steadiness of state’s revenue. Through the accumulation, just during the reign of the Basil II, the empire arrived in its peak in economics and military.
summarizing current research on the main issues raised by them, and supplying the latest bibliography. It is hoped that this research will attract more international scholars of numismatics and Roman history to pay special attention to the discovery in China.
academia in the past five years. There have been more than fifteen books published
in this period, which shows a great step of Chinese scholars' contribution to global
Byzantine studies. We first present and briefly summarize monographs by Chinese
scholars according to the year of publication, and then list the translations of
international works by Chinese scholars.
The First Seminar of Byzantine Studies,
27-30--06-2017, IHAC, Northeast Normal University
International Symposium
“Byzantine Gold Coins in the World of Late Antiquity”
Institute for the History of Ancient Civilizations (IHAC), Northeast Normal University, Changchun, People’s Republic of China, 23-25th June 2017