On the evening of September 12, 2024, the“Frontier Archaeology and Chinese Cultural Identity Lecture Series,”organized by Chinese Northeastern Nationality Study Center of Jilin University and the Frontier Archaeology Research Center of Jilin University, was held in the first-floor lecture hall of the Zhengxin Building at Jilin University. Professor Wang Jianxin, Chief Scientist of the Silk Road Archaeology Collaborative Research Center and a faculty member at the College of Cultural Heritage, Northwest University, delivered an academic lecture titled“Exploration of the Chinese-Archaeological Paradigm for Silk Road Research.”The session was chaired by Professor Wang Lixin, Director of the Frontier Archaeology Research Center, and attended by over 70 faculty members and students from the School of Archaeology and the School of Marxism.
Professor Wang Jianxinstarted the lecture by posing the thought-provoking question:“Does Chinese Silk Road archaeology require a distinct paradigm?”He then systematically elaborated on eight key aspects of the Chinese paradigm for Silk Road archaeology:
1.The Oriental perspective as a hallmark of the Chinese paradigm.
2.Practice-based theoretical innovation unique to China.
3.A collaborative approach to transnational regional archaeology.
4.Combining large-scale systematic regional surveys with small-scale precise excavations.
5.An open framework emphasizing multidisciplinary and multi-institutional collaboration.
6.The integration of archaeology with heritage conservation and research.
7.A Chinese approach to large-site archaeology, emphasizing distinctive styles and characteristics.
8.The“three-in-one”model of archaeology, heritage protection, and talent cultivation for Silk Road research.
Citing President Xi Jinping’s remarks during the 39th collective study session of the Politburo—“Deepen the study of Chinese civilization to enhance historical awareness and bolster cultural confidence”—Professor Wang emphasized that the exploration of a Chinese paradigm for Silk Road archaeology exemplifies a deeper engagement with Chinese civilization and the reinforcement of cultural confidence through historical inquiry. The Silk Road, with its rich and enduring historical and cultural resources, serves as a testament to the interaction, exchange, and integration of various ethnic groups. It deepens understanding of the Chinese national community, strengthens the awareness of a shared historical consciousness, and lays a solid foundation for fostering cultural identity among all ethnic groups. This, in turn, contributes to building a shared spiritual home for the Chinese nation.
At the conclusion of the lecture, Professor Wang Cheng, Deputy Director of Chinese Northeastern Nationality Study Center of Jilin University,expressed heartfelt gratitude to Professor Wang Jianxin for his enlightening academic insights.
