Disenchantment of the Silk Road: A Chinese Archaeology Workshop

The East Asian Lab, Cotsen Institute of Archaeology invites you to a Chinese Archaeology Workshop with Professor Wan Xiang. In this lecture, he reevaluates the academic legacy of Johan Gunnar Andersson within the broader framework of Eurasian historiography and Chinese archaeology. By reassessing Andersson’s work on the origins of Chinese civilization, the lecture will first address Andersson’s early intellectual trajectory, revealing his initial alignment with Richthofen’s hypothesis that suggested Chinese culture—and by extension, the Chinese people—originated from the West. Despite these early influences, Andersson evolved in his later years, ultimately distancing himself from these ideas and offering a more nuanced, empirical perspective in his final work. Additionally, the lecture will examine how Chinese scholars, from the First Republic to the People’s Republic, have shaped and continue to shape the narrative of “Western origins.” Prof. Wan’s analysis highlights the complex intersection of archaeology and cultural politics, offering a fresh perspective on the interpretation of Chinese history and archaeology.

To join the event via Zoom, please follow this link: https://ucla.zoom.us/j/92856200812