Xinjiang Culture
Written Culture
In primitive society period, Book of Mountains and Seas (《山海经》) and the Legend of Mutianzi (《穆天子传》) which are written during the Warring States period, the story on western visiting of King of the Western Zhou Dynasty (c. 11th century-771 B.C.) to Queen Mother of the West.
Pottery Culture
There are a large number of unearthed potteries in Xinjiang archaeological excavations. During those potteries, the decorative designs of many painted potteries are resemble to those unearthed pottery in Central Plain at the same period. About 3000 years ago, painted pottery art from Gansu province and central part of China has influenced the pottery culture in Xinjiang.
Religion
As the arrival of Buddhism from India along the Silk Road into the Western Regions and the mainland, Buddhist because important contents in the Western Regions culture. Buddhist masters spread Buddhist scriptures to the central parts. There are monks getting to the Western Regions for Buddhism scriptures.
As the spread of Islam and teh expansion of the West Regions, Islamic culture gradually influenced on the western culture in Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties.
Music, Theater & Dance
Maitrisimit (《弥勒会见记》) which is written in Uighur Scripts are the earliest Chinese Qiuci music (龟兹乐), Gaochang music (高昌乐), Shule music, etc.played an important role in Sui and Tang dynasties music. In addition to the music, the western traditional musical instruments like Pipa (琵琶), Konghou (箜篌), drum, etc.are introduced to the central part of China. Western dance like Huteng Dance (胡腾舞), Huxuan Dance(胡旋舞), Tuozhi Dance (拓枝舞), etc.are brought to the royal court and folk.
Xinjiang dance, Xinjiang erhu and twelve mukam are listed as the first batch of state-level non-material cultural heritage on May 20, 2006 approved by the the State Council.
Keep Reading
