The transportation along the Silk Roads relied fundamentally on necessary ecological conditions.Such conditions include natural landforms,climate,water resources,wildlife distribution,and vegetation.The ecological environment of the Hexi Corridor section of the Silk Roads was crucial for the construction of the northwestern frontier of the Han Dynasty and for the connections between the Han Dynasty and the Xiyu Western Regions,forming significant historical and cultural factors.The newly discovered Han bamboo slips from the Xuanquan posthouse provide important information that enhances our understanding of these aspects.For example,records of prices for"pen(basins)"and"hong(geese)"should be understood as data of market transactions of hunted migratory birds such as"fu(ducks)"and"hong(geese)".This indicates that migratory birds,which stopped in the wetlands of the Hexi Corridor during their migration,were considered a valuable food resource by the local military and civilian population.The story of Emperor Wu of Han"touring the northern frontier and seeing a flock of cranes resting"can be referenced to understand related historical phenomena.The information about hunted"fu(ducks)"and"hong(geese)"entering the market,reflected in the Han bamboo slips from Xuanquan,provides precious ecological historical data.Researchers studying the ecological history and transportation history of the Silk Roads should pay more attention to this.The bamboo slips mentioning"fu(ducks)"and"hong(geese)"also offer new zoological information about the geographical distribution of birds such as"swans","wild geese",and"black geese"at that time.
万方数据
