Deeply concerned with the Touhao Su for 60 years
Mr. Huang Wenbi: A long letter on the archaeology of Xinjiang.
Author: Wang Binghua (former director of Xinjiang Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology).
Huang Wenbi. Scholar's biography.
Huang Wenbi (1893-1966) was a native of Hanchuan, Hubei. Archaeologist and Northwest Historian and Geologist. He graduated from the Department of Philosophy of Peking University in 1918 and stayed on to teachFrom 1927 to 1930, he participated in the Northwest Scientific Expedition to Xinjiang and other places, during which he crossed the Taklamakan Desert and entered the Lop Nur areaFrom 1933 to 1934, he went to Xinjiang for the second time and entered the Lop Nur area againIn 1942, he served as the dean of the Department of History and the Department of Frontier Government of Northwest Associated University, and went to Xinjiang for the third time in 1943After the founding of the People's Republic of China, he served as a researcher at the Institute of Archaeology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and went to Xinjiang for the fourth time from 1957 to 1958 to conduct archaeological investigation and excavation. He is the author of "The Archaeology of Luobu Naoer", "The Archaeology of the Tarim Basin", "The Archaeology of Turpan", etc.
Past] one. This year marks the 130th anniversary of the birth of Mr. Wong Man Pik.
In the archaeological circles of Xinjiang and the historical and geological circles of Northwest China, Mr. Huang Wenbi's pioneering work is well known. Since he joined the Northwest Scientific Expedition in 1927, he has been accompanied by the archaeological cause of Xinjiang all his life. The archaeological achievements of Xinjiang represented by the "Three Records and Two Collections" ("The Archaeological Record of Luo Bu Naoer", "The Archaeological Record of the Tarim Basin", "The Archaeological Record of Turpan", "The Collection of Gaochang Pottery" and "The Collection of Gaochang Bricks") left behind by him are undoubtedly the foundational works in this field.
Ten years ago, on the 120th anniversary of Mr. Huang Wenbi's birth and the establishment of the Huang Wenbi Center of Xinjiang Normal University, I wrote "Huang Wenbi and Xinjiang Archaeology", remembering this archaeological predecessor and saying: "Mr. Huang Wenbi has a strong historical and cultural literacy, a broad vision of Eurasian culture, more patriotic feelings, and a sense of courage and hardship. Dedicating his personal ambition to the great cause of national rejuvenation, he integrated his life with the cause of Xinjiang cultural relics and archaeology, which is a fortunate event for the cause of cultural relics and archaeology in Xinjiang, and also a personal blessing for Mr. Huang Wenbi. ”
Over the years, I have always remembered in my heart that I once stored a long letter from Mr. Huang Wenbi, so I searched for it more than once, but it was never found. In the summer of 2023, I went to Urumqi, which has been absent for a long time, but still has an old residence, and after a thorough search, with the help of my wife, who has a better memory than me, I found a few cardboard boxes in the dark cabinet under the bed, opened them, and finally saw the long-lost old handwritten book of Huang, and the excitement at that time was indescribable.
Huang Wenbi on the way to archaeology.
I have repeatedly read, savored, and sought that the old man's love for Xinjiang, Xinjiang's archaeology, and later Xinjiang archaeologists is still so clear and strong.
I would like to first record this precious letter in its original text (with corrections to some texts) and share it with readers as follows:
Comrades Binghua and Mingzhe:
In response to your letter of 20 February, I wish you a realization of your ambition to pursue a lifelong career in Xinjiang. Xinjiang is connected to the inland soil, and it has always been an inseparable part of our country, especially in terms of history and culture, and the cultural relics buried underground are particularly rich, if we want to study Chinese history or Asian history, Xinjiang is an indispensable link. At present, there are not many people in China who study Xinjiang, and my brother and others are worthy of admiration for setting up this great ambition first. I have been studying this region for 40 years, and now that I am old, I hope that those who come after me will continue to achieve more than the previous ones.
I don't know much about the four issues addressed in the letter. I will only talk about the specific plan of the current work. The historical situation in northern Xinjiang is different from that in southern Xinjiang, as you have already mentioned in your letter, but if we want to carry out our work, we must decide our plan according to the actual situation. The predecessors of southern Xinjiang have done a lot of archaeological work, and the unearthed cultural relics are also very rich. It would be easier for us to do further research on what we had done before. This is not the case in northern Xinjiang, which is still the best place, and the predecessors have not done much. In 1958, our team conducted a preliminary survey with the Autonomous Region Cultural Relics Working Group, but it was not in-depth and comprehensive. Therefore, the archaeological work in northern Xinjiang needs to be further investigated in depth and comprehensively. According to the results of the survey, the more important typical sites are selected for some excavation. Secondly, we will talk about how to choose the key excavation. Of course, when we read the literature of a region and do some research on the ground, and combine the two to do a comparative study, naturally some problems arise that require us to do more in-depth research. That's where our excavation work comes in. That's one thing. When we carry it out, we must consider the conditions of the excavation, the problem of soil, the problem of burial, the problem of engineering, the problem of technology, etc., all of which are generally suitable, which is the beginning of our excavation. As for the points that should be paid attention to in the excavation process, all comrades have a certain amount of experience, so I don't need to elaborate on that. Comrades: The data on northern Xinjiang is still very poor, and we must accumulate more data and do further research on the basis of a large amount of data.
Secondly, we talk about the issue of reading ancient texts. Of course, reading literature is the starting point for us to start working in a region. The investigation of the ruins and the examination and approval of cultural relics all rely on the records of the documents as the basis for our preliminary understanding. However, the literature has always been very complex, and the advantages and disadvantages are mutually reinforcing, so how can we do the work of streamlining?Although the literature is not first-hand information, it summarizes the experience of previous research and introduces it concisely and systematically, so that we may use it as a basis for further research, and the literature is still valuable. However, there are many documents that are plagiarized and full of errors, so when we read the literature, we must choose the first-hand literature, truthfully reflect the situation at the time, read it carefully, and study it carefully. According to this condition, we give the following examples: the biography of the Western Regions frontier and the biography of various ethnic minorities in the Twenty-fourth History. For example, the books of the Han Dynasty before and after, "The Legend of the Western Regions", "The Records of the Historical Records of Dawan", "The Legend of the Three Kingdoms: The Legend of Karasuma" and its notes, the Sui and Tang Dynasty books "The Legend of the Western Regions" and the "Biography of the Ethnic Minorities", and "Tongdian Frontier Defense", all of which are written based on materials from field experience, are all solid and evidence-based, and should be read and studied carefully. Secondly, there are also some travelogues of monks and envoys, such as Fa Xian's "Buddha's Country Record", Song Yun's "Seeking the Scriptures", "Tang Dynasty Western Regions Record", "Changchun Real People's Journey to the West" and so on, although there are some religious colors, but the customs and habits of a place can still be relied on. Secondly, there are some geographical books, such as "Yuanhe County Chronicles" and "Water Jing Note", which are also valuable for records of the Western Regions. Secondly, there are archaeological reports and travelogues of recent people.
Secondly, I will talk about the method of reading. When we read literature, the first thing that makes us feel headache is the difficulty in understanding the names of places and people. Of course, after thousands of years of historical process, the changes of ethnic groups, the changes of geographical environment, and the differences in language and customs have made us elusive, coupled with the arbitrary deletion and addition of the recorders, the differences in translated names, and the staggered and plagiarized ones, which make it difficult for us to distinguish between truth and falsehood, and see right and wrong, so we must add the work of reviewing and refining the documents of our predecessors. In terms of history and geography, the Qing Dynasty has made some achievements, and some Europeans have also done some research in the past, such as Feng Chengjun's translation of Northwest Historical Places, Zhang Xinghong's "Compilation of Historical Materials on Chinese and Western Transportation", and Hong Jun's "Yuan History Translation and Supplement". Some of the things they translate into the history of foreign studies are accurate and can be used as references. Chinese scholars have written based on field investigations, such as Xu Song's "Waterways in the Western Regions", Zhang Mu and He Qiutao's supplement "Mongolian Nomadism", and Tao Baolian's "Xin Mao Shixing", and their arguments are always sophisticated. Ding Qian's "The Land Series" can also be used for reference. But to read these historical documents, you must look at them in conjunction with historical maps. The published Historical Atlas and Yang Shoujing's Map of the Evolution of the Land are more credible, but they are too brief and the location is not accurate, and they are not as good as the maps attached to recent travelogues or archaeological reports, such as the map attached to Stein's book "The Belly of Asia" (Wen Yi Manbai said that you have purchased one now, which is very good) is slightly old and can be referred to. The road map attached to the report of the Chinese and foreign members of the Northwest Scientific Expedition, such as the "Archaeological Map of the Tarim Basin" written by me, adds a lot of Stein and can also be used for reference. Cons, not comprehensive. As for the selection of archaeological books for foreigners, it is necessary to be cautious, and the theoretical aspects sometimes distort the historical facts, but the material information they present can still be precious and must be treated separately.
Secondly, the "Xinjiang Atlas" is compiled by Mr. Wang Shunan and others. They were all well-written, well-written, and accompanied by maps that were not precise but quite complete. We can draw a whole outline of Xinjiang in history and geography as a basis for further research, so this book should not be ignored. Secondly, "Xinjiang Knowledge" can also be checked, although it is an official document, but it is based on on-the-ground materials, and it is not done behind closed doors.
Secondly, when it comes to the accumulation and collection of data, I think there is no certain law, and it is important to coordinate with the research topic and the outline, and collect information according to the outline, so as not to fall short. You can refer to the ** typical organization published in the journal as our model. I think that the more important thing in terms of research work is the process of sorting, researching, and compiling physical objects, which involves a lot of technical problems, and in our archaeological work, it is as important as investigation and excavation, and it takes a lot of effort to do it well. In particular, the study of ancient sites and antiquities, such as the analysis of their nature, age, and use, as well as who used them, and what their relationship with social history is, all rely on materials to derive clues, so they must be handled with caution. If a site or an antiquity is sometimes identified, if it is not understood at that time, it must be investigated many times, thought repeatedly, and must be understood before reaching understanding. Nowadays, all kinds of scientific progress have helped us understand many science and technology, as long as we have the courage to overcome difficulties, accumulate bit by bit, step by step, we will finally be able to achieve our goal.
In short, archaeological work is a long-term work, but also a difficult work, which requires patience and perseverance, and there will be achievements. The elder brother is determined to engage in the grand ambition of a lifetime, which is worthy of admiration. Secondly, it is right to talk about your work plan, your intention to continue the work of Shata, and to visit the situation in the east of the Ili River. In Xinyuan and Gongliu, it is said that there are still several ancient cities, and there are still some ruins on the grassland of Qapqar County, I heard that they have not been there, and they may be architectural remains. There is also a kind of ruins, with small stones to accumulate a round stone pile, about two or three feet above the ground level, scattered together, or ten mounds, or a hundred mounds, these stone piles are widely distributed in northern Xinjiang. I think it is an ancient burial mound, someone has excavated it in Fukang, and there are human bones, stone tools, bone tools, or painted pottery jars, etc., which should be earlier. On the way to Qapqal, there are also such stone piles, can you try to dig a few graves to explore, it is not very labor-intensive, and it is easier to do. What do you think?
I finished writing this letter in a hurry, which is not complete, so let's talk about it for reference. If you have any specific questions in the future, please write to us and I will do my best to answer them.
Sincerely. Salute!
Huang Wenbi. 3/18/63.
Director Gu Bao prayed on his behalf. Manbai wants to have returned to Ukraine, and this letter can be read together.
Huang Wenbi's letter to Wang Binghua and Wang Mingzhe (partial).
Two. Mr. Huang's letter, written 60 years ago on March 18, 1963, begins with a reply to the letter sent to me and Brother Mingzhe on February 20, 1963. From February 20 to March 18, nearly a month, according to the analysis of the postal route, after Huang Lao saw our letter, he almost immediately replied. But I can't remember why I asked Huang Lao so many specific questions at the beginning of 1963, which triggered so many specific, sincere, and personal experiences that the old man said about Xinjiang archaeology.
1963 was the second year that Wang Mingzhe and I conducted Wusun archaeology in the Ili River Valley. I entered the Department of History of Peking University in September 1955 to study archaeology, and after graduating in the fall of 1960, I went to Xinjiang to join the newly established Institute of Archaeology of the Xinjiang Branch of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Brother Mingzhe entered Peking University a year before me, and after graduation, he first worked in the Institute of Archaeology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and then transferred to Xinjiang in 1961, where we became colleagues.
After I stepped into Xinjiang, I honestly said that I did not encounter any obstacles or grievances in the archaeological business. The leaders really regarded a student who actually didn't know anything about Xinjiang and was just from Peking University as a piece of usable material. The training class lectures and the internship of students are really busy. I was distressed, but I couldn't find the much-needed learning materials to understand Xinjiang, and there was no small environment for advice and discussion. Taking the archaeological Wusun in the Ili River Basin as an example, I still remember that one of the reasons is that we investigated and excavated the ancient city, ancient tombs and ancient temples in Turpan in 1960 and 1961. After hearing this, we felt that although it was not reasonable, there was a reasonable reason, so we decided to go to the Ili River Valley, which was also very unfamiliar, to seek the Wusun civilization. This can naturally be a specific reason to ask Mr. Huang Wenbi for advice and advice. But it's really unclear why.
Three. In the past 60 years, Xinjiang archaeology has faced a new stage. Today's Xinjiang archaeology, the team is large, the material conditions are better, and it seems that it is not too difficult to obtain relevant research information: as long as you can explain the problem clearly by yourself, you can use the computer, and you can have a variety of electronic data to present the situation in front of you;With the advancement of science and technology, all kinds of dating methods and microscopic research methods that could not have been imagined 60 years ago can help researchers enter another world of exploration and understanding of ancient civilizations. Archaeology (including Xinjiang archaeology, which has always been regarded as a "backward" country) can achieve and has achieved many results, far surpassing the older generation of scholars who use classical and traditional research methods represented by Mr. Huang Wenbi, and also greatly surpassing those of us who only entered the archaeological stage of Xinjiang in the 60s of the 20th century and had difficulty following up with new technologies. Don't be a new scene, it's already in front of you.
However, no matter how rapidly changing the means of science and technology, the spirit of understanding the material and spiritual civilization of the ancient world through archaeology and contributing beneficial historical and cultural nutrition to the healthy progress of the motherland and even mankind is in the same vein and has not changed. Savoring Mr. Huang Wenbi's long letter written 60 years ago, he confided in his inner pursuit: understanding Xinjiang is a link that cannot be ignored in understanding ancient China and even the history of Asia and Europe. He was worried that there were not many people studying Xinjiang in reality, so he cared for us young people who had just left school and were willing to work in Xinjiang all their lives, and hoped that we, the younger generations, would be able to "follow in our ambitions" and even surpass them. Therefore, he reminded us that Xinjiang is vast, the Tianshan Mountains are north and south, the natural geography is different, and the history and ethnicity are differentNorthern Xinjiang, from an archaeological point of view, is basically still a "** land", and it is a stage that should be entered. He told us in great detail that we should pay attention to all kinds of documents about the Western Regions left by our ancestors, read them carefully, and absorb the beneficial elements in themWe can't let go of the foreign research results translated and preserved by the former sages;Even if Stein, who was despised a lot at the time, the maps he surveyed and mapped during his expedition were useful, and they should be used by me. In particular, he reminded that the actual field work is important, and the timely collation of the obtained data must not be neglected, and must be sorted out in a timely manner (in the past few decades of work in Xinjiang, we have caused a lot of losses because we have not been able to complete the data collation in time, and we have a deep understanding of this point, and we cannot describe it in detail). He also did not forget to remind: If you can't get a certain understanding of the new archaeological discoveries and new materials obtained for a while, don't be in a hurry, investigate again, think about it repeatedly, and seek to understand its connotation and then rest ......All of these have given me important inspirations and helped me move forward!I can clearly feel that this letter contains many lessons from his decades of archaeological research in Xinjiang, which is very precious.
The letter was addressed to me and Brother Mingzhe, but he didn't forget to remind him that the letter should also be shown to Brother Manbai. Yi Manbai is a native of Hunan, admitted to the Institute of Archaeology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 1957, studied under the famous scholars Xia Nai and Huang Wenbi, and after graduating in 1961, he was also assigned to Xinjiang to engage in archaeological work, and struggled on the archaeological front in Xinjiang for ten years. Mr. Huang hopes that through his letter, we can share these valuable archaeological experiences.
Mr. Huang also asked us to send greetings to Professor Gu Bao, the business leader of the Xinjiang Branch of the Chinese Academy of Sciences at that time. The meaning of this is probably to let Mr. Gu Bao know that he is deeply concerned about the archaeology of Xinjiang. He knew too well that in the 60s of the 20th century, scientific research funding was very tight, and it was too difficult to invest considerable efforts in archaeology. Without the support of supervisors, it will be difficult to move an inch. These are completely unclear meanings in the text, and we parties will take advantage of this valuable opportunity to create an atmosphere and strive for some conditions for carrying out our work.
The difficulties faced by Xinjiang archaeology in the 60s of the 20th century are really not something that today's Xinjiang archaeological colleagues can understand!
Four. I have been engaged in archaeological work in Xinjiang for more than 40 years, and I have heard some people talk about Mr. Huang Wenbi's very difficult archaeological career in Xinjiang. Most of their central issues were dismissive of Mr. Huang's working methods and achievements. It always makes people smile wryly. Naturally, I can't stop this kind of discussion, and many times I don't want to argue with it.
There are some young people who are not deeply involved in the world, but they always want to show their brilliance, and they are accustomed to analyzing the predecessors who struggled to move forward half a century ago with the current good environment and conditions.
To understand and recognize Mr. Huang Wenbi's contribution to the archaeology of Xinjiang and the history and culture of the Western Regions, the first and foremost part is to "send" Mr. Huang back to Xinjiang in the early 20th century. It was an era when the danger of the family and country was imminent, and colonialist fallacies such as "the Chinese race came to the west" and "Chinese culture came to the west" were rampant. Led by Britain and Tsarist Russia, many Western powers, including Japan, are creating and hoping for further turmoil in Xinjiang, dreaming that Britain can take the south of the Tianshan Mountains and the Tsar can take the north. Huang Lao is alone, and he strives to use all possible methods to enlighten the people's wisdom and let people understand that Xinjiang is China's western frontier and an inseparable part of the motherland. Only then can we understand what kind of glittering heroic behavior he walked alone in the Gobi and desert, hoping to enter Loulan to declare the pursuit of relevant history!
In May 2012, in order to commemorate Mr. Huang Wenbi's dedication to the hot land of Xinjiang, Mr. Huang's grandson, Huang Jisu, on behalf of his family, donated the books and documents used and treasured by Huang Wenbi to Xinjiang Normal University free of charge. Taking this as an opportunity, Xinjiang Normal University decided to establish the "Huang Wenbi Center", which includes the "Huang Wenbi Special Collection", and prepared to build the "Northwest China Science Expedition Museum" to commemorate the pioneers of Western Regions research. Over the past ten years, Xinjiang Normal University has made unremitting efforts to make the Huang Wenbi Center an important center for the study of the history of exploration and investigation in Northwest China. I greatly admire Xinjiang Normal University's discernment, seizing the opportunity of the new era, and building the "Huang Wenbi Center" high at the foot of Liyu Mountain. This center historicizes the scientific talents who worked hard together with Mr. Huang Wenbi in a specific era and environment, and demonstrates their spirit of dedicating everything to the motherland without fear of difficulties and sacrifices. As a result, the pioneers of the Northwest Scientific Expedition Group were integrated with that specific era, and they shared the glory with the times concretely and vividly. In other words, it becomes immortal and eternal. From this central building, we can suck in this cultural nourishment.
There is also a handwritten letter written in 1990 by Mr. Huang Lie, the heir of Huang Laozhe, which simply introduces the concern of several Japanese scholars for Huang Wenbi's archaeological career in Xinjiang, which is the influence of Huang Lao's work in the eastern neighborhood, which is reasonable and reasonable.
I also heard that when Brother Ji Su was cleaning up Huang Lao's manuscripts, he found several letters from Mr. Huang in the mid-60s of the 20th century reporting to Mr. Huang the archaeological situation of Altay, which he was very concerned about. In 1964, we worked very hard in the Altay region, and we made many discoveries, but we were not well prepared for the knowledge, and it was difficult to accurately introduce the relevant findings. Huang Lao once warned that if you don't have an accurate understanding, you can let it go first, then do the work, understand it clearly, and then publish it not too late (our excavation materials back then have not been published in full). It's just that the situation is out of control, and since then we have never been able to enter Altay to do a little verification and deepening work. I didn't expect that our excessive restraint would provide conditions for the latecomers to pick up some of these bits and pieces and trumpet the "archaeological culture of Kermuqi", which really makes people a little confused about what to say. It is hoped that the exhortation of Huang Lao on Xinjiang archaeology published this time can help reverse the impetuous trend and advocate the practice of treating archaeological data with strictness.
Five. Mr. Huang Wenbi left us a long letter to Xinjiang archaeologists before the crane traveled west, the text is simple, the feelings are sincere, and I have received a lot of education.
Listening to Ji Su, sorting out Mr. Wen Bi's posthumous manuscript, such as a long letter, saying that all aspects of Xinjiang archaeology can be said to be the only one, and even "the original manuscript of my grandfather's letter after the founding of New China, this is probably the longest one." I think this is actually the sustenance and expression of Huang Lao's indescribable deep feelings for the cause of Xinjiang archaeology. When I think about it, I really feel that there is a special taste overflowing in my heart!
The study of the Western Regions can indeed be regarded as an important academic undertaking that should not be neglected. It can not only deepen our understanding of the western part of the motherland, but also help us gain a deeper understanding of the history and culture of the Eurasian continent.
Sixty years ago, that long letter, which carried high hopes for Xinjiang's archaeological cause, flew over Guanshan and inspired us young people. 60 years later, I would like to use this article as a petal of incense to thank Mr. Huang Wenbi and commemorate the 130th anniversary of his old man's birth!
This edition** is provided by the author.
*: Guangming Network - "Bright **".