The Sogdian Diaspora in China - The Case of Master Shi

The Society for Asian Art presents a talk on the recent discovery of the tomb of Master Shi (494-579), the sabao or caravan leader at Liangzhou.

11/17/2012 2:00PM - 4:00PM

Society for Asian Art, Asian Art Museum, Education Studios
Address: 200 Larkin Street, San Francisco, CA 94102
Cost: $15 (after museum admission)
Phone: (415) 581-3701
Website: societyforasianart.org/programs/member-events/sogdian-diaspora-china-case-master-shi

Recent archaeological discoveries have added important information about the Sogdian community in China known earlier only from textual sources. A significant new find is the tomb of Master Shi (494-579), the sabao or caravan leader at Liangzhou. The carvings on his sarcophagus reveal much about his life and his religious beliefs concerning the afterworld. This lecture will explore the differing views and continuing debates that the discovery has provoked.

Professor Albert Dien is well known to society audiences. He has taught extensively in US Universities and retired from Stanford where his courses included Chinese history, Chinese language and the history of inner Asia. He is co-editor of a work in progress on the Cambridge History of China, volume two: Six Dynasties.

Sponsor(s): Society for Asian Art



If you want to know more about this subject, read the newsletter from the Silk Road Foundation Issue No 7, from 2009.