Abstract
The discovery of the Northern Zhou (557–581AD) tomb of Shi Jun (494–579 CE) presents us with spectacular visual information about the Sogdians in medieval China, which was previously available to us only through written sources. The iconography-heavy sarcophagus in the tomb is an important vehicle for understanding the practices of religious (and everyday) life in the Sino-Sogdian community. The imagery on the Shi Jun sarcophagus reveals a mix of religious beliefs that existed among migrants in the premodern Eurasian world. Due to the absence of a dominant religion associated with Sino-Sogdian funerals, the iconography of the sarcophagus cannot be interpreted within an orthodox theological framework. Instead, it is possible that more syncretistic, indigenous, and regionally based folklore, tales, and hymns, in combination with a diversity of religious beliefs, might explain the sarcophagus’s enigmatic imagery, since the social order and religious order are often mutually reinforcing.
Highlights
The astounding Sino-Sogdian tomb of Shi Jun史君 (494–579)1, or Wirkak in Sogdian, was discovered and excavated during the summer of 2003 on the outskirts ofChang’an, once the capital of the Northern Zhou dynasty (557–581 CE)
For a Sino-Sogdian tomb such as Shi Jun’s, the explanation of the iconograof its sarcophagus is not based on a single orthodox religion but can likely be phy of its sarcophagus is not based on a single orthodox religion but can likely accounted for by more syncretistic, indigenous and localized folklore, tales, and hymns be accounted for by more syncretistic, indigenous and localized folklore, tales, and hymns combined with various religious beliefs, because social order and the religious order of a combined with various religious beliefs, because social order and the religious order of a society are often mutually reinforcing (Kyriakidis 2007, p. 112)
Sogdian emigrants living in the colonies situated along the Silk Road would have adhered to the religious practices of their homeland
Summary
The astounding Sino-Sogdian tomb of Shi Jun史君 (494–579) , or Wirkak in Sogdian, was discovered and excavated during the summer of 2003 on the outskirts of. Jun’s tomb was built in the subsequently moved to, and eventually died, in Chang’an. For a Sino-Sogdian tomb such as Shi Jun’s, the explanation of the iconography dian burials. For a Sino-Sogdian tomb such as Shi Jun’s, the explanation of the iconograof its sarcophagus is not based on a single orthodox religion but can likely be phy of its sarcophagus is not based on a single orthodox religion but can likely accounted for by more syncretistic, indigenous and localized folklore, tales, and hymns be accounted for by more syncretistic, indigenous and localized folklore, tales, and hymns combined with various religious beliefs, because social order and the religious order of a combined with various religious beliefs, because social order and the religious order of a society are often mutually reinforcing With onofboth of were the Pamirs, wereintermediaries the perfect inter the flow of in commodities ideas between civilizations
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