Along the Silk Road (Asian Art and Culture)
The famous cellist Yo-Yo Ma started the Silk Road Project in 1998 to further cultural study of a swathe of countries from Japan to France that lie along the old trade routes across Asia, which facilitated the exchange of goods like silk and spices. Also exchanged were ideas governing disparate facets of culture, like music, art, and philosophy. This book was assembled to accompany various festivals, concerts, films, and CDs associated with the project. Seven illustrated chapters by seven authors cover the history of Iranian cinema, the textiles of Central Asia, metalworking technology transfer, astrology, sacred sites of the Silk Road, the music of China, and a conversation with Ma. The material is fascinating, and the presentation is clear and accessible to nonscholars, but unfortunately no framework is provided; the only links are geographical. A further discussion of cultural connections would have been welcome, but the beautiful illustrations do hint at a rich cultural heritage. Recommended for Asian studies collections in academic or larger public libraries. David McClelland, PhiladelphiaCopyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.