The Road of Ten Thousand Li: How the Great Silk Road Was Blazed

The Great Silk Road is not merely an ancient caravan route; it is a whole network of paths that for centuries connected countries and peoples. Its commercial and cultural significance was immense. And it did not emerge spontaneously, as it might seem at first glance — as if merchants simply traveled back and forth and the road somehow formed itself. That is not the case. The Great Silk Road was literally blazed, and it happened twice.

The Sandal on the Pamir: A Legend of Bodhidharma

Who Was Bodhidharma? Bodhidharma was the first patriarch of the Chan Buddhist tradition (known in Japan as Zen). He is also called Damo, Daruma, and… the Bearded Barbarian. The last nickname came about naturally. Unlike the clean-shaven Chinese monks, he wore a beard. Moreover, according to legend, he came to preach his teaching in China from India. And the Chinese called all outsiders “barbarians” – hu. Hence “the Bearded Barbarian.”

The Pamir Mountains: The Origin of the Name and Other Interesting Facts

The Pamir mountain system forms a unique planetary junction, where the spurs of Asia's greatest ranges—the Hindu Kush, Tien Shan, Karakoram, and Kunlun—converge. This grand uplift of the Earth's crust neighbors deep depressions, such as the Tarim (Kashgar) Basin. The Pamir is located at the crossroads of several nations: Tajikistan, China, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. However, its central, highest part, containing the main peaks, lies within the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region of the Republic of Tajikistan.

Heart of the Fann Mountains: Iskanderkul Through the Ages

Lake Iskanderkul, nestled in the Fann Mountains of Tajikistan, holds not only icy waters but also a rich history stretching back centuries. It is believed that the lake was named after Alexander the Great, who in local tradition was called Iskander Zulqarnain — “the Two-Horned” — after his helmet adorned with two horns.