Teikyo University Silk Road Academic Research Team
We are investigating the culture and history of the Silk Road
In April 2016, we formed "Teikyo University Silk Road Academic Research Team" centered on faculty members of the Research Institute of Cultural Properties and the Faculty of Liberal Arts in Teikyo Univesity for the purpose of academic research on the Silk Road, which is a path of exchange of civilizations through the Eurasian Continent from east to west. The research theme of the "Teikyo University Silk Road Academic Research Team" is to elucidate the lives, history, and culture of people at that time through the excavation of the Ak Besim site, which was one of the base cities along the Silk Road. In addition, research on how the people who live there now, as well as in the past, have lived in the natural environment of the land is also a major research theme.
Kyrgyzstan Republic
Kyrgyzstan Republic is a republic of the former Soviet Union located in Central Asia. More than two-thirds of the country is covered with mountains above 3000 m above sea level, the Tian Shan Mountains extend along the border with China, and the Pamir Plateau extends toward Tajikistan, which is located in the south. From this high mountain and the long and narrow terrain from east to west, people enjoy various climates, scenery and plants.
Xuanzang's Path Across the Tianshan Mountains - 2022
We will introduce the investigation of Bedel Pass in the Tianshan Mountains, where Xuanzang, famous for Journey to the West, is said to have passed through. This video is also available in English, Chinese, and Russian.
English
Chinese
Russian
Ak Besim Ruins
The Ak-Besim site, formerly known as Suyyab, is an extremely rare site in Central Asia where two cities are located next to each other. On the west side of the city (1st Shahristan), which is believed to have been built by the Sogdians, a people who traded on the Silk Road, and on the east side of the city (2nd Shahristan), which was built by the Tang Dynasty in China, is located the "Saiyouzhen Castle" (2nd Shahristan). It is said that Xuanzang, who was on a quest to India, visited "Suiyabu Castle," now called the 1st Shafristan, around 630, and it is also assumed to be the birthplace of Li Bai, a poet of the Tang Dynasty in China.
Ak Beshim Archaeological Excavation 2022
We will introduce the excavation survey of the Ak Beshim ruins by the Teikyo University Silk Road Academic Research Team.
The Teikyo University Silk Road academic research team conducted their first survey in June-July and October-November 2015. They then conducted a total of three surveys in 2016, unearthing a variety of archaeological materials. During the first survey in May 2017, a large number of roof tiles believed to date back to the late 7th century were discovered. This discovery confirmed that this was the site of "Suiyeh Zhencheng," the westernmost military base built by the Tang Dynasty of China on the Silk Road at that time. Excavations continued at Shakhristan I and Shakhristan II during the survey in April and May 2018. At the site of Suiyehzhencheng, one of the Four Towns of Anxi that served as military and administrative bases for the Tang dynasty's westward expansion, stone-paved remains and part of a building estimated to date to the second half of the 7th century were discovered. From April to May 2019, we conducted our seventh excavation at the Ak Beshim (Suyab) ruins. At Shakhristan I, a street and a group of buildings lining both sides of it were discovered, revealing the appearance of the town built by the Sogdians. At Shakhristan II, at the site of "Suiyeh Zhencheng," one of the four towns of Anxi, we found several foundations for large buildings that are key to revealing the structure of the town, which was a military base. In addition, a large amount of pottery, animal bones, plant seeds, etc. were discovered in a former garbage pit.
Preservation and research of cultural heritage in Georgia
Located in the middle of the Caucasus, Georgia (formerly Georgia) is on the border between Asia and Europe, and is a strategic location where various peoples and cultures have come and gone since ancient times. It is not only considered the birthplace of wine, but also the place where bronze tools were first produced. Research Institute of Cultural Properties, Teikyo University began academic exchange with Georgian National Museum in 2014, and in 2017 concluded an agreement with Georgian National Museum and the Agency for the Protection of Cultural Heritage, and is promoting cooperation and joint research on cultural heritage protection in the country. In 2018, an academic exchange agreement was concluded between Teikyo University and Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, and from 2022, the Institute will steadily promote human exchange and research capabilities over three years as a cultural heritage international cooperation hub exchange project (commissioned by the Agency for Cultural Affairs) with Georgian National Museum and Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University as counterparts.
Cultural Heritage Protection Hub Exchange Program
From 2022 to 2024, as a project commissioned by the Agency for Cultural Affairs, we carried out human resource development and technology transfer in three fields and held an international symposium, with Georgian National Museum and the Institute of Archaeology Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University as our counterparts.
We mainly hold workshops on the conservation and restoration of archaeological materials and scientific analysis. We invite Georgian experts to Japan and send researchers from Institute of Cultural Properties to the site.
2022
2023
FY2024
We mainly conduct workshops on excavation surveys at archaeological sites and the analysis of excavated animal and plant remains.
2022
2023
FY2024
We are conducting workshops to formulate appropriate conservation and management plans with a view to future World Heritage registration. From 2023, we will be focusing on the Grakliani ruins, where excavations are being conducted by Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University.
2022
2023
FY2024
FY2023 As part of the Silk Road Academic Research Society, which is held annually by Institute of Cultural Properties, an international symposium entitled "Current Status of Archaeology in Central Asia and the Caucasus" was held. Three overseas experts, including Professor Richeli Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, were invited to the symposium to deepen mutual understanding about the latest trends in archaeological research and cultural heritage protection in Georgia.
2024 An international symposium entitled "Cultural Heritage Protection in Georgia: International Cooperation between Japan and Georgia" was held at Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University. The results of the three-year project were summarized, and the current state of cultural heritage protection in Georgia and the outlook for future cooperation between the two countries were presented.
Publication
Kazuya Yamauchi: "Research on the History of Leaf Crushing", Teikyo University Press, published March 26, 2025, ISBN 978-4434354212
Kazuya Yamauchi: "Coins of the Silk Road 2", Teikyo University Press, published February 17, 2025, ISBN 978-4-434-35297-3
Kazuya Yamauchi: "Coins of the Silk Road 1", Teikyo University Press, published February 10, 2025, ISBN 978-4-434-35249-2
Kazuya YAMAUCHI et al.: Ak-Beshim (Suyab) 2022-2023. Research Institute of Cultural Properties, Teikyo University & National Academy of Sciences of the Kyrgyz Republic, 2025
Kazuya Yamauchi et al.: "Ak Beshim (Syab) 2022-2023", Research Institute of Cultural Properties, Teikyo University, National Academy of Sciences of the Kyrgyz Republic, 2024
Kazuya YAMAUCHI, Koichi KUSHIHARA, Hidekazu MOCHIZUKI, Denis SOROKIN: Ak-Beshim (Suyab) 2016-2017. Research Institute of Cultural Properties, Teikyo University & Institute of History and Cultural Heritage, National Academy of Sciences of the Kyrgyz Republic, 2023
Kazuya Yamauchi, Koichi Kushihara, Hidekazu Mochizuki, Denise Sorokin: "Ak Beshim (Suyab) 2016-2017", Research Institute of Cultural Properties, Teikyo University and National Academy of Sciences of the Kyrgyz Republic, 2022
Kazuya YAMAUCHI, Chie AKASHI, Shunpei IWAI, Manabu UETSUKI, Ikue OTANI, Koichi KUSHIHARA, Go SATO, Seiji NAKAYAMA, Chie NAKAYAMA, Hidekazu MOCHIZUKI, Koji YAGI, Yutaka YOSHIDA: Ak-Beshim (Suyab) 2018. Research Institute of Cultural Properties, Teikyo University & The Institute of History and Cultural Heritage, National Academy of Sciences of the Kyrgyz Republic, 2022
Kazuya Yamauchi, Koichi Kushihara, Manabu Uetsuki, Seiji Nakayama, Yutaka Yoshida, Shunpei Iwai, Chie Nakayama, Chie Akashi, Tsuyoshi Sato, Koji Yagi, Ikue Otani: "Ak Beshim (Suyab) 2018", Research Institute of Cultural Properties, Teikyo University Cultural Heritage and the Institute of History and Cultural Heritage of the National Academy of Sciences of the Kyrgyz Republic, 2021
Kazuya YAMAUCHI, Manabu UETSUKI, Koichi KUSHIHARA, Seiji NAKAYAMA, Hidekazu MOCHIZUKI, Osamu HIRANO, Maiko MIURA, Shunpei IWAI, Denis SOROKIN: Ak-Beshim (Suyab) 2019. Research Institute of Cultural Properties, Teikyo University& The Institute of History and Cultural Heritage, National Academy of Sciences of the Kyrgyz Republic, 2021
Kazuya Yamauchi, Manabu Uetsuki, Koichi Kushihara, Seiji Nakayama, Hidekazu Mochizuki, Osamu Hirano, Maiko Miura, Shunpei Iwai, Denise Sorokin: "Ak Beshim (Suyab) 2019", Research Institute of Cultural Properties, Teikyo University and the Institute of History and Cultural Heritage of the National Academy of Sciences of the Kyrgyz Republic, 2020
