Penetration of China material culture in South Siberia in Pre-Mongol time

In relations between China and nomadic peoples of Siberia, materialand spiritual aspects of culture were perceived in parallel, but the material culture in contacts manifested more clearly and particularlyattracted the attention of neighbours. This was expressed in the processes of reciprocity, imitation or borrowing some features ofculture - art, crafts, clothing, food, housing, vehicles, etc. The penetration of the material culture of China in southern Siberia wascarried out by such factors as cultural centres along the trade routes and the participation of Chinese trade, crafts and art, and as a resultof China's official doctrine of the spread of imperial influence on the surrounding nations. In particular, the penetration of the Chinese inCentral Asia passed in several ways, the most famous of which, South and North of the road, passed through Eastern Turkestan inCentral Asia. The South road led to Bactria and Parthia. The local traders piled up many goods imported from China, first of all, silk,bronze mirrors, coins and other samples of material exchange. But after the Western and central sections of the Silk Road came underthe influence of Arabic and Tibetan control, transcontinental trade and cultural ties with China and Central Asia declined rapidly. It isthis fact contributed to the formation of Kyrgyzskiy road linking China with South Siberia. This road led to the foothills of theMongolian Altai, Tuva and then through to the Minusinsk Basin. This way there was an intensive trade with the oases of EasternTurkestan and the countries of the Middle East. The foreign relations of South Siberia and the Chinese Empire prove by evidence ofbronze mirrors, coins, silks, jewelry and varnish products, agricultural implements. A collection of Chinese mirrors found in theMinusinsk Basin and its surrounding areas suggests the region's largest centre for Tang mirrors findings outside of China. In addition totrade, an important aspect of penetration of the Chinese culture, especially the material one, in Central Asia were diplomatic contactsaccompanied by an active exchange of embassies and diplomatic missions, and, consequently, gifts offering. The spread of Chineseinfluence and reaching the diplomatic goals (the conclusion of contracts, warranties, or hostage-taking) were provided with dynasticmarriages. This policy was practiced particularly successfully in dealing with the militant nomadic peoples - the Huns, the Usuns, theYuezhi, and others. On the basis of archaeological material the frequency and intensity of penetration of the Chinese influence on thedevelopment of the peoples of Southern Siberia can be clearly seen. The most intensive contacts with the Chinese civilization of thepeoples of Southern Siberia date back to the period of the Hun dominance in Central Asia (from the 2nd c. BC to the 3rd c. AD) and theexistence of Kyrgyzskiy state (7th-9th cc.), which coincided with the strengthening of the Chinese Empire and the most successfulimplementation of policies in East Turkestan. The East Asian influence on the material culture of the South Siberian peoples wasnegligible during the weakening of the Chinese state and counter contacts between civilizations by the nomadic peoples of Juan-Juan,and Turks (3rd-6th cc.), Uighur Khanate (late 7th - the beginning of the 9th cc.), Mongolian tribes (from the beginning of the 13thcentury.). Khitan and Jurchen mediation (11th-12th cc.) in the contacts between China and South Siberian peoples greatly restricted thepenetration of the influence of its culture to the North, but also contributed to the emergence of Korean and Japanese products in theregion.

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