Silk as a Tie: An Overview of the Exchanges Held by the International Association for the Study of Silk Road Textiles

ilk, tracing its origin to China, provides a vital link between East and West in terms of cultural exchanges in ancient times. Situated in Hangzhou, the China National Silk Museum (CNSM) is one of the leading academic institutions committed to the preservation and study of traditional Chinese silk technology and heritage. Under the theme of “Silk Road Textiles” (Si lu zhi chou 丝路之绸), the International Association for the Study of Silk Road Textiles (IASSRT, 国际丝路之绸研究联盟) was co-founded in 2015 by the CNSM and multiple global counterparts. For the past few years, the IASSRT has carried out a series of international academic activities, delivering successful outcomes for cultural and academic exchanges. A panorama of the IASSRT, its annual symposia, and other academic events are presented below.