CONNECTING WOMEN TO THE SILK ROADS Primary Sources Connect Women to the Silk Road

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Primary Source #7

Two Female Musicians

Terra cotta glazed figurines of female musicians. Mid 7th century

These figures show the meeting of two cultures through the common love of music.
The figure on the right is a Kuchean musician playing a pipa (lute). This instrument originated in Iran and reached China via the Silk Road, becoming popular in the 5th century. The Chinese woman on the left plays a jiegu, a drum that originated in India and was made from skin stretched over a wooden frame. Kuchean music was famed along the Eastern Silk Road and many melodies were played using these two instruments.

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CONNECTING WOMEN TO THE SILK ROADS
Introduction

Influential Women	Women and Silk Production	Exploring Primary Sources
Tang dynasty’s Wu Zetian	Making Silk	Primary Source Lessons
Princess Wencheng	Wearing Silk
Sorghaghtani Beki	Reviving Silk Traditions
Empress Irene