Professor Yu Hong-jun: "Silk Road Exploration... The Most Moving Journey of My Life"

'My Cultural Heritage Exploration China Edition 3: Silk Road Oasis Cities' Publication Commemorative Book Talk

Professor Emeritus Yoo Hong-jun of Myongji University’s Department of Art History explained the contents of his newly published book, My Cultural Heritage Exploration in China, Volume 3: The Silk Road and Oasis Cities, during a book talk and press conference held simultaneously at the Changbi Seogyo Building in Mapo-gu, Seoul, and online on the afternoon of the 16th.
Photo by Changbi

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Byung-hee] "If I live healthily and long, I will write everything."

On the 16th, Yoo Hong-jun, Distinguished Professor of Art History at Myongji University (71), made this remark jokingly during a book talk held at the Changbi Seogyo Building in Mapo-gu, Seoul, to commemorate the publication of 'My Cultural Heritage Exploration: China Edition Volume 3: Oasis Cities of the Silk Road.' It sounded like a statement filled with his will to write all the stories he still wants to tell.

Professor Yoo sparked a boom in cultural heritage exploration in Korea with the publication of 'My Cultural Heritage Exploration Volume 1: The First Place to Explore Namdo' in 1993. Over time, he expanded his travels to Japan and China, beginning his Silk Road journey with the first and second volumes of the China edition. With the release of this new book, he announced, "I have completed my Silk Road exploration." In Volume 3, he focused on exploring the Taklamakan Desert in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, a place once considered impossible to return alive from. Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region is a vast area that includes the Taklamakan Desert, Tarim Basin, Gobi Desert, Tianshan Mountains, Kunlun Mountains, and the Pamir Plateau, with endless mountain ranges and vast grasslands.

Professor Yoo described his Silk Road exploration as "the most moving journey of my life." "I saw the immense size of the Kumtag Desert and other vast natural landscapes that exceeded my imagination. Also, as humans are social animals who form nations, I deeply felt the sorrow of those without a nation and realized how fortunate we are as a people. The awe of nature and reflecting on their history gave me an opportunity to look back on myself, which was very meaningful."

He also said, "It was impressive because I went to places that are hard to reach." He added, "Usually, explorers visit a place 5 to 10 times over 10 to 20 years to fully familiarize themselves before writing. This time, I wrote based on four trips. So, it might be more accurate to call it a travelogue rather than an exploration record."

As he finished one exploration, Professor Yoo dreamed of another. "I will continue writing the China edition exploration books. The Silk Road exploration is completed in three volumes, but when it comes to China exploration, I must visit the Five Great Ancient Capitals. Among them, the best are Chang'an (today's Xi'an) and Luoyang."

Regarding why he did not start with Chang'an and Luoyang in the China edition, he explained that he was cautious not to fall into Sinocentrism. "Even just Chang'an and Luoyang would require very long writings. I think I will need to write five volumes. After that, I will write about the culture of pavilions and literati in Yangzhou, Suzhou, and Hangzhou in the Jiangnan region, and also about the Shanghai Provisional Government."

Professor Yoo stated that he plans to wrap up many other stories he has laid out. From 2010 to 2013, he published 'Yoo Hong-jun's Korean Art History Lectures' Volumes 1 to 3. The first two volumes covered from prehistoric times to the Goryeo Dynasty, and the third volume focused on Joseon Dynasty paintings and calligraphy. "I have not been able to write Volumes 4 and 5 of the Korean Art History Lectures. Honestly, I lack confidence. I wrote about Joseon Dynasty painting in Volume 3, but I need to write about architecture, crafts, and sculpture, and there is not much research material in these fields, so it takes time."

'My Cultural Heritage Exploration' has been published up to Volume 10. Volumes 9 and 10 cover cultural heritage in Seoul. Professor Yoo said, "I plan to finish the Seoul edition," and revealed, "What I am currently writing about are Insadong, Bukchon, Seochon, and Seongbuk-dong within the Four Great Gates, but this content is not easy." He added, "I decided to write even if I don't know everything," and expressed his intention to write all the thoughts he has in any way possible.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.