Officially approved in 2025, the UNESCO Chair on Intercultural Dialogue through Silk Roads Heritage at Zhejiang University stands as a pivotal academic platform dedicated to safeguarding Silk Roads cultural heritage, fostering cross-cultural exchange, and advancing sustainable heritage inheritance .
As an integral part of UNESCO’s global Chairs Programme—launched in 1992 to address pressing global challenges through academic collaboration—it builds on Zhejiang University’s longstanding engagement with UNESCO, following the success of its UNESCO Chair in Entrepreneurship Education established in 2010 . Hosted by the School of Art and Archaeology, the Chair leverages the university’s interdisciplinary strengths in humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences to bridge heritage research, education, and international cooperation.
Core Mission & Vision
Rooted in the Silk Roads’ legacy as a cradle of human cultural exchange, the Chair’s mission centers on three pillars:
Heritage Preservation: Systematically documenting and protecting tangible and intangible Silk Roads heritage—including silk textiles, ceramics, architectural remains, and traditional crafts—while deciphering their historical and artistic value.
Intercultural Dialogue: Breaking geographical and disciplinary barriers to activate global networks for Silk Roads research, promoting mutual respect for cultural diversity across regions.
Sustainable Inheritance: Translating research into practical impact through talent cultivation, craftsman empowerment, and public engagement, ensuring ancient heritage thrives in contemporary society .
Academic Leadership & Institutional Foundation
The Chair is led by Professor Zhao Feng, Dean of Zhejiang University’s School of Art and Archaeology and an internationally renowned scholar in Silk Roads textiles and costumes . Professor Zhao’s expertise anchors the Chair’s academic direction—he has edited landmark UNESCO-published works such as Textiles and Clothing along the Silk Roads (2022) and Silks from the Silk Road: Origin, Transmission and Exchange (2016), and serves as Chairman of the International Association for the Study of Silk Road Textiles (IASSRT), a network of over 40 institutions from 20+ countries .
The Chair is supported by the School of Art and Archaeology’s robust infrastructure, including:
Disciplinary departments covering archaeology, art history, fine arts, and design.
Professional platforms such as the Art and Archaeology Museum, Institute of Cultural Heritage and Museology, and Cultural Heritage Protection and Appraisal Research Center.
A multi-disciplinary team of experts in archaeological detection, digital technology, and cultural communication .
Key Initiatives & Impact
The Chair advances its mission through four integrated workstreams, creating a research-protection-inheritance-exchange ecosystem:
1. Research & Digital Heritage Documentation
At the core of its work is the Silk Art and Silk Road Research Center—a provincial-level key research base for philosophy and social sciences—housing three specialized resources :
Textile Sample Database: Archiving physical samples of silk fabrics and textiles from diverse periods and regions along the Silk Roads.
Textile Archaeology Laboratory: Developing technologies for cultural relic detection and restoration to unlock the secrets of ancient weaving and dyeing techniques.
Digital Heritage Platforms: Operating and expanding the Interactive World Map of Silk (integrating tangible/intangible heritage data) and the Silk Road Online Museum (SROM), which aggregates digital collections from 40+ global museums for public and scholarly access .
2. International Collaboration & Network Building
Leveraging IASSRT and partnerships with 20+ countries, the Chair strengthens global cooperation across Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Central Asia. Key activities include:
Hosting annual international academic conferences (e.g., the 2024 conference planned in Laos).
Conducting joint archaeological surveys and heritage protection projects with institutions in Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, and Oman.
Coordinating cross-border exhibitions to showcase Silk Roads heritage and facilitate cultural exchange .
3. Talent Cultivation & Craftsman Empowerment
The Chair bridges academic and practical heritage 传承 through targeted programs:
Academic Education: Offering courses on Silk Road Art History and Cultural Heritage Protection at Zhejiang University to train master’s and doctoral students.
Crafts Training: Providing workshops on silk weaving, embroidery, and natural dyeing for artisans in 沿线 communities, supplemented with training on market access and new technologies.
Scholarly Exchange: Supporting 3-4 annual student exchanges and visiting professorships with partner institutions like the University of Cambridge and Sorbonne University .
4. Public Engagement & Knowledge Sharing
To democratize access to Silk Roads heritage, the Chair implements:
· Annual public events, including Asian Civilization and the Silk Roads exhibitions and 8-10 seminars/webinars.
· Community-focused activities (lectures, hands-on workshops) to connect the public with traditional crafts and heritage stories.
· Open access to digital resources, enabling global audiences to explore the Silk Roads through online museums and searchable databases .
Global Partnerships
The Chair’s impact is amplified through collaborations with leading international entities:
UNESCO: Jointly developing the Silk Road Online Museum and compiling academic works like Thematic Collection of the Cultural Exchanges along the Silk Roads: Carpets.
Cultural & Academic Institutions: Partnering with the International Council of Museums (ICOM) for exhibition guidance, and the Danish National Centre for Textile Research for joint research.
Industry & NGOs: Working with the International Silk Union to safeguard sericulture heritage and private enterprises to innovate cultural products .
Alignment with Global Goals
As a contributor to UNESCO’s 2022-2029 Medium-Term Strategy and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Chair advances:
Cultural Diversity: Protecting endangered heritage and promoting intercultural understanding.
Inclusive Education: Delivering lifelong learning opportunities for artisans, students, and the public.
Digital Equity: Making heritage knowledge accessible globally through open digital platforms .
The UNESCO Chair on Intercultural Dialogue through Silk Roads Heritage embodies Zhejiang University’s commitment to global cultural governance. By linking historical research to contemporary practice, it serves as a bridge between civilizations, ensuring the Silk Roads’ legacy of exchange continues to inspire mutual understanding in the 21st century.