The closing ceremony of "2020 Silk Road Week" is jointly held by the National Cultural Heritage Administration and People's Government of Zhejiang Province at Zhejiang Sci-Tech University on June 24. [Photo provided to ezhejiang.gov.cn]

The closing ceremony of the "2020 Silk Road Week" was jointly held by the National Cultural Heritage Administration and People's Government of Zhejiang Province at Zhejiang Sci-Tech University on June 24. A new book entitled Chinese Silk on Russian Military Flags in Swedish Collection was launched at the ceremony.

Chief editors of the book, Zhao Feng and Yuan Yachun, donated the book to the Library of Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, hoping to better promote Chinese silk culture among teachers and students, and increase its stature as a rich cultural heritage.

A new book entitled Chinese Silk on Russian Military Flags in Swedish Collection is launched at the ceremony. [Photo provided to ezhejiang.gov.cn]

The ceremony was attended by Li Gao, vice-minister of the Publicity Department of Zhejiang Provincial Committee, Xu Peng, deputy director of the Zhejiang Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Xie Ligen, vice-chairman of the Zhejiang Federation of Humanities and Social Sciences Circles, Chen Wenxing, president of Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Cao Hong, deputy director of the Zhejiang Provincial Administration of Cultural Heritage, Yuan Yachun, chief editor of the Zhejiang University Press, Zhang Chen, deputy chief editor of the Zhejiang University Press, Zhao Feng, director of the China National Silk Museum, and Su Miao, deputy dean of the College of Textile Science and Engineering at Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, among others.

The Silk Road got its name because of the silk trade. Silk is not only one of the main commodities that China has contributed to the world in history, but also an important conduit through which China has showcased oriental culture. More than 300 years ago, Chinese silks with various auspicious meanings were carried to Russia during the period of Peter the Great. Being made into military flags, the silk fabrics were captured as a war trophy by the Swedish army in the Great Northern War. The unknown stories attached to the silk history seem to have been buried deep in the Baltic Sea. 300 years later, the publication of Chinese Silk on Russian Military Flags in Swedish Collection enables scholars and the public to revisit this legend of the Silk Road.