Visionaries Through Centuries

by+Yin+Xing

Marc Aurel Stein （1862 – 1943） was a HungarianBritish archaeologist， primarily known for his explorations and archaeological discoveries in Central Asia. He made four major expeditions to Central Asia， which inspired Dunhuang and Turpan studies. His discoveries in Central Asia proved mutual cultural influence between China and Central Asia， as well as frequent economic， political and cultural exchange between China and the West along the Silk Road during the Han （206B.C.-220A.D.） and Tang （618-907） dynasties.

Deke Erh followed Steins footprints on the Silk Road， taking pictures from the same angles at the same places as Stein once did. A watchtower from the Han Dynasty remains the same in both pictures as if time has forgotten it. Enduring weathering through the ages， the fallen beam of ancient Loulan City has become shorter than it was in Steins picture， but its structure jointed with mortise and tenon remains intact. In Steins self-portrait， the tall and slim photographer stands in front of his tent， looking off into the dis- tance. In Dekes picture， he sits in front of his tent pondering. The desert， both their backgrounds， remains the same after a century of time passed.

“History has been recorded in written documents， but the most subtle words cannot even begin to preserve some disappearing things，” explains Erh. “From a new aspect， photos can become very valuable documentation.”