A 16th-century blue-and-white dragon stem bowl, crafted with a vibrant cobalt blue pigment known as smalt, is more than a relic—it’s a bridge between civilizations. Originally sourced from Persia (modern-day Iran), smalt traveled thousands of miles along ancient trade routes, blending Persian artistry with Chinese ceramic traditions.
This bowl’s story highlights centuries of Silk Road exchanges, where technology, culture, and ideas flowed freely. Today, initiatives like the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) revive these connections, fostering cross-cultural preservation and innovation. Museums and historians now use advanced techniques to study such artifacts, revealing how shared knowledge shaped civilizations.
For young global citizens and history enthusiasts, the bowl symbolizes a timeless truth: collaboration across borders enriches humanity’s collective heritage. As BRI projects modernize infrastructure, they also deepen appreciation for the interconnectedness that defines our past—and future.
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A blue-and-white stem bowl embodies learning and integration history
cgtn.com
