The Paper has learned that Mr. Wang Binghua, a well-known archaeologist and historian, passed away in Urumqi on February 6, 2025 due to illness at the age of 90. Mr. Wang Binghua has been engaged in the frontline of Xinjiang archaeology more than 60 years ago and has accumulated a wealth of field archaeological experience. He has personally experienced and conducted investigations on ancient remains in the oases around the Tarim Basin in Xinjiang, the Lop Nur Desert, the Turpan Basin, the oases in the northern foothills of the Tianshan Mountains, the Ili River Basin, and the Altai Mountain Front, and has achieved many pioneering results. He has profound academic attainments in the fields of Xinjiang desert archaeology and ancient ethnic archaeology, and is well-known in the Western Regions research community at home and abroad.
At the end of December 2000, Wang Binghua was in front of the newly discovered Xiaohe No. 5 cemetery, which had no trace of human activity around it.
The obituary just released by the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology shows that in accordance with Mr. Wang Binghua's wishes, the funeral will be simple and no farewell ceremony will be held.
The obituary stated that Mr. Wang Binghua was an outstanding representative of the first generation of Xinjiang archaeologists in New China. He was an important participant and promoter of Xinjiang archaeology in New China from scratch to prosperity. He enjoyed a high reputation in the field of Silk Road archaeology both at home and abroad. Mr. Wang was unswerving in his determination and devoted his whole life to Xinjiang archaeology. He practiced the principle of "choosing one thing and devoting his whole life to it", and left a rich spiritual wealth for Xinjiang archaeologists. The death of Mr. Wang Binghua is a great loss to Xinjiang archaeology and the Chinese archaeological community.
Wang Binghua (March 25, 1935-February 6, 2025), a native of Nantong, Jiangsu Province, is a famous archaeologist. He graduated from the Department of History, Peking University, majoring in archaeology in 1960. In July of the same year, he went to Xinjiang and joined the Institute of Archaeology, Xinjiang Branch, Chinese Academy of Sciences. He was awarded the title of researcher in 1987. In 1989, he served as the director of the Xinjiang Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology. He was twice awarded the honorary title of "Excellent Expert with Outstanding Contributions" in Xinjiang, and has enjoyed the special government allowance of the State Council since 1992. After retiring in 2000, he continued to write and engage in Xinjiang archaeological research. His main works include more than 20 books such as "Ancient Civilization of Turpan" and "Archaeological Research on the Silk Road", and he edited a series of books such as "New Harvest of Cultural Relics and Archaeology in Xinjiang".
Mr. Wang Binghua devoted his life to the research of Xinjiang archaeology and the Silk Road, and made indelible and significant contributions to the development and advancement of Xinjiang archaeology in New China. He overcame various difficulties and obstacles, persisted in fighting on the front line of archaeology for a long time, and traveled all over the north and south of the Tianshan Mountains. He personally led or participated in scientific investigations of ancient relics and natural environments in the Tarim Basin, the Lop Nur Desert, the Turpan Basin, and the grasslands in the northern foothills of the Tianshan Mountains. He has presided over or participated in many important archaeological excavations and investigations, such as the Astana Cemetery in Turpan, the Ancient City of Gaochang, the Tumulus Tombs in the Ili River Basin, the Kermqi Cemetery in Altay, the Salt Lake Tombs, the Alagou Cemetery in Urumqi, the Wubao Cemetery in Hami, the Kangjia Shimenzi Rock Paintings in Hutubi, the Ancient Tomb Valley Cemetery in Kongquehe, the Ruins of Loulan, the Niya Ruins in Minfeng, and the West Cemetery in Jiaohegou, which have had a wide impact at home and abroad. During his tenure as director of the Institute of Archaeology, Mr. Wang Binghua vigorously promoted international and domestic academic exchanges and cooperation, strengthened multidisciplinary comprehensive research, and greatly promoted the progress of Xinjiang archaeological research.
Wang Binghua
Dang Zhihao, deputy director of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Cultural Relics Bureau, said today: "I was shocked to hear the tragic news. I have a thousand words in my heart, but I can't say a word. I have benefited a lot from being taught by him once or twice. His voice, appearance and smile will live forever!"
Ding He, a well-known photographer and vice chairman of the Shanghai Photographers Association, said that he was shocked to hear that Professor Wang Binghua had passed away and was very sad. "I met Mr. Wang through Mr. Feng Qiyong. He was the director of the Xinjiang Archaeological Institute at that time. He has always been very supportive of my Silk Road cultural photography in Xinjiang. I have consulted him countless times on some academic matters, and he was very enthusiastic. In 2005, we went to Lop Nur Loulan for an investigation together. I learned a lot and saw a lot from him. What impressed me most was that when we were at the foot of Loulan City, just below the three rooms, he gave me guidance and academic analysis on the spot. I benefited a lot, and we also forged a deep friendship. Whether it was the book I published in 2006 about the Xinjiang Silk Road or the photography exhibition at the Beijing Capital Museum, Mr. Wang was glad to be invited as an academic consultant."
Wang Binghua (left) and Ding He (right) at the ancient ruins in Xinjiang in 2005
Gu Cunyan, the editor-in-chief of the art review of The Paper, planned with Ding He to search for the remains of the Tianshan Silk Road last year. Before the trip, Mr. Wang Binghua, who was in Shanghai for medical treatment, gave him his new book "Traveling on the Sea of Han", and made specific suggestions on the route of the "Tianshan Silk Road Trip". He also described in detail a series of archaeological discoveries he had personally witnessed, such as the ancient rock paintings of Kangjia Shimenzi. "Mr. Wang Binghua is very approachable. The route he proposed was of great significance to our Silk Road investigation last year. I remember that I wanted to visit Mr. Wang Binghua when I arrived in Urumqi, but Mr. Wang was already in the hospital at that time, so it was inconvenient to visit. I didn't expect that the meeting in Shanghai before the investigation last year would be the last time I met the old man. I originally wanted to have another long talk with him, but I didn't expect that there would be no such opportunity again... It's very sad. I hope the old man will rest in peace."
Mr. Wang Binghua's "Traveling in the Sea of Literature"
Ning Qiang, Dean, Professor and Doctoral Supervisor of the Institute of Arts of Beijing Foreign Studies University, recalled: "Mr. Wang Binghua was my guide to the field of Xinjiang archaeology and art research. In the summer of 2000, I set out from Detroit, the United States, and came directly to Urumqi to investigate and study the ancient remains on the ground in Xinjiang and the archaeological discoveries over the years, and to collect materials for the study of ancient Xinjiang. Xinjiang is vast, and facing this vast ocean of cultural relics, I felt at a loss, so I called Mr. Wang Binghua, the most experienced expert at the Xinjiang Archaeological Institute, and asked for help and guidance. Mr. Wang was very enthusiastic and immediately came out of his home to take me to a small restaurant that he was particularly familiar with and liked. We ate big plate chicken noodles while talking about archaeological discoveries and research in Xinjiang. After the meal, Mr. Wang took me to his home and gave me several of his books. According to Mr. Wang's advice, I started from Turpan and went all the way west to the Kizil Grottoes in Baicheng. At the end of one inspection, Mr. Wang and I agreed that in the summer of the following year, he would personally lead an inspection team composed of professors and doctoral students from Harvard University, Yale University, Princeton University, Stanford University, University of London and other prestigious universities organized by the Silk Road Foundation of the United States, starting from the Baiyanggou Buddhist Temple Ruins in Hami, the easternmost part of Xinjiang, through Turpan, Jimsar, Urumqi, Bayinguoleng, Yanqi, Kuche, Tumushuke, and all the way to Kashgar, the westernmost part. Then along the southern edge of the Taklimakan Desert, through Yingjisha, Hotan, Chile, Qiemo, Ruoqiang and other places, it took 28 days. Along the way, we inspected cultural relics and historical sites, and Mr. Wang personally explained in detail and answered all questions. Many years later, I wrote books such as "The Beauty of Chinese Grottoes: Entering the Western Regions" and "Great Archaeological Discoveries in Xinjiang" to study Xinjiang archaeology and ancient art, all of which were guided by Mr. Wang's explanation of Xinjiang archaeological discoveries. I am still grateful for Mr. Wang Binghua's selfless help and guidance. "
Xinjiang is the intersection of Huaxia China, the eastern region of East Asia, West Asia, South Asia, South Siberia, and the Mediterranean Sea, that is, the ancient Indo-European civilization, the ancient Mediterranean civilization, India, Iran, and the ancient Persian civilization. It is also the frontier and central area of contact and exchange between East Asia and the ancient world civilization. These basic conditions lack documentary records and must be understood from archaeological practice. Archaeological data reveal that "Qin people", "Qiang people", "Han people", "Tang people", "Mongol people", "Manchu people" and other people have lived and worked on this land for a long time. However, with the unique natural environment and the passage of time, the former glory of the Western Regions has turned into ruins sinking deep in the desert, and countless little-known historical and cultural information is still buried in the vast land of quicksand. Since the mid-19th century, many Western scholars have entered this vast inland area, searching for treasures in the vast sea of sand, and transporting them box by box to London, Berlin, and Tokyo, which is a pity. It was not until 1927-1935 that archaeologist Huang Wenbi had the opportunity to participate in the Sino-Swiss Northwest Scientific Expedition to Xinjiang to conduct archaeological surveys and excavations, becoming a pioneer in Xinjiang archaeology. However, after Huang Wenbi, archaeology in Xinjiang, China fell into silence again, waiting for future generations to explore.
It was not until the late 1950s that Chinese archaeologists finally set foot on this mysterious land. After many difficult desert expeditions, they made exciting discoveries: the mysterious ancient city of Loulan, the ancient site of Jingjue in the depths of the Taklimakan Desert - Niya, Kaladun and Dandan Uilik in the heart of the desert... They have visited the forbidden areas that Western scholars have entered before; they have gained new and greater gains from the sites and cultural relics that Western explorers have never seen.
Archaeological excavation with team members in Xinjiang desert. The person standing is Wang Binghua
Wang Binghua, born in 1935, is one of the most meritorious Chinese archaeologists. As the first generation of Xinjiang archaeologists in New China, he devoted himself to Xinjiang archaeology after graduating from the Department of History of Peking University in 1960. He has been working on the front line of archaeology for 40 years, presiding over and participating in the excavation of archaeological sites such as Loulan, Niya, and Xiaohe. He has profound academic attainments in the fields of Xinjiang desert archaeology and ancient ethnic archaeology, and is well-known in the Western Regions research community at home and abroad. After retiring in 2000, he continued to write, teach, and actively carry out foreign exchanges.
Wang Binghua was born in an intellectual family in Nantong, Jiangsu. When he was studying at Peking University, Mr. Jian Bozan, the director of the History Department of Peking University, told Wang Binghua seriously that historical research is one leg, but archaeological data is more important than documents in a specific period and specific area, and it is necessary to strengthen the cultivation of writing. Archaeological articles must be well written, popular, and readable in order to attract attention. Wang Binghua put this advice into practice throughout his life in his subsequent archaeological career.
Survey in Turpan in 1960, first from left: Wang Binghua
Wang Binghua's earliest archaeological work was carried out around the nomadic cultural relics north of the Tianshan Mountains. In 1960, when he had just entered the Xinjiang archaeological career, Wang Binghua and his colleagues from the Institute of Archaeology of the Xinjiang Branch of the Chinese Academy of Sciences initially selected Turpan as the object of their work. Since the Xinjiang Museum Preparatory Group had already made some moves in Turpan, after coordination, Wang Binghua and others decided to give up Turpan and go to northern Xinjiang to open up new horizons. In July 1961, Wang Binghua and his colleagues Wang Mingzhe and others carried out trial excavations of earthen mound tombs in nine counties including Zhaosu and Tekes in the Ili River Basin, and collected 11 bronze artifacts in Tekes County. From 1962 to 1963, the Wusun ancient tomb, which later became famous, was excavated in Zhaosu County. The ancient tomb unearthed Han-style iron plowshares seen in the Yellow River Basin, and typical Qin-style cocoon-shaped pottery pots. Wang Binghua referred to relevant Russian materials and combined with literature to clarify the misunderstanding that "the historical and cultural relics of nomadic areas are poor." The archaeological and cultural concept of Wusun (one of the 36 countries in the Western Regions) he proposed is of milestone significance.
After the reform and opening up in 1978, Loulan archaeology was promoted to a very important position. In 1979, CCTV planned to cooperate with Japan's NHK to shoot a large-scale documentary "The Silk Road" and invited Wang Binghua to participate. He immediately proposed to "go to Loulan". At the end of the year, Wang Binghua led a team to the Kongque River Valley in the northwest of Lop Nur for an investigation and discovered the ancient tomb ditch cemetery.
One of the most important discoveries in Gumugou is a female corpse wearing a pointed felt hat and with golden hair. In 1980, a similar female corpse was also unearthed in the Tiebanhe Cemetery in Loulan. The autopsy results of the two female corpses showed that the skulls had obvious European characteristics, proving that the residents of the Gumugou culture were the "earliest and easternmost ancient European type in Eurasia" known at the time. In this regard, Wang Binghua said, "In fact, through Xinjiang archaeology, we can see that the eastern region of our country once had a very broad exchange with western Europe, involving a lot of things. This played a very important role in the development of Asian and European civilizations and should not be ignored. This has led to a new understanding of the exchange of Asian and European civilizations for me."
In 1995, Wang Binghua at the Niya Ruins
In the 1980s and 1990s, Wang Binghua also organized and led the Sino-Japanese and Sino-French joint archaeological teams to excavate and investigate the Niya ruins and the Keriya River basin deep in the Taklimakan Desert. The excavation of the Jingjue King's Tomb was rated as one of the top ten archaeological discoveries of the year (1995), and the "Five Stars Rising from the East, Good Luck to China" brocade became a household national treasure. In 2000, Wang Binghua and the archaeological team successfully discovered the Xiaohe Cemetery on the fifth day of riding camels deep into the desert, once again showing the dormant ancient remains of the Silk Road to the world.
In December 2000, they went deep into the desert to look for a river. The one in front, riding on a camel, is Wang Binghua.
In the same year, after 40 years of field work in Xinjiang, Wang Binghua retired at the age of 65 and left the front line of archaeology. After retirement, Wang Binghua gave lectures at domestic universities such as Renmin University of China and Peking University many times, and even went abroad to introduce Xinjiang cultural relics archaeology and Western civilization to universities or research institutions in South Korea, France, Sweden, Japan and other countries. Wang Binghua also continued to write and teach, continuing his Xinjiang archaeological journey in another way. For the current Xinjiang archaeologists, Wang Binghua once gave advice to the younger generations: "In the archaeology of northern Xinjiang and in the desert, we were begging for tractors to get around. Now the conditions are so good that everyone has an off-road vehicle to get around, but I still hope that Xinjiang archaeologists can 'stand' to do investigations and research. Now some people go to the archaeological site, and once the drone is released and the general situation is mastered, they feel that they are clear in their minds and satisfied. In fact, to do archaeology, you still have to step on the desert with both feet, analyze and collect scattered fragments bit by bit in the Gobi Desert, which is very important."
Mr. Wang Binghua in Loulan
Wang Binghua said that to correctly understand ancient Chinese civilization, it must not be viewed as an isolated existence. "It must be placed in the larger context of the development of Eurasian civilization. And to make this context concrete, a very important point is the archaeology of the Western Regions. It should be noted that ancient Chinese civilization is only a part of Asian culture, and it must be gradually expanded to Xinjiang and Central Asia. In this process of sorting out, we can clearly feel that it is very inadequate and very limited to understand Xinjiang only through limited documentary records. We did not pay enough attention to this in the past, but now we have noticed it. I believe that as long as we persist, we will definitely open new chapters. In the future, we should continue to increase our efforts in archaeological work in Xinjiang. At the same time, field work is very difficult after all, and we should still show some dedication when we should be dedicated."
Mr. Wang Binghua's Works
Mr. Wang Binghua's Works
(This article is compiled based on past reports from The Paper and information from China Social Sciences Network)