Sven Hedin

When an investigator discovers clear relics and relics of human civilization from a long-gone era, the joy he feels at that moment is difficult to describe in words. to describe. I have experienced such joy before: on March 28, 1900, I had the honor of discovering the ruins of Loulan, the ancient Chinese garrison military area. ——When I obtained a large number of valuable documents written on wooden slips and paper on March 8 of the following year, the joy may be even greater. These objects were completely forgotten and buried under the ruins of this small town for 1,600 years.

I am neither an archaeologist nor a Chinese characterist, but I do know the historical significance of my discovery. Full of joy, I followed the advice of my respected teacher, Baron von Richthofen, and handed over all the valuable materials to the sinologist Carl Himmler who lived in Wiesbaden. Since destiny did not allow Mr. Himmler to complete his work, after his death the entire material was transferred to the hands of Professor August Conradi, a sinologist living in Leipzig. However, because he had many other tasks, he had no time to do this at the moment, and his manuscript could not be published until many years later. However, he also created a work full of new excitement and concepts. This is a masterpiece, mainly It can be said that it sowed light on a dark and obscure passage in Chinese history.

When I think of Conradi's grand and noble appearance, I am filled with sorrow and sadness. When I saw him for the last time in Leipzig in May 1925 - only a few days before his death - we talked about a plan which we had discussed several times before and which should now be carried out, and we decided, Conradi should write a popular and academic book about Loulan. This book should be written for most readers who are interested in historical and geographical research. If they do not have time or ability, get Conradi's book. Come and read this book (note: refers to the book "Documents and Other Items Discovered by Sven Hedin in Loulan").

In his eloquent words, Conradi clearly told me the outline of the new popular book he wanted to write about Loulan. He also wanted to describe the deeds done by others in the Loulan area since him.

But fate was different from what we imagined. Before he even started writing his new book, death was knocking on his door.

I then turned to the third sinologist, whose name is most closely related to Loulan. Dr. Albert Hermann, who lives in Charlottenburg, gave me an immediate and satisfactory answer without having to think about it. He already possessed many of the prerequisites necessary to carry out the task to the maximum possible extent. Thanks to his prolific research on the origins of Asia's ancient Silk Roads, he was already familiar with Loulan and the entirety of the ever-changing Luobu Desert, in which the city has been lost through many transformations.

Dr. Hermann not only accepted the task from Professor Conradi and gave us a narrative about the fate of Loulan City that ordinary people can understand, but also accepted the task from his predecessor (note: referring to Conradi). ) the excitement with which one begins work.

Now, this problem is solved - the history of Loulan is accessible to everyone. I am just a simple pilgrim on the ancient roads of Asia that have been traveled by countless pedestrians and camel caravans. Reading Herman's book now gives me a real pleasure. Just like when I was led by an accurate and reliable guide into the dark houses that have disappeared for more than ten centuries, he used his clear presentation method and his superior expertise to illuminate these houses with the torch of scholarship and research. At the same time, I felt as if my own memories of many years had come alive. In the minds of readers, he awakens the city that has been sleeping for hundreds of years, and makes its pulse beat fresh and vividly. He also places the city walls, houses, pagodas, streets and people in their place. It is located in the geographical environment and shows how this vast China's distant vassal outposts connect the East and the West.

I am convinced that every reader who is sensitive to culture and knowledge should study this book with the same emotions, just like I broke into the Loulan period under the guidance of the lucky star on March 28, 1900. The same thing you feel when you are in the middle of a house. It is possible that I am in this city and its surroundings like a king appearing in his kingdom, and in my day-dreams I see its long-dead inhabitants floating past me like ghosts in the underworld - —But everyone who reads Hermann may notice that the gates of oblivion are opened, see the walls rising from the ruins of collapsed temple towers, and hear the conversations of the people, where they discuss the matters of daily life. event, where the perpetual infestation of deserts and wilderness is discussed.

Finally, please allow me to say that I hope that Hermann's book will become as widely known as a popular read not only in Germany, but also in Sweden and other countries. Originally, I was planning to write a book about Lop Nur and its changes, as well as the changes that occurred in the delta of the lower reaches of the Tarim River in 1921. These changes made the direction of the waterway consistent with Loulan's prosperous era. For my book about Lop Nur, I think there is no better introductory book than Herman's work. The basis of his argumentation is historical and physical geography; my basis is entirely based on on-the-spot investigation. In this way, our research on the closely related issues of Loulan and Lop Nur can complement each other. The reader who is not prepared for Herman's historical discussion will not be able to follow my geographical account from beginning to end.

The discoveries made by my expeditions in the Robe Desert since 1928 have become the latest pulse in the life of this changing and uncertain river. But in Herman's book, which is about to be published, readers can hear the fluttering sounds of the past thousands of years.

April 11, 1931