After the Chinese took control of Dunhaung and drove out the Xiongnu, it became major town and trade hub, as it split the silk road into the northern and southern routes, and all convoys going east to west had to eventually pass from it, or vice versa for convoys coming from west to east which would meet arrive at Dunhaung from either routes. Ofcourse, trade meant merchants, and merchants traveled from distant lands, carrying different beliefs and traditions. Thus, Daunhuang soon became a center for different practices and religions of the time. By the early fifth century, a cliff near the town became home to many temples, excavated as temples.
During the next centuries, Daunhaung changed hands frequently and it experienced many different rulers, with them many different beliefs and practices, which are evident in the different arts in the caves. Different rulers also meant different socio-political situations for its inhabitants. This made Danhaung a diverse community, with different spoken languages and arts.
The officials and aristocracy developed like their neighbors a fondness for steppe riding and falconry. They would spend their time on horses’ back with their hunting dogs and falcons on their arms. They also spent their time drinking wine either from distant lands of now Iran or local wines, which they developed after merchants and travelers, brought with them grape seeds from the west. Drinking gave way to a certain life styles including games and singing, or probably better referred to as partying. It even seemed that drinking took its toll on the social fabrics of the community and lead to social corruptness and misbehaviors. Its really interesting to imagine how similar they could have been to us, and our modern society!!!! Apology letters for being too drunk and having acted out seems to have been very popular among them! Just as it is now with modern ways o communication which carry the same essence as the apology letters. It seems that they even had social clubs for different purposes and gatherings. Like any religious community, most had close relations with their Buddhist priest and monastery. There is also little known of the children at Daunhuang, but there are some detailes explaining the way they dressed, daughters wore same dresses as their mothers, except with different colors robes and ribbons.
An interesting part of everyday life on the Silk Road and at Daunhuang seems to be music and dancing. It seems that music was a big part of everyday life of individuals and that there were various musical instruments which invited dancing to social gatherings or just everyday life. Makes you wonder that they were not much different than we are today!!! Except ofcourse the obvious differences in cultural activities, bus as human beings, it seems that our everyday lives, in essence is not much different, may be more modern and more activities now… but all together we had the same ideas!!!
You pose a good point when you referred to the significance of the music and how the culture back then, although different, was much the same. If we consider life today, we can realize that music and dancing and the arts are really an essential part! It is interesting to learn, like you said, that our cultures could be so similar in that respect.
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