We are delighted to host the first of two guest blogs on Sir Marc Aurel Stein, the Hungarian-born, British archaeologist largely credited with the rediscovery of The Silk Road – an ancient network of trade routes across Central Asia which connected the East and West – following three expeditions he made to the far western regions of China in 1900, 1906 and 1913.
The author, Dr Li Changlu (Beijing International Studies University), is a visiting scholarat HAPP for 2024/25.
Sir Aurel Stein’s caravan marching over high dunes in Taklamakan Desert, south of Tarim Basin. From On ancient Central-Asian tracks : brief narrative of three expeditions in innermost Asia and northwestern China by Sir Aurel Stein. Edited and introduced by Jeannette Mirsky (1964). Pg. 168
The McClay Library’s Special Collections and Archives holds a number of volumes of rich importance to the study of the archaeology, geography and anthropology of Central Asia and the western region of China. In one such text, in Old routes of Western Īrān: narrative of an archaeological journey, we can find a record of the last and longest four journeys which the author undertook during the years 1932 – 1936 through an extensive belt of southern and western Iran, as well as tracing the old route which had seen Alexander the Great, after overcoming serious difficulties, force his passage through the ‘Persian Gate’ towards Persepolis, the great capital of Achaemenid Empire.[1]On Alexander’s track to the Indus, records an expedition to survey the route of Alexander the Great’s invasion of India in 326 BC. The author of the book also documents the archaeological remains showing civilization of Hellenistic and Buddhist art.[2]Brief Narrative of Three Expeditions in Innermost Asia and Northwestern China recounts the discovery and exploration of, as well as a detailed description of the Silk Road. The author discovered the military measures the Tang Dynasty took to safeguard it against the Western Barbarians and protect their trade-relations with the far-away Western World.[3] The academic achievements demonstrated in this volume, and in many others, were those of a Hungarian-born British archaeologist, Marc Aurel Stein.
Left: On Alexander’s track to the Indus : personal narrative of exploration s on the north-west frontier of India, carried out under the orders of H. M. Indian government by Sir Aurel Stein (1929). Pg. 101, Illustrations 65 and 66 Centre: On ancient Central-Asian tracks : brief narrative of three expeditions in innermost Asia and northwestern China by Sir Aurel Stein. Edited and introduced by Jeannette Mirsky (1964). Pg. 168 Right: On Alexander’s track to the Indus : personal narrative of exploration s on the north-west frontier of India, carried out under the orders of H. M. Indian government by Sir Aurel Stein. (1929) Pg. 78, Illustrations 40 and 41
Marc Aurel Stein (26 November 1862, Budapest, Hungary – 26 October 1943, Kabul, Afganistan) was a Hungarian–British archaeologist and geographer. He traveled and researched in Central Asia and made it to the western regions of China on four recorded occasions: in 1900-1901, 1906-1908, 1913-1916 and 1930-1931. Marc Aurel Stein’s collection of books, manuscripts, and several volumes on his discoveries lift the veil from the art, literature, geography, and social customs of Central Asia and the western part of China. However, his methods of gaining antiques in Dunhuang were criticized by the Chinese.[4]
A scholar from the Eastern world, who researches Hungarian history and culture, wouldn’t miss the chance to talk about stories about Hungarian travelers in Asia from the late 19th century to the beginning of the 20th century. From the perspective of Chinese scholarship, Peking University researchers were stimulated by Western scholars, such as Marc Aurel Stein, who intervened earlier in the study of Northwest China from the early years of the Republic of China to 1931. [5]
On Alexander’s track to the Indus : personal narrative of explorations on the north-west frontier of India, carried out under the orders of H. M. Indian government by Sir Aurel Stein (1929). Pg. 82, Illustrations 42 and 43
Why did Aurel Stein come from a Jewish family, but was baptized as a Protestant?
When Aurel Stein was born into a Jewish family, both his siblings were already over 18 years old. The newborn received much love from his older parents Nathan and Anna Hirschler Stein. His uncle Prof. Ignaz Hirschler Stein and his brother Ernst Eduard Stein also played an important role during Aurel’s youth. Aurel’s father treated Aurel with the most tender emotion and fine hope as he always said to his younger son “My fine brave boy”[6]. Nathan and Anna Stein hoped their sons would be accepted in the high society of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, so had baptized Ernst and Aurel Stein in the Protestant faith.[7] This is because it was not until 1867 Austro-Hungarian Jews gained political freedom, and legal recognition came even later, in 1896.[8]
Notwithstanding, Aurel Stein was helped, influenced and inspired by a variety of Jewish people. His uncle, Prof. Ignaz proved a good example with his own experience of endurance and academic commitment, for example, he trained students in a hospital for poor children and organized associations and groups to secure civil rights for Jews in the Austro-Hungarian Empire.[9] From the letters between Ignaz and Aurel we know that Aurel received the support of his uncle’s Jewish friends, the Arabist Ignaz Goldziher, and the traveler and orientalist, Arminius Vámbéry. [10]
How did Stein’s education and living experience shape his idea of doing research in a faraway world?
Before Aurel Stein started his postgraduate studies in Germany, his father had already retired, and his brother Ernst financed his studies abroad.[11] Ernst was the one who continually cared about Aurel’s life and career. When Aurel finally found his path into a research career, just after he finished the first expedition into China, in June 1901, Ernst felt relaxed and no longer worried about his younger brother’s financial and intellectual future.[12]
In 1883, Aurel Stein received a PhD from Tübingen University majoring in Sanskrit and Persian. At that time, he was just 21 years old. In 1884, Aurel went to England with a grant from the Hungarian government for a postdoctoral study in oriental languages and archaeology at the universities of Oxford, Cambridge and London.[13]
On ancient Central-Asian tracks : brief narrative of three expeditions in innermost Asia and northwestern China by Sir Aurel Stein. Edited and introduced by Jeannette Mirsky (1964). Pg. 168
Later he started an academic career in India. From 1888 onwards, his formal positions were as registrar of Punjab University, principal of the Oriental College, Lahore, and principal of the Calcutta Madrasah. This work in India was but the starting point of his career. Soon his attention turned to the exploration of Central Asia, the Middle East, India, and China with the support from the government of India, the government of Punjab and Bengal, as well as the British Museum.[14]We know that Aurel Stein spent 10 hours a day writing the reports for each of his many expeditions.[15]
During his time in secondary school, Alexander the Great became Aurel’s hero. Alexander the Great’s glorious feats inspired Aurel’s enthusiasm for Greek history at first and then made him interested in the history and culture of Persia and India. When Aurel studied at the universities, he was then inspired by two great travelers,[16] who were born centuries before, the first one was Xuan Zang(玄奘) , [17] and the other was Marco Polo. [18] Stein’s growing interest in China was also influenced by Lóczy Lajos, who was a Hungarian geologist and explorer and visited Dunhuang in 1879.[19]
Left: On Alexander’s track to the Indus : personal narrative of exploration s on the north-west frontier of India, carried out under the orders of H. M. Indian government by Sir Aurel Stein. (1929) Title Page Right: Old routes of Western Īrān : narrative of an archaeological journey carried out and recorded by Sir Aurel Stein. Antiquities examined, described, and illustrated with the assistance of Fred H. Andrews (1940). Pg. 327, Illustrations 98 and 99
What collections do we have about Aurel Stein at QUB?
In total, there are nine monographs written by Aurel Stein in the collections of The McClay Library of QUB:
Preliminary report on a journey of archaeological and topographical exploration in Chinese Turkestan (1901)
Ancient Khotan: detailed report of archaeological explorations in Chinese Turkestan (1907)
Note on Maps Illustrating Dr. Stein’s Explorations in Chinese Turkestan and Kansu (1911) Ruins of desert Cathay (1912)
Serindia: detailed report of explorations in Central Asia and westernmost China carried out and described under the orders of H. M. Indian government (1921)
Innermost Asia: detailed report of explorations in Central Asia, Kan-su and eastern Iran, carried out and described under the orders of H.M. Indian government (1928)
On Alexander’s track to the Indus: personal narrative of explorations on the north-west frontier of India, carried out under the orders of H. M. Indian government (1929)
Old routes of Western Īrān: narrative of an archaeological journey (1940)
On ancient Central-Asian tracks: brief narrative of three expeditions in innermost Asia and northwestern China (1964).
A couple of edited volumes including an article and various maps drafted by Aurel Stein go under the title:
Memoir on maps of Chinese Turkistan and Kansu: from the surveys made during Sir Aurel Stein’s explorations, 1900-1, 1906-8, 1913-5 (1923)
Sir Aurel Stein’s Limes report: the full text of M.A. Stein’s unpublished Limes report (1985)
All the above academic works show the discovery and achievement of Aurel’s travel and research in Central Asia and the western regions of China. Besides these, at the Special Collections & Archives (SCA) one can find the biography of Aurel Stein by Jeanette Mirsky.[20]
Changlu Li, Beijing International Studies University, project name ‘Hungarian core cultural trade research’, project number ‘KYZX23A002’.
[1] Sir Aurel Stein, Fred H (Fred Henry) Andrews, Old routes of Western Īrān: narrative of an archaeological journey (London: Macmillan and co., ltd, 1940), vii-viii.
[2] M. Aurel Stein, On Alexander’s track to the Indus: personal narrative of explorations on the north-west frontier of India, carried out under the orders of H. M. Indian government (London: Macmillan, 1929).
[3] Alexander Bennigsen, ” On Ancient Central-Asian Tracks: Brief Narrative of Three Expeditions in Innermost Asia and Northwestern China by Aurel Stein and Jeannette Mirsky,” The Journal of Asian Studies35, no. 2 (1976): 339.
[4] 樊锦诗:《千年莫高窟》，《传记文学》2021年第5期，第19-20页。（Fan Jinshi, The thousand year Mogao Grottoes）
[5] http://www.ihss.pku.edu.cn/templates/yf_xz/index.aspx?nodeid=122&page=ContentPage&contentid=1018(【北大文研论坛79】丝路研究与北大人：回顾与展望Peking University Literary Research Forum 79-Silk Road Research and Peking University People: Review and Outlook，2024.09.16)
[6] Jeanette Mirsky, Sir Aurel Stein (Chicago; London: University of Chicago Press, 1977), 9.
[17] Xuan Zang was a 7th-century Chinese Buddhist monk, scholar, traveler, and translator, who was born on 6th April 602, and died on 5th February 664.
[18] Marco Polo was a Venetian merchant, explorer and writer who travelled through Asia along the Silk Road between 1271 and 1295. Marco Polo was born in 1254, and died on 8th January 1324.
[19] M. Aurel Stein, Serindia: detailed report of explorations in Central Asia and westernmost China carried out and described under the orders of H. M. Indian government (1921)(Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1921), xix.
