Building peace in the minds of men and women

While all efforts have been made to present an accurate account of the status of the Silk Roads in the countries covered, some part of the information provided and the analyses thereof are those of the contributors, and does not imply the expression of any opinion on the part of UNESCO concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The contributors are responsible for the choice and representation of the facts contained in this portal and for the opinions expressed therein, which are not necessarily those of UNESCO and do not commit the Organization.

Democratic People's Republic of Korea

Temples, palaces, tombs and other ruins marked the route of the Silk Roads as it reached its eastern terminus in the Korean peninsula. Some local resources, such as the discovery of pottery decorated with silkworms, suggest that silkworm breeding may have been practiced in the Korean Peninsula 5,000 years ago.

Additionally, there is evidence that goods from the region, including ginseng, furs, and skins, flowed westwards along these routes towards China and Central Asia during the Koguryo era (3^rd – 7^th century CE).

The surrounding regions considered the silks of the Koguryo and Koryo dynasties to be amongst the finest available. They were exported from Kaegyong, the capital of the Koryo dynasty at the time, through Huangzhou and Beijing or directly to the Indian subcontinent and the eastern Mediterranean regions.

In Samarkand, Uzbekistan, a fresco on one of the palace walls depicts two Koguryo envoys seeking alliances in Central Asia. At the same time, Koguryo (Baekje) culture was making a strong impact on Japan where art and architecture clearly influence by Korea such as the Takamatsuzuka mural, Fuzinoki tombs and Asuka temple were produced.