Hu Merchants

In ancient China, foreign merchants and Northwest ethnic minority traders were referred to as "Hu merchants". Among those who traded along the Silk Road, the Sogdian people from Central Asia made up a significant group. In the Tang Dynasty, the village of Conghua in Dunhuang County was established by these Sogdian people, and to the east of Shazhou City, a temple was dedicated to a Zoroastrian deity. From the Tang and Five Dynasties through the early Song Dynasty, or approximately from the 7th to the 10th centuries, the Sogdians were highly active in Dunhuang, running hotels and selling goods such as "Hu powder" (primarily lead carbonate, used in cosmetics or as a pigment), often reaping substantial profits.

A mural found in Cave 296 of the Northern Zhou period at the Mogao Caves themed at bridges there is a scene depicting a meeting between Hu and Han merchant caravans on a bridge, an illustration of a Buddhist text about public welfare projects such as building bridges, aimed at benefiting sentient beings. The bridge in the painting is flat and features railings on both sides. Two donkeys loaded with goods are crossing the bridge, followed by a Han merchant caravan on horseback, preparing to ascend. On the other side of the bridge, a Hu merchant is leading a camel, while another merchant drives two donkeys behind him. This scene is likely a true representation of the merchant caravans that traveled along the Silk Road at that time.

Murals depicting the merits of Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva in Cave 45 of the Mogao Caves from the High Tang period also features a scene of Hu merchants encountering bandits. The merchants portrayed in the painting exhibit prominent facial features typical of Sogdian, characterized by high noses, deep- set eyes, and full beards. While traveling through a valley, they are confronted by three robbers. The bandits are armed with long knives, ready to attack. Behind the six merchants are donkeys laden with goods, with a bundle of white silk and a red package placed on the ground. The Hu merchants are clasping their hands together and reciting the name of Avalokiteshvara to pray for help. This image not only depicts the dangers that could be encountered along the Silk Road but also indicates that silk was a primary commodity in Silk Road trade at the time, and that donkeys were a significant mode of transport along this route.

胡商

中國古代將域外和西北少數民族商人稱為“胡商”，來往于絲路進行貿易的胡商以中亞的粟特人居多。唐代敦煌縣從化鄉就是居住在敦煌的粟特人建立起來的，沙州城東還有祆神廟。在唐、五代、宋初的敦煌商業經濟活動中，粟特人非常活躍，他們經營酒店、販賣胡粉，往往獲利頗豐。

莫高窟北周第296窟《福田經變》中，在描繪利益眾生的公益事業之一的“安設橋梁”時，繪制了胡漢商隊過橋相遇的畫面。畫中橋梁平坦，兩側有欄桿，橋上有兩頭毛驢馱貨前行，后面跟隨正要上橋的騎馬的漢人商隊。橋的另一側，一胡商牽著駱駝等待過橋，后有一商人趕著兩頭毛驢。這幅畫面，應是當時絲綢之路上商隊的真實寫照。

莫高窟盛唐第45窟《觀音經變》中還繪有胡商遇盜圖。畫中商人顯現出高鼻深目、絡腮滿面的面部特征，是典型的西域胡商形象。這隊胡商在山谷行進過程中，遭遇了三個強盜。強盜們手持長刀，欲行劫盜。六位商人背后跟著馱負貨物的毛驢，地上放著一捆白色絲綢和一個紅色包袱。此時胡商均雙手合十，口誦觀音名號求救。這幅圖像既描繪了絲綢之路上可能遇到的危險，又反映出絲綢是當時絲路貿易的主要商品，也說明了毛驢曾是絲綢之路上進行運輸的主要畜力。