China's oldest silk manuscripts come to life in new documentary series

The brand-new cultural documentary series "The Legend of Silk Manuscripts" – co-produced by China Media Group (CMG) and the National Cultural Heritage Administration – premiered on April 23. The show has been aired on CMG's CCTV-1, and is available on the group's streaming service Yangshipin and other new media platforms.

This large-scale production marks the first time that China's ancient silk manuscripts – texts written on silk – have been explored as a central theme.

"The Legend of Silk Manuscripts" draws on the latest archaeological discoveries and brings these relics to life. The series showcases the Chu silk manuscripts and silk paintings unearthed in Changsha, Hunan Province, the famed Han Dynasty silk texts (which are over 2,000 years old) from the Mawangdui tombs, and silk letters from the postal relay station in Dunhuang, Gansu Province.

Through these rare finds and rich historical and scholarly sources, the program offers fresh interpretations, blending storytelling and innovation to unveil the profound wisdom and cultural spirit embedded in the manuscripts.