Abstract: Examining the exchanges between Eastern and Western civilizations from a viewpoint of development and connection in the Silk Road study, Japanese scholars have proposed many helpful opinions such as “the Silk Road is a womb for world main cultures”, “Silk Road bears the seeking of doctrine”.They have emphasized the significance, role and value of civilization exchanges;they have explored the intersection between history and reality, and the links and interactions between different civilizations and regions;they have observed the evolution of everlasting exchanges that took place in oriental societies from an oriental historical perspective based on local materials.Japanese scholars' research on the Silk Road is extremely complex, with both relatively pure academic research and various efforts to serve practical policies.We should adopt a critical attitude to learn from the existing research achievements of the Japanese academia.We should not blindly imitate and worship them, nor should we adopt it in a Procrustean way.

Key words: the Silk Road, civilization exchanges, historical horizons, historical view of development