The cultural relations between India and China

[KALKI]

The cultural relations between India and China can be traced back to very early times. There are numerous references to China in Sanskrit texts, but their chronology is sketchy. The Mahabharata refers to China several times, including a reference to presents brought by the Chinese at the Rajasuya Yajna of the Pandavas; also, the Arthasastra (treatise on statecraft, economic policy and military strategy) and the Manusmriti (hindu law book) mention China. The genealogies of China and Tartary declare themselves to be the descendents of "Awar," son of the Hindu King "Pururawa.

According to French art historian, Rene Grousset, the name China comes from "an ancient" Sanskrit name for the regions to the east, and not, as often supposed, from the name of the state of Ch'in," the first dynasty established by Shih Huang Ti in 221 B.C. Scholars have pointed out that the Chinese word for lion, shih, used long before the Chin dynasty, was derived from the Sanskrit word, simha, and that the Greek word for China, Tzinista, used by some later writers, appears to be derivative of the Sanskrit Chinasthana.

The Chinese literature of the third century is full of geographic and mythological elements derived from India. "I see no reason to doubt," comments Arthur Waley in his book, The Way and its Power, "that the 'holy mountain-men' (sheng-hsien) described by Lieh Tzu are Indian rishi; and when we read in Chuang Tzu of certain Taoists who practiced movements very similar to the asanas of Hindu yoga, it is at least a possibility that some knowledge of the yoga technique which these rishi used had also drifted into China."

The code of Manu, India's law book, states that Dravidas, Yavanas (Greeks)*, Sakas (Scythians), Pahlavas (Persians)**, Kambojas (Tibetans, Siamese, Burmese), and Sinas (Chinese), are sprung from Kshatriyas - the second highest caste who forgot their religion and went astray(left India and settled outside).

* "Yona" is a Pali word used in ancient India to designate Greek speakers. Its equivalent in Sanskrit, Telugu and Tamil is the word "Yavana". "Yona" and Yavana are both transliterations of the Greek word for "Ionians" (Homer Iaones, older *Iawones), who were probably the first Greeks. In Telugu another word "Yavanika", means drama stage, an invention brought by Hellenistic people. "Yunani", likewise, means medicine from Greeks.

** Zoroaster, the Prophet of the Ancient Persians, was born from the emigrants from India had settled in Persia long enough to have become a separate nation. The Rg-Veda of India mentions Zoroaster as 'Jarutha' who is opposed by Vasistha, and in the Zend Avesta Vasistha is named Vahishtha. Bhavisya Purana [chapters 139-140] also gives an extensive account of the background of Maga Jarasabda [Zoroaster].