Ancient Civilizational Ties between India and China
The civilizational ties between India and China date back over two millennia. As two great ancient cultures, they were connected through the bustling trade routes, peaceful transmission of spiritual ideas as well as scholarship in sciences and philosophy.
Buddhism Enters China
Buddhism is believed to have entered China over 2,000 years ago, spreading from India along major trade routes like the Silk Road connecting Xi'an to Central Asia and the Indian subcontinent. Chinese monks like Faxian and Xuanzang travelled extensively in India during the 5th to 7th centuries CE, bringing back thousands of Sanskrit Buddhist scriptures for translation. By the Tang dynasty, Buddhism had emerged as the dominant faith influencing religious life, arts and culture across China for over a millennium. The world's oldest printed book - the Diamond Sutra, dates back to 868 CE showing how Indian Buddhist ideas catalyzed innovations in movable type printing.
Ideas in Medicine, Maths and Astronomy
In addition to Buddhism, many ideas were exchanged between scholars of the two great civilizations across disciplines like medicine, mathematics, astronomy, architecture and art. The Chinese were introduced to pioneering Indian concepts like the decimal number system, algebra theorems, trigonometric formulae via treatises and traveller accounts. Chinese medicine adopted some early Ayurvedic practices involving herbal remedies and dietary principles. Architectural marvels of the Ajanta and Ellora caves were influences behind spectacular rock-cut shrines in China.
Connecting Ancient Kingdoms
The Southern Silk Road stretching from China's Yunnan province to Bengal facilitated robust trade and connections between ancient kingdoms. Missions like diplomat Wang Xuance solidified ties between regional rulers that helped spread Indian astronomy, visual arts and metalwork designs among the nobility and artisan classes in China. Complex handicrafts like silk embroidery, lacquerware and glazed porcelain were transmitted to kingdoms in India and Southeast Asia via merchant exchanges.
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