Chinas
The Chinas, Cīna, or Chīnaḥ (
literature.Etymology
The origin of the
There are a number of other suggestions for the origin of the word. Some Chinese and Indian scholars argued for the state of
Hindu literature
Mahabharata
The Sanskrit epic work Mahabharata contains certain references to China, referring to its people as the China tribe.[4][5][6]
In the Mahabharata, the Chinas appear together with the
Bhishamaparva of Mahabharata also lists the Chinas with the
Shantiparvan of Mahabharata groups the Chinas with the tribes of the
Vanaparvan of the Mahabharata states that the territory of the Chinas can be reached by a land-route across the country of the Kiratas in the mountain regions of the north.
China is mentioned as one among the northern kingdoms in Mahabharata, Book 6, chapter 9: –Among the tribes of the north are the
Chinas were mentioned along with Chivukas and
Pahlavas and the
The Yanavas, the
China is mentioned in the travel-descriptions of the Pandavas. The passage below, describes these Chinas, to be located somewhere in the high Himalayas: Mahabharata book 3, chapter 176 (MBh 3.176): "Leaving the place called Badari (Badrinath in Uttarakhand) and crossing the difficult Himalayan regions, and leaving behind them, the countries of China, Tukhara, Darada and all the climes of Kulinda, rich in heaps of jewels, those warlike men, viz. the Pandavas, reached the capital of Suvahu, the king of Pulindas (Kiratas)."
Bhima mentions a "China king" Dhautamulaka, who caused the destruction of his own race [9](5,74). The name "Dhautamulaka" translates to "clean root", and might be a reference to the last Xia emperor Jie (1728–1675 BC).
"Deer skins from China" are mentioned at (5,86). King
Ramayana
Kiskindhakanda of
They sent tributaries to Ayodhya and were protector of Dharma in northern Asia from Siberia to modern China.The
Puranas
In the
Bhuvanakosha section of numerous
Buddhist literature
The Cinas also find reference in the
Other literature
The Arthashastra, believed to date between the 2nd century BCE and 3rd century CE,[16] refers to Chinese silk as "cinamsuka" (Chinese silk dress) and "cinapatta" (Chinese silk bundle).[17]
The Sanmoha Tantra speaks of the
The describes the downfall of the Chinas, as well as many foreign groups in India:
- "43. But in consequence of the omission of the sacred rites, and of their not consulting Brahmanas, the following tribes of Kshatriyas have gradually sunk in this world to the condition of Shudras;
- 44. (Viz.) the Paundrakas, the Chodas, the Khashas." [20]
Besides China and Parama-China, there is also a reference to Mahachina in the Manasollasa which text mentions the fabrics from Mahachina.[2] It is thus possible that China probably referred to western Tibet or Ladakh, Mahachina to Tibet proper, and Parama-China to Mainland China.
China
This word was transcribed into various forms including 支那 (Zhīnà), 芝那 (Zhīnà), 脂那 (Zhīnà) and 至那 (Zhìnà).
See also
- Sino-Indian relations
- Chinese in India
- Indians in China
- Hinduism in China
- Ahom people
References
- ISBN 8120619668.
- ^ a b Geographical Data in Early Puranas, 1972, p172, Dr M. R. Singh
- ^ Wade, Geoff, "The Polity of Yelang and the Origin of the Name 'China'", Sino-Platonic Papers, No. 188, May 2009.
- ^ Kisari Mohan Ganguli, The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa Translated into English Prose, 1883-1896.
- ISBN 978-0-19-005411-3.
- ^ Brockington (1998, p. 26)
- ^ MBH 6/9/65-66
- ^ MBH 12/65/13-15
- ^ "Mahabharata Udyoga Parva Chapter 74". en.krishnakosh.org. Retrieved 2021-10-23.
- ^ "Mahabharata Udyoga Parva Chapter 86". en.krishnakosh.org. Retrieved 2021-10-23.
- ^ The Ramayana of Valmiki: An Epic of Ancient India, Volume 4, Kiskindhakanda, p 151, Rosalind Lefeber
- ^ Ramayana (1.52-55) & Mahabharata (1.174.6-48)
- ^ Kalika Purana 20/40
- ^ ":ete desha Udichyastu
- Kambojashchaiva Dardashchaiva Barbarashcha Angaukikah || 47 ||
- Chinashchaiva Tusharashcha Pahlavadhayata narah || 48 ||
- — (Brahma Purana 27.44-53)"
- ^ Early East Iran, And The Atharvaveda, 1980, (Persica-9), p 106, Dr Michael Witzel.
- ISBN 978-0199891825. Retrieved 2016-02-20.
- ^ Tan Chung (1998). A Sino-Indian Perspective for India-China Understanding. Archived 2007-06-06 at the Wayback Machine
- ISBN 978-0195171464, pages 24-25
- ISBN 9788176501903
- ^ Manusmritti (Laws of Manu), X.43-44