Chinese‑Indian Contacts prior to the Latter Half of the first century
Summary
Professor B.M. Barua’s paper reviews early interactions between China and India prior to the first century CE by examining Indian, Greco‑Roman and Chinese sources. He summarises Indian myths of a North‑western land called Cina and notes that the Arthaśāstra refers to the “cinapatha” trade route to China. Greek writers such as Strabo report that Chinese goods reached India through intermediary trade in Bactria. Turning to Chinese records, Barua analyses Han‑era texts that mention “Shendu” (India) and “Daxia” (Bactria) and suggests that Chinese knowledge of India came through the Yuezhi and the steppes. The article argues that direct diplomatic contact between China and India is not attested before the mission of Zhang Qian (second century BCE) and that even after this, exchanges were limited. Chinese silk reached India via Central Asia, while Indian cotton and spices moved northwards through caravan routes. The author concludes that although legends and incidental references indicate awareness, there is little evidence of substantive cultural or political interaction before the late first century BCE. The paper thus calls for caution in assuming early Sino‑Indian contacts and emphasises the importance of Central Asian intermediaries in ancient trade.
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Conclusion
By analysing mythological references and Han‑era Chinese texts, the paper demonstrates that India and China had only indirect awareness of each other before the first century BCE. Indian and Greek sources describe trade routes and commodities but no diplomatic missions. Chinese knowledge of India came via Central Asian intermediaries such as the Yuezhi and Bactria, and goods exchanged were largely luxury items like silk and spices. The author concludes that substantive contacts developed only after the late first century BCE and urges scholars not to overstate the antiquity of Sino‑Indian relations.