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Indian Literature Abroad (In China) II

By Prabhat Kumar Mukherji

Vol. 2 · No. 1March - 1926pp. 159–176English
Buddhist Text Translations

Summary

Mukherji continues his survey of the transmission of Indian literature to China. The article catalogues Buddhist sutras, treatises on logic, medicine and mathematics that were translated by Chinese monks like Xuanzang and Kumārajīva. Mukherji discusses how these translations influenced the development of Chinese philosophy and literary forms, such as chán (Zen) poetry. He highlights the activities of pilgrim‑scholars who studied in Nalanda and returned with texts and relics. The essay also notes that secular works, including fables of the Pañcatantra and romances, were rendered into Chinese and spawned indigenous adaptations. Mukherji emphasises the reciprocity of cultural exchange: while India enriched China’s intellectual life, Chinese commentaries helped preserve lost Indian originals.

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Conclusion

The article concludes that the history of Sino‑Indian literary contact is one of mutual indebtedness. Mukherji hopes that further research into catalogues and inscriptions will uncover more about this fertile period.

Key passages

Chosen by AI from the article's text. Each one is checked word for word against the text before it is shown.

  • “What indeed must have been the cogent influence of that faith (Buddhism) which could impel several of its ministers to undertake, and one to carry through for the Faith’s sake, a supremely dangerous expedition, in the glow of which the journeys of St. Paul melt into insignificance ?”
  • “The publication of Fa-hsien’s travels caused a tremendous stir in the hearts of young and devoted Buddhists, and hundréds of Chinese. left their home and followed Fa-hsien’s footsteps 10 visit the land of the Blessed One, and to procure the sacred Buddhist books and images.”
  • ““Kumairajiva is one of the greatest translators of Chinese Buddhism, though his mother-tongue was certainly neither Sanskrit nor Chinese”,”

Works cited in this article

  1. The Travels of Fa-hsien (Cambridge, 1923)
  2. Ekottaragame in 50 fasciculi of fifty-two chapters
  3. Anesaki, E.R.E., vol. 8, Missions (Buddhist)
  4. Edkins' Chinese Buddhism
  5. Levi, *Samyuktigama Sanskrit’ Toung Pout 1904, p. 297

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Article order

In this issue

Vol. 2 · No. 1
1–15A Short History of CeylonWilhelm Geiger16–27Stupa and TombB. M. Barua27–38Rasātala or the Under‑WorldNandu Lal Dey38–47The Trade of India (from the earliest period up to the 2nd century A.D.)P. T. Srinivas Iyengar47–52SalihotraGirindranath Mukherji53–67Some old Bengali Books and Periodicals in the British MuseumSushil Kumar De67–76Patañjali as he reveals himself in the MahābhāṣyaPrabhat Chandra Chakravarti77–86A Copper‑plate Grant of Viśvarūpa Sena of BengalHariprasad G. Shastri89–128Inscriptional Excursions in Respect of Asoka EdictsB. M. Barua129–146Principles of Hindu Taxation – Canons of TaxationJ. N. C. Ganguly146–157Hindu Politics in Italian – MachiavellismBenoy Kumar Sarkar157–158Two Seals from CutchD. B. Diskalkar159–176Indian Literature Abroad (In China) IIPrabhat Kumar MukherjiCurrent article177–180The date of Kaniska and Mr. KimuraSten Konow180–182A Note on Excavation‑work by Medieval BengaleesRamesh Basu183–186Perumal's ApostacyK. Rama Pisharoti186–188A Note on the Evidence of Pāṇini on Vāsudeva‑worshipK. G. Subrahmanyam188–191Progress of Archaeological Research in MysoreC. S. Srinivasachari192–195The Cerebralization of the Dental Nasal in PāliVidhushekhara Bhattacharya195–198Calcutta Imperial Library198–203Ownership of the Soil in Ancient India : The evidence of certain texts discussedU. N. Ghoshal204–214ReviewsNalinaksha Dutt, U. N. Ghoshal, D. Bhattacharya, Panchanan Mitra, Subimal Chandra Datta215–219Select Contents of Oriental Journals

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