[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Historical geography](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.geography) › [The Ancient Geography of India. I. The Buddhist Period, including the Campaigns of Alexander, and the Travels of Hwen-Thsang](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.geography.cunningham-1871) › c4.61 # The Ancient Geography of India. I. The Buddhist Period, including the Campaigns of Alexander, and the Travels of Hwen-Thsang c4.61 The Ancient Geography of India. I. The Buddhist Period, including the Campaigns of Alexander, and the Travels of Hwen-Thsang c4.61 - **Language:** English ### [c4.61](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.geography.cunningham-1871.c4.61) Although the Chinese division of India into five great provinces is simpler than the well-known native arrangement of nine divisions, as described by Varâha-Mihira and the Purânas, yet there can be little doubt that they borrowed their system from the Hindus, who likened their native country to the lotus-flower, the middle being Central India, and the eight surrounding petals being the other divisions, which were named after the eight chief points of the compass.\* In the Chinese arrangement, the middle and the four primary divisions only are retained; and as this division is much simpler, and also more easily remembered, I will adopt it in the present description. - [Previous: c4.60](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.geography.cunningham-1871.c4.60) - [Next: c4.62](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.geography.cunningham-1871.c4.62) - [Up: c4](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.geography.cunningham-1871.c4) ## Linked texts (2) - [Bṛhatsaṃhitā](https://indike.org/pramana/in.astro.samhita.rsi.brhatsamhita) — Varāhamihira, Sanskrit - [Purāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana) — Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.geography.cunningham-1871.c4.61](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.geography.cunningham-1871.c4.61) · Pramāṇa