Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c5.s1.20

v1.c5.s1.20

In the Tang period, Indian states dispatched envoys and presented local products on many occasions. For example, in 619, the ruler of Kashmir dispatched envoys who presented many gifts including golden locks, crystal cups and jujube-like glass. In June 637, they again dispatched envoys bearing Buddhist relics (*sarira*) and superior quality horses. In the 16^th year of Zhenguan, they recorded as having "presented a special kind of mouse with a sharp mouth and red tail, which could eat snakes. If someone was bitten by a snake, the mouse would smell and urinate on the sore, and the sore would immediately heal." This was a reference to a mongoose, Nàkula in Sanskrit, commonly known as Naula). In the same year, Oddiyana (Swat Valley in Pakistan today) dispatched envoys to present camphor. Around the 20^th year of Zhenguan, Harsha Sīlāditya, king of Magadha, presented fire pearl, tulips and banyan plants. *Juan* 100 in the *Tang Huiyao* recorded all kinds of plants introduced from places in India, such as banyan, tulip, heliotrope, sow thistle and Hu celery. There were also records of gifts including all kinds of drugs, carrots and fine horses.