Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c5.s2.t12.6

v1.c5.s2.t12.6

Chinese silk was known and prized in India since early times, quite possibly as early as the 5th century BCE. The term *cinamsuka*, referring to silk cloth from China, was mentioned in the *Brhadkalpabhasya* and in the famous Indian epic *Mahabharata*. Another version, probably with a design, was known as *uchitra cinamsuka*. The term *cinampatta* was also known in this period. Chinese silk flags (*cinamsukamketo*) are also mentioned in the Sanskrit play *Sakuntala* by Kalidasa. A Chinese type upper garment used by Indian royalty in the early years of this era was known as *cinamcolaka*. Chinese silk was not only in demand within India but from India it was shipped further west to Arabia and Rome as testified to in the Greek work *The Periplus of the Erythraean Sea*. Chinese silk came to India both via the Central Asian route and also very likely from southwest China via Assam.