Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c6.s2.t1.4

v1.c6.s2.t1.4

Medical specialties that were prominent in ancient Indian medicine, *Kāyācikitsā*, *Kaumārabhṛtya*, *Śālākya* and *Viṣagārapraśamana* received great fillip with the transmission of the science of medicine. Indian ophthalmology eg was acknowledged for its sophistication. Wang Tao王 焘 (CE 670-755), in his famous medical compilation Waitai miyao 外台秘要 (Medical secrets of an official) included a work on ophthalmology that claimed an Indian origin, viz, Tianzhu jing lunyan 天竺經論眼 (Indian classic of discussion on eyes). Two more Chinese ophthalmic works with Indian connections namely Longshu (pusa) yanlun龍樹菩薩眼論 [Discourse of (Bodhisattva) Nāgārjuna on Eyes] of 9^th^ century CE and Longmu zong lun 龍木總論 [*Nāgārjuna's Comprehensive Treatise*] in late 11^th^ century or early 12^th^ century appeared soon after.