Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c6.s2.t4.57

v1.c6.s2.t4.57

There are some prescriptions in *Siddhasàra*, which could also be found in *The Bower Manuscript*, a medical writing in the 6^th^ century unearthed in Kuqa, Xinjiang province of China, in *Jāvaka-pustaka*, a bilingual canon of medicine in both Sanskrit and Khotanese unearthed at the same time with the Dunhuang cave for preserving Buddhist *sutras* and in *Prescriptions of Miscellaneous Diseases* written in Uighur script of Turpan and *rGyud-bzhi* which had been passed down through generations as well as in some Chinese ancient medical writings uncovered in Serindia. And even the Ghent Azalea Leaf Powder in Kharoùñhì, one of the earliest fragmentary prescriptions known currently, can also be seen in *Siddhasàra*. Just like the *Bower Manuscript*, *Siddhasàra* has also been transmitted throughout the culture circle around Serindia in the ethnic minorities' language and the Ghent Azalea Leaf Powder is just a good example. *Siddhasàra*, along with many other Indian medical masterpieces, has greatly enriched medical science of the Middle Ancient Times across Serindia and meanwhile, polished it with the distinct characteristics of Indian medical science. *The Indian Canon of Medicine in Sanskrit-Siddhasàra* (Zhonghua Book Company, 2002) written by Chen Ming, firstly translated *Siddhasàra* into Chinese, thus offering a window for people to explore and study ancient medical history of India.