Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c6.s3.t2.4

v1.c6.s3.t2.4

In China, the cane sugar-making seemed to begin at some time between the Three Kingdoms (220 CE-280 CE) and the Tang Dynasty (618 CE-907 CE), while the Northern and Southern Dynasties merits special attention. Being left behind in technology Chinese decided to learn from their neighbours. During the reign of Tang Taizong (598 CE- 649 CE), he sent envoys to India to get the sugar-making skill. It is recorded in vol. 221 of New Annals of Tang Dynasty that “the king of Magadha, a former vassal state of Central India Kingdom, lived in the city of Pàñaliputra which was situated at the south bank of Gaïgà. In the 21st year of Zhenguan Era (627 CE-649 CE), a diplomatic mission was sent by him to the royal court of the Devaputra (Tang Taizong) with as a present the palà÷a(?), a sort of tree like white poplar. And Taizong also sent a mission later on with the duty to get the sugar extracting technology.”