Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c6.s3.t2.7

v1.c6.s3.t2.7

Song Yingxing made his comment on this matter in his famous book Tiangongkaiwu published in Ming Dynasty, saying, “China knew nothing in ancient times about the fact that sugar could be made from sugarcane. It was Western monk Zou who imparted the technology to the local people when living in Suining during Dali Era (766 CE-779 CE) of Tang Dynasty. Sugarcanes are widely planted now in Sichuan and they are actually introduced from Western Regions gradually.” It is clearly indicated that the cane sugar has its origin in Western Regions including India. Another example, a Dunhuang fragment found in the early 20th century, is still more concrete. It is about the sugar-making process written in Chinese and a kind of high quality cane sugar called Shageling is mentioned here. According to Prof Ji Xianlin, this curious word is the transliteration of Sanskrit ÷arkarà meaning granulated sugar. This is good evidence that Indian sugar making technology spread widely and had a remarkable influence in ancient China.