Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c7.62

v1.c7.62

In the early 20th century CE, exchanges between the two countries gradually increased. Buddhism was still the common bond. In 1940, China entered the period of its War of Resistance. Master Taixu led a group on a visit to Southeast Asia and he publicly advocated resistance to Japan. On January 11, 1940, Taixu went to Kolkata, India, via Myanmar. After that he went to the Buddhist holy places and paid his respects. He received a warm welcome from Indians everywhere. In every place in India, Taixu gave speeches and lectures. He praised the influence of Indian Buddhism on Chinese Buddhism and he encouraged the increase of cultural exchanges between the two countries. He said: “In ancient China, Indian culture entered through Buddhist relations but during the Zhou and Qin in China the doctrines of Confucius, Mozi, Laozi, and Zhuangzi were hardly transmitted to India. Recently, the Department of Chinese at the Visva-Bharati has undertaken the task to import Chinese science and culture to India. It would on the other hand also introduce modern Indian culture to China. In this way, Chinese culture can become a mutual confluence. China will have a good understanding of ancient Indian culture. But, because of its isolation for about a thousand years, China still needs a better understanding and dissemination of modern Indian culture. India’s ancient Buddhism has spread to every country but unlike other nations where it is one-sided, in China it is most complete. Especially the greater vehicle developed by Longshu (Nāgārjuna) and Wuzhuo (Asaṅga) really has to be transmitted again to India.”