Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c7.s10.t5.2

v1.c7.s10.t5.2

There are 15 types of existing Brahmana; they are all attached to the Vedas. Among which the most important ones are: *Aitareya Brahmana* and *Kausītāki Brahmana* attached to *Rig Veda*; *Pañcavimśa Brahmana*, *Sadvimsa Brahmana* and *Jaiminiya Brahmana* attached to *Sama Veda*; *Satapatha Brahmana*, *Caraka-Katha Brahmana* and *Taittiriya Brahmana* attached to *Yajur Veda*; and *Gopatha Brahmana* attached to *Arharva Veda* and so on. Brahmana were passed on from generation to generation by priests of different schools in accordance with the master-apprentice relationship, as during the teaching, there formed different schools. Brahmana’s basic principle is to emphasize the role of ritual and the position of priest, and provides the theoretical basis for Brahmanism which is guided by sacrifice. From the viewpoint of academic value, Brahmana is the oldest and most valuable information for studying ancient Brahmanism religious rituals and social development status, through the provisions of these rituals, the construction details of sacrificial altar, and the methods to decide sacrificial date, we can learn the status of material production of that time, as well as the development level of astronomy, mathematics, calendar and other natural sciences.