Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c10.12

v2.c10.12

Even before 300 BCE, there was a legend of the Moon Rabbit in China which was once mentioned by the poet Qu Yuan (about 340-278 BCE) in the poem *Tian Wen*. Up to now, this legend is still popular among people. Meanwhile, a similar legend of the Moon Rabbit also existed in ancient India which can be found in the *Jataka Tales* (Jàtaka), a book created before 300 BCE. Some scholars hold that literary interaction between China and India began from then, but that is only a speculation and not a final conclusion. In fact, the literary interaction between India and China began after the introduction of Buddhism to China. As a growing number of Buddhist scriptures were being translated into Chinese, many Buddhist stories were introduced into China which began to influence Chinese literature. The transmission and influence of Indian Buddhist literature on China is almost synchronous with that of Indian Buddhism on China.