Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c10.23

v2.c10.23

**6^th^-10^th^ Century CE** During this period, it was almost impossible to find any examples of Indian literature being influenced by Chinese literature, but Indian literature, Indian Buddhist literature in particular, produced a significant impact on Chinese literature. Such influence had three characteristics: firstly, with the development of Chinese Buddhism, Buddhist principles, concepts, categories, vocabularies and so on sourced from Indian Buddhism penetrated through all aspects of Chinese literature. Especially in the field of poetry, excellent works reflecting Buddhist topics and promoting Buddhist concepts emerged, and even Chinese poetry theories were also seriously impacted. Secondly, Buddhist scriptures, stories, figures and sites entered Chinese literary works and were of vital importance to legends in the Tang period. Thirdly, the extensive spread of Buddhism influenced folk literature in the Tang period, and hastened the birth of an original literature genre called “Bianwen” (transformation texts).