Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c10.s1.t8.4

v2.c10.s1.t8.4

the *Panchatantra* is also a collection of fables, the earliest text might have appeared in the 2^nd or 3^rd century, and the existing Sanskrit text was compiled in the 12^th century. The *Hitopadesa* was written on the basis of the *Panchatantra* from about 10^th-14^th century and has been separately disseminated in east India. The *Brihatkatha* is a rich and splendid collection of tales written in everyday language, and someone even compare it to the two epics. Its date of its creation is not known and may be very close to that of the *Panchatantra*. It was lost in the 11^th century, and now there are three adapted versions in India and Nepal, with *Kathasaritsagara* being the most popular. It is a Sanskrit text adapted in Kashmir in the 11^th century and only about 1/35 of the Brihatkatha. Popular Sanskrit tale collections also include *Vetālapañcaviṁśatika*, *Siṁhāsana Dvātriṁśikā* and *Sukasaptati*, which all put emphasis over moral teaching. Dravida in the south of India had its own folk literature long ago. For instance, there are “five major epics” and “five minor epics” written in Tamil and the ‘*Ramayana*’ has also been translated and adapted in Tamil. After the 13ᵗʰ century, local dialects rose and were used to translate and adapt Sanskrit works and to produce a prolific amount of their own works of folk literature. Besides, Muslims brought Arabian and Persian works into India and further enriched Indian folk literature.