Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c10.s2.t1.6

v2.c10.s2.t1.6

**Connection with A *Sanskrit Grammar*** When he studied in Japan in the early 20^th century, Chen Duxiu came to know of revolutionary Zhang Taiyan, Liu Shipei, Su Manshu and the like. He went to Japan in the spring of 1907 and became a roommate of Su Manshu. Soon after, he founded ‘Asia Friendship Society’ together with Zhang Taiyan, Liu Shipei and Su Manshu with a purpose “to fight imperialism and regain independence for subjugated Asian nations.” Each with a large store of knowledge, they learned from each other to broaden their horizon and make rapid academic progress. From Zhang Taiyan and Su Manshu, Chen Duxiu learned much about Buddhism and India. In the summer of the same year, Su Manshu finished *A Sanskrit Grammar*, with the original English version furnished by Chen Duxiu. This book was translated from Volume I of Max Müller’s *A Sanskrit Grammar for Beginners* (1866). Su Manshu stated in the preface, “Henceforth, there will be communication between Chinese and Sanskrit.” Chen Duxiu composed a poem to praise him, “Start a millennium-old learning from today, and strive best to benefit people. Excellent writing once existed, and Siddham’s heavenly language disappeared. Living creatures are bound and black is hard to become white, and human nature is smeared with mud and horse does not neigh. I do not want to go with dreams, and see you deep in the snow mountain.” Here, ‘millennium-old learning’ means Sanskrit study, and ‘heavenly language’ refers to Sanskrit.