Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c10.s3.t11.9

v2.c10.s3.t11.9

In addition to a worldwide influence, the *Panchatantra* also has a considerable influence in China. Many of its stories are similar to those in the *Jataka*, which were already translated into Chinese in the 2ⁿᵈ or 3ʳᵈ century CE or even earlier, and so, are not foreign to ancient Chinese. Moreover, some of its stories are told in Tibet, Xinjiang Yunnan and Guangxi. Being translated into Mongolian long ago, it is also well-known in Inner Mongolia. In 1930, Xu Dishan gave a brief introduction of the Panchatantra and stories in it in his book “Indian Literature”. In 1959, Ji Xianlin translated the complete Panchatantra, and in the preface and the postscript of the 1979 reprint, he introduced in details its compilation and influence in China. A quite detailed account was also provided by Jin Kemu in *A History of Sanskrit Literature* (1964) and by Huang Baosheng in *Ancient Indian Literature* (1988). In modern times, Chinese scholars on comparative literature and folk literature often use the stories of the *Panchatantra* for comparative study.