Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c13.s3.t2.159

v2.c13.s3.t2.159

The famous ancient Indian epic, the *Mahabharata*, mentions that the King of Kamarupa (one of the ancient names for Assam) fought on the side of the Kauravas using Kirata and Chinese soldiers (*sa kirtaisca cinaisca vritah pragyotisobhavat*). During the Tang Dynasty, the great Chinese Buddhist scholar and pilgrim Xuanzang visited Kamarupa and mentioned the Assam-Burma route to China in his 7th century work. During the same period, noted geographer Jia Dan also referred to two routes between southwestern China and northeastern India. Apart from the routes via Burma, regular trade was also conducted from Tibet via Nepal and Bhutan to Assam. The main items of trade that moved along these routes included tea, salt, spices, cotton, silk, copper, lead, tin, jade, precious stones, shell, elephant tusks, horses, gold, silver and opium.