Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c13.s3.t2.67

v2.c13.s3.t2.67

Historically, Kàmarupa had been in close contact with China. The eminent Chinese monk, Xuanzang and the Tang envoy, Wang Xuance were both warmly received here. There is a detailed description of it in Xuanzang’s account. In it, he said, “Kàmarupa covered an area of thousands of *li* and the capital covered more than 30 *li*. The fields there were full of water and people sowed and reaped at the right time. There were many valuable trees, rivers and lakes crisscrossed the city. The air was gentle and pleasant and the people’s customs were simple. People were short and black and they believed in some gods rather than Buddhism.” There were also references to Kamarupa in *juan* 198 of the *Jiu Tang Shu* (*The Old Tang History*). It said: “There are tens of countries in ancient India, and their customs and local products are similar. There is a country called Jiamolu. There, the custom was to open the east door to face the sun. When Wang Xuance arrived there, the ruler despatched envoys to offer as tribute rare treasures and exotic things and maps, because he had received (from China) a statue of Lao-tzu and the (scripture) *Dao De Jing*.”