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Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c15.t1: India Studies in China

Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c15.t1

Language
English

India Studies in China

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The contacts between China and India that were recorded could be traced to the 2nd century BCE. In the exchange history over 2,000 years, the understanding of Chinese people about India was deepened and the Indian research was continuously enriched. Before the 10th century, the Indian studies in China were Buddhism-centered. After the 10th century, the business and trade contacts between two countries became more prosperous while the cultural exchanges relatively decreased. At the end of 19th century, both the countries faced the invasion of western colonialism. Some Chinese intellectuals represented by Kang Youwei, Liang Qichao, Sun Yat-sen, Zhang Binglin began the studies of Indian politics, economy and society with original intention of learning from the experience and saving the country. Thus Indian studies in China germinated. At the beginning of 20th century, Chinese people's interest in Indian studies gradually expanded to the area of culture, history, politics, economy etc., and the depth and width of the research was increased, forming a relatively complete discipline system. Development of Indian studies in China was divided into two periods: before the year of 1950 and after the year of 1950.

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Before 1950

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In 1917, Liang Shuming, only 24-year-old, was appointed by Cai Yuanpei to teach Indian philosophy at Peking University. This was the earliest course related with India in modern China universities, marking the beginning of modern Indian studies in China. In 1920s and 1930s, for the people who opened the courses of Indian studies in China institutions of higher education there were also Russian scholar Alexander von Stael-Holstein, Buddhism and Indian philosophy scholar Tang Yongtong from Peking University, Chen Yinke who taught Buddhist scriptures translation literature at Tsinghua University as well as China and western traffic history scholar Xiang Da, etc.

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As Buddhist studies in China was gradually modernised, some Buddhist scholar emerged, such as Liang Qichao, Ouyang Jingwu, Master Taixu, Lü Cheng, etc., and plenty of Buddhism education institutes were founded like Buddhist Institute of China, Wuchang Buddhist Institute and Minnan Buddhist Institute, etc. In these Buddhist Institutes not only Buddhist knowledge was taught but also the courses of language, mathematics, history, geography, philosophy, art and sport, etc., marking the education modernisation of Chinese monks.

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*The Collected Works of Liang Shuming*

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*Cover page of Chen Yinke's 'Sui Tang Zhidu Yuanyuan Luelun Gao'*

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*Fifth All India Conference of China Studies, on the rostrum. Experts (from left): Sabaree Mitra, Alka Acharya, M Mohanti, Madhavi Thampi, S Duttagupta, Tan Chung and Arttatrana Nayak*

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The literary work of Tang Yongtong

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In 1924, Rabindranath Tagore visited China and it spread a wave of translating Indian literature, which was represented by Xu Dishan and Zheng Zhenduo. Tagore's visit promoted the establishment of Sino-Indian Cultural Society in 1930s and China Institute. Under the active operation by Tan Yun-shan and strong support by Cai Yuanpei, Tai Chi-tao, Tagore, etc., Sino-Indian Cultural Society was founded in 1934 in India, while the Visva-Bharati and Tagore was appointed as the chairman. Sino-Indian Cultural Society was founded in Nanjing in 1935 and Cai Yuanpei as the chairman. Under the promotion of Sino-Indian Cultural Society, China Institute in Visva-Bharati was founded in the year 1937, becoming the major institution for India to undertake Chinese students, training numerous scholars of Indian studies such as Wu Baihui, Fafang, Bazhou, Yang Yunyuan, etc. In 1940s, the Chinese scholars going to India for lecture and research through other channels included Jin Kemu, Wu Xiaoling, Xu Fancheng, Chen Hansheng, Chang Renxia, Chen Hongjin, etc who all became the important academic scholars in China and India later. In the same period, Ji Xianlin studied abroad. From the year 1935 to 1941, he mainly studied Sanskrit, Pali and Tocharian at Georg-August-University of Goettingen (Georg-August-Universität Göttingen) in Germany, and engaged in teaching and research work from the year 1943 to 1945.

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In 1942, China established the National Specialised College of Oriental Languages (referred as the NSCOL) in Yunnan Chenggong and Hindi Section was set. This was the first time that an Indian language was introduced in any Chinese University.

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In the year 1946, Department of Oriental Languages (referred as Oriental Languages) was established at Peking University, teaching Indian languages and literature, Ji Xianlin acted as head of the department. In the year 1948, Jin Kemu, who taught the History of Indian philosophy at Wuhan University, was employed in the Department of Oriental languages at Peking University. In the year of 1949, the NSCOL was incorporated into the Department of Oriental languages of Peking University. Since then, Peking University became the important base for China modern Indian studies.

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After 1950

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The establishment of People's Republic of China in 1949 provided a favourable environment for academic research of various fields. In the year 1950, the establishment of China and India diplomatic relation promoted the two countries into "honeymoon period". The objective demand and subjective interests of Chinese people for Indian research were significantly increased. China modern Indian studies had made unprecedented development. Peking University had added the

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A group photo with an Indian youth during Bingxin's visit to India in 1953

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Major of Urdu and Sanskrit Pali successively in the year 1954 and 1960 on the basis of Hindi and recruited students for the first time, teaching language and Indian history, literature and so on. In 1955, the Department of Philosophy and Social Sciences of CAS was established with the subsidiary institution engaging in Indian history and culture research. In the year 1959, Beijing Broadcasting Institute (present-day Communication University of China) was established, gradually opening a series of Indian languages majors like Tamil, Urdu, Bengali, Hindi, Assamese, etc., in 1960s. Besides, due to the need of diplomacy and cultural exchanges, in 1950s, the Chinese government selected and sent a group of students to India, Soviet Union and other countries to learn Indian languages, including Hindi scholars Liu Anwu and Liu Guonan and so on who studied successively in Delhi University and Banaras Hindu University.

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During this period, the students who studied and researched abroad in 1930s and 1940s were continuously coming back and began to play a strong role in the field of research, such as Indian languages, literature, philosophy, religion, history, art, politics and economy, etc. Ji Xianlin successively translated Sanskrit literature classics, such as the *Sakuntala* (1956), *Panchatantra* (1959), *Vikramorvasiya* (1962) and the Indian epic *Rāmāyaṇa* from the year 1973 to 1984, as well as some monographs and papers researching the original Buddhist language, Sanskrit classical literature and cultural exchanges between India and China. Jin Kemu translated the lyrics *Meghaduta* (1956) and conducted a detailed study to Sanskrit grammar classic *Panini*. *History of Sanskrit Literature* published in 1964 was the foundational masterpiece in this field of China. Besides, many scholars like Lü Cheng, Tang Yongtong, Zheng Zhenduo, Xiang Da, Zhu Jieqin, Wu Xiaoling, Chang Renxia, He Changqun also published a number of important writings during this period.

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The South Asia Institute (referred as SA Institute) was established in 1978. It was jointly operated by Peking University and CASS with Ji Xianlin as the president, mainly engaging in the research work on religion, philosophy, politics, economy, history, culture, language and literature of South Asia, among which India was the focus of the study. In the year 1979, China South Asia Institute was established and three periodicals were created, "South Asia Studies", "South Asia collection of Translations" and "Information of South Asia and Southeast Asia". The Graduate School of CASS established the Department of South Asia in the year 1978, to recruit graduate students for SA Institute together with Department of Oriental Languages of Peking University. Meanwhile, the former India Teaching and Research Office of Sichuan University was extended to South Asia Institute, founding "Quarterly of South Asia Studies" later. Liaoning University and Central China Normal University successively established the laboratory of India history. Yunnan Academy of Social Sciences also set up a laboratory for South Asia and Southeast Asia. In 1982, South Asia Institute set up the Association of Indian literature and seminar was held every two years. In the Middle of 1980s, SA Institute was divided into two parts. CASS independently established the Institute of South Asia and Southeast Asia, while the original staff of SA Institute in Peking University was incorporated into the Afro-Asian Institute and Department of Oriental Languages. In the year 1991, the SA Institute of CASS was renamed as the Institute of Asia -Pacific with Huang Xinchuan as the president.

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During this period, Indian research teams in China significantly expanded and the research resources were effectively integrated. A large number of professionals emerged and there also were plenty of research results coming out. In aspect of language and literature, mainly there were *History of Indian Hindi Literature* (1987) and *Premchand Critical Biography* (1999) by Liu Anwu, *Ramcaritmanas* (1988) translated by Jin Dinghan, *History of Indian classical literature* (1991) edited by Ji Xianlin, *Indian classical poetry Study* (1993) by Huang Baosheng, *Hindi Grammar* (1993) by Yin Hongyuan, etc. Regarding the aspect of religion and philosophy, mainly there were *Brief Introduction of Indian Buddhist Origins* (1979) by Lü Cheng, *Mukhya Upanishad* (1984) translated by Xu Fancheng, *Manusmṛti* (1986) translated by Jiang Zhongxin, *History of Indian Philosophy* (1989) by Huang Xinchuan, *Comments on Nanhai Guinei Dhamma* (1995) by Wang Bangwei, *Buddha and the original Buddhist thoughts* (1997) by Guo Liangyun. In historical and cultural aspect, mainly there were Jin Kemu's *Indian Culture Essays* (1983), *Comments of Buddhist Records of the Western World* (1985) edited by Ji Xianlin, *From Buddha to Asoka* (1991) by Cui Lianzhong, *Modern History of India* (1995) by Lin Chengjie, etc. In political and economic aspect, there were mainly the *Comparative Study of* *China and India Economic Development* (1991) edited by Sun Peijun, *Himalaya Complex: Studies of Sino-India Relationship* (1998) by Wang Hongwei, *Politics, International Relations and Security in South Asia* (1998) edited by Sun Shihai, *National Conditions and Comprehensive Strength of India* (2001) edited by Sun Peijun and Hua Biyun. Dictionary aspect there was mainly *Dictionary of South Asia* by Huang Xinchuan as chief editor and Ge Weijun as deputy editor, etc.

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Jin Kemu's, 'Fanyu Wenxue Shi' (History of Sanskrit Literature)

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Lu Cheng's, 'Yin Ming Ru Zheng Lilun Jiangjie'

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Huang Baosheng's, 'Ao Yi shu'

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Collected Works of Xu Fancheng

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In the 21st century, the Indian studies in China developed sustainably and rapidly. In language teaching, Peking University opened Bengali course in the year 2004. Beijing Foreign Studies University set up the major of Hindi and Urdu successively in the year 2006 and 2007. Xi'an International Studies University opened the Hindi major in 2006. Yunnan University of Nationalities, Guangdong University of Foreign Studies and Shanghai International Studies University opened Hindi major in the year 2011. In aspect of research institutions, Center for Indian Studies was established at Peking University in 2003, Department of South Asian Studies set in 2009 and Center for South Asian Studies founded in 2012, gathering a research team with multilingual and interdisciplinary capability. In January 2013, "The Peking University South and South-East Asian Studies" was created. Moreover, some South Asia Institutes founded earlier such as the Asia-Pacific Institute of CASS, Institute of Foreign Literature as well as the South Asia Institute of Sichuan University continued to play an important role, while newly-built Indian research institutions like Indian Research Center of Shenzhen University, Sanskrit Research Center of CASS, etc. had been established successively. Regional research institutions continued to inject fresh vitality, such as Institute of International Studies, China Institute of Contemporary International Relations, South Asia Institute of Yunnan Academy of Social Sciences, Research Centre of Indian Ocean region in Yunnan University of Finance and Economics, South Asia Studies Center of Shanghai Institute for International Studies. A relatively complete system of teaching and research had been set for Indian studies in China, forming the discipline development situation which traditional Indian studies advanced side by side with modern Indian research.

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In the new century, a number of important research results were created in Indian studies field of China, such as *The Complete Works of Tagore* (2000) edited by Liu Anwu, Ni Peigeng and Bai Kaiyuan, *Introduction to Buddhism* (2002) by Yao Weiqun, *Indian civilisation* (2004) by Liu Jian, Zhu Mingzhong and Ge Weijun, *Indian Art* (2004) by Wang Yong, Indian epic *Mahabharata* (2005) hosted and translated by Huang Baosheng, *Indian Cultural History* (2007) by Shang Huipeng, *History of China-India Cultural Exchange* (2008) by Xue Keqiao, *Hinduism* (2013) by Zhu Mingzhong, etc. At the same time, new generation of scholars emerged one after another, not only publishing numerous writings in traditional field of research but also paying more attention to carry out diversified and multi-level comprehensive research from interdisciplinary and cross-cultural angle. Some breakthroughs had been made.

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With the promotion of India international status and the development of India-China relationship, Chinese government has been increasingly aware of the importance of Indian research. In the year 2010, Wen Jiabao and Manmohan Singh jointly promoted the codification of *Encyclopedia of India-China Cultural Contacts*. In 2013, Li Keqiang and Manmohan Singh jointly launched the "India-China Translation Project of Classic and Contemporary Works," which all indicated the determination of China in deepening the cultural exchanges between China and India as well as India studies.

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(Jiang Jingkui & Jia Yan)

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Cover page of '*A comparative study of Indian literature and Chinese literature*'

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