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Chinas

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This article is about the people in ancient Indian literature. For the political standpoint of having multiple Chinas, seeTwo Chinas.For the political standpoint of having all Chinas in one, seeOne China.For the plural of china, seeChina (disambiguation).

TheChinas(SanskritचीनःCīna) are a people mentioned in ancientIndian literature,such as theMahabharata,Manusmriti,and thePuranicliterature.

Etymology[edit]

The origin of the Sanskrit nameCīnais commonly believed to have been theQin(TsinorChinin older transliterations) dynasty which ruled in China from 221 BC, or the preceding state ofQinwhich is traditionally dated to the 9th century BC.[1][2]

There are a number of other suggestions for the origin of the word. Some Chinese and Indian scholars argued for the state ofJing(Kinh) as the likely origin of the name, while other theories suggest it is derived fromZina,theendonymof the inhabitants ofYelang.[3]

Hindu literature[edit]

Mahabharata[edit]

The SanskritepicworkMahabharatacontains certain references to China, referring to its people as theChinatribe.[4][5][6]

In theMahabharata,the Chinas appear together with theKiratasamong the armies of KingBhagadattaof Pragjyotisa (Assam). In the Sabhaparvan, the same king is said to be surrounded by the Kiratas, and the Cinas. Also in the Bhismaparvan, the army of Bhagadatta is said to consist of the Kirtas and the "yellow-coloured" Cinas.[citation needed]Bhishamaparva of Mahabharata also lists the Chinas with themlechhatribesof the north like theYavanas,Kambojas,Kuntalas,Hunas,Parasikas,Darunas, Ramanas, Dasamalikas.[7]Shantiparvan of Mahabharata groups the Chinas with the tribes of theUttarapatha,viz. the Yavanas,Kiratas,Gandharas,Shabras,Barbaras,Shakas,Tusharas,Kanakas,Pahlavas,Sindhus,Madrakas,Ramathas, and the Kambojas and states them to be living the lives of Dasyus. These verses of the epic expect these tribes to perform certain duties which are different from those performed by theBrahmanas,Kshatriyas,Vaishyas,andShudras.[8]Vanaparvan of the Mahabharata states that the territory of the Chinas can be reached by a land-route across the country of the Kiratas in the mountain regions of the north.

China is mentioned as one among the northern kingdoms in Mahabharata, Book 6, chapter 9: –Among the tribes of the north are theMlecchas,and the Kruras, theYavanas,the Chinas, theKambojas,the Darunas, and many Mleccha tribes; the Sukritvahas, the Kulatthas, theHunas,the Parasikas, the Ramanas, and the Dasamalikas.

Chinas were mentioned along with Chivukas andPulindasandKhasas,Hunas,Pahlavas,Sakas,Yanavas,Savaras,Paundras,Kiratas,Kanchis,Dravidas,SinhalasandKeralas.Here they were described as the protectors of sageVasisthaand his cow against the attack of kingViswamitra.(1,177)

Pahlavas and theDaradas,the various tribes of the Kiratas, Yanavas, Sakas,Harahunas,Chinas,Tusharas,Sindhavas,Jagudas, Ramathas and the Mundas, as well as the inhabitants of the kingdom of women, Tanganas,Kekayas,Malavasand the inhabitants ofKasmirawere mentioned at (3,51) as bringing tribute to thePandavakingYudhishthira.

The Yanavas, theKiratas,theGandharvas,the Chinas, the Savaras, the Barbaras, the Sakas, the Tusharas, the Kankas, the Pathavas, theAndhras,theMadrakas,the Paundras, the Pulindas, the Ramathas, the Kambojas were mentioned together as tribes beyond the kingdoms ofAryavarta.The Aryavarta kings had doubts about dealing with them. (12,64)

China is mentioned in the travel-descriptions of the Pandavas. The passage below, describes these Chinas, to be located somewhere in the highHimalayas:Mahabharata book 3, chapter 176 (MBh 3.176): "Leaving the place called Badari (BadrinathinUttarakhand) and crossing the difficult Himalayan regions, and leaving behind them, the countries of China, Tukhara, Darada and all the climes of Kulinda, rich in heaps of jewels, those warlike men, viz. the Pandavas, reached the capital of Suvahu, the king of Pulindas (Kiratas). "

Bhimamentions a "China king" Dhautamulaka, who caused the destruction of his own race[9](5,74). The name "Dhautamulaka" translates to "clean root", and might be a reference to thelast Xia emperor Jie(1728–1675 BC).

"Deer skins from China" are mentioned at (5,86). KingDhritarashtrawanted to give a thousand deer-skins from China as a present toVasudeva Krishna:I will give him a thousand deer-skins brought from China and other things of the kind that may be worthy of his praise.[10]During theHan dynasty(between the 2nd century BC and 2nd century AD),deer skinswere used to make token money notes representing 400,000 coins.

Ramayana[edit]

KiskindhakandaofValmiki'sRamayanamakes reference to Cinas as well asParama-Cinasand associates them with the trans-Himalayan tribes of the Daradas, Kambojas, theYavanas,theSakas,the Kiratas, the Bahlikas, theRishikas,and the Tañkanas of the Uttarapatha.[11]They sent tributaries to Ayodhya and were protector of Dharma in northern Asia from Siberia to modern China.

Theepicliterature asserts that the Cinas,Khasas,Hunas,Shakas,Kambojas,Yavanas,Pahlavas, Kiratas, Sinhalas, Mlechchas etc. were created bysageVashistha through the divine powers of cow Sabala or Nandini (Kamdhenu).[12]

Puranas[edit]

In theKalika Purana,the Cinas are again grouped with the Kambojas,Shakas,Khasasand theBarabarasetc. and are said to have sided withBuddhistking Kali in the war againstVedicking Kalika.[13]

Bhuvanakoshasection of numerousPuranaslocates the Cinas along with the Tusharas, Pahlavas, Kambojas, and Barbaras in theUdichyaor northern division of ancient India.[14] There is yet another reference to China asCina-maruas referred to in theVayu PuranaandBrahmanda Purana.However, at the same place,Matsya PuranamentionsVira-maru.China-maru or Vira-maru has been identified with the lands ofTurkestansituated aboveAnd-khuiin the north ofAfghanistan(Dr K. P. Jayswal, Dr M. R. Singh).

Buddhist literature[edit]

The Cinas also find reference in theBuddhist[according to whom?]play,Mudrarakshasa,where they are listed with other contemporary tribes, such as theShakas,Yavanas, Kiratas,Cambojas,Bhalikas,Parasikas,Khasas, Gandharas, Kalutas, etc.

BuddhisttextMilindapanho(see:Sacred Books of the East,xxxvi, 204), associates the Chinas with the Sakas,Yavanas,Kambojas and Vilatas(?) etc., and locates them in and beyond the westernTibet/Ladakh,according to DrMichael Witzel.[15]

Other literature[edit]

TheArthashastra,believed to date between the 2nd century BCE and 3rd century CE,[16]refers to Chinese silk as "cinamsuka" (Chinese silk dress) and "cinapatta" (Chinese silk bundle).[17]

TheSanmoha Tantraspeaks of theTantricculture of the foreign countries like the Bahlika (Bactria),Kirata,Bhota (Tibet), Cina, Maha-Cina,Parasika,Airaka, Kambojas, Huna, Yavana, Gandhara andNepala.

TheLaws of Manu,dated between 200 BC and 300 AD,[18][19]describes the downfall of the Chinas, as well as many foreign groups in India:

"43. But in consequence of the omission of the sacred rites, and of their not consulting Brahmanas, the following tribes of Kshatriyas have gradually sunk in this world to the condition of Shudras;
44. (Viz.) the Paundrakas, the Chodas, theDravidas,the Kambojas, theYavanas,theShakas,theParadas,thePahlavas,theChinas,the Kiratas, theDaradasand theKhashas."[20]

BesidesChinaandParama-China,there is also a reference toMahachinain theManasollasawhich text mentions the fabrics from Mahachina.[2]It is thus possible thatChinaprobably referred to westernTibetorLadakh,Mahachinato Tibet proper, andParama-Chinatomainland China.

China[edit]

See also:Shina (word)

This word wastranscribedinto various forms including{ chi kia(Zhīnà),Chi kia(Zhīnà),Chi kia(Zhīnà) andĐến kia(Zhìnà).

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^Yule, Henry (2005).Cathay and the Way Thither.Asian Educational Services. pp. 2–3.ISBN8120619668.
  2. ^abGeographical Data in Early Puranas, 1972, p172, Dr M. R. Singh
  3. ^Wade, Geoff, "The Polity of Yelang and the Origin of the Name 'China'",Sino-Platonic Papers,No. 188, May 2009.
  4. ^Kisari Mohan Ganguli,The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa Translated into English Prose,1883-1896.
  5. ^Austin, Christopher R. (2019).Pradyumna: Lover, Magician, and Son of the Avatara.Oxford University Press. p. 21.ISBN978-0-19-005411-3.
  6. ^Brockington (1998, p. 26)
  7. ^MBH 6/9/65-66
  8. ^MBH 12/65/13-15
  9. ^"Mahabharata Udyoga Parva Chapter 74".en.krishnakosh.org.Retrieved2021-10-23.
  10. ^"Mahabharata Udyoga Parva Chapter 86".en.krishnakosh.org.Retrieved2021-10-23.
  11. ^The Ramayana of Valmiki: An Epic of Ancient India, Volume 4, Kiskindhakanda, p 151, Rosalind Lefeber
  12. ^Ramayana (1.52-55) & Mahabharata (1.174.6-48)
  13. ^Kalika Purana20/40
  14. ^":ete desha Udichyastu
    Kambojashchaiva Dardashchaiva Barbarashcha Angaukikah || 47 ||
    ChinashchaivaTusharashcha Pahlavadhayata narah || 48 ||
    —(Brahma Purana27.44-53)"
  15. ^Early East Iran, And The Atharvaveda, 1980, (Persica-9), p 106, Dr Michael Witzel.
  16. ^Olivelle, Patrick(2013). "Introduction".King, Governance, and Law in Ancient India: Kauṭilya's Arthaśāstra.Oxford UK: Oxford University Press.ISBN978-0199891825.Retrieved2016-02-20.
  17. ^Tan Chung (1998).A Sino-Indian Perspective for India-China Understanding.Archived2007-06-06 at theWayback Machine
  18. ^Patrick Olivelle (2005), Manu's Code of Law, Oxford University Press,ISBN978-0195171464,pages 24-25
  19. ^Glimpses of Indian Culture,Dinkar Joshi, p.51ISBN9788176501903
  20. ^Manusmritti (Laws of Manu),X.43-44
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