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CHINAS DRAGON AND INDIAS TORTOISE BREATH RESURGENT-ASIA

Continuity of age old mercantile-silk-route-networking between Indian and China enforcing friendship and cooperation

will ensure synthesis of strong and powerful Asia. Chinas innovative competence in the backdrop of ancient commercial tie with India of being an old trade-in-goods partner through Silk Route which brought Buddhism during I CE developing a network of mercantile environment by pilgrims, monks, merchants and nomads from China in search of Indian wealth of knowledge, riches and natural splendors show the Indias deep root connection with China as if India has given rise to the vision and foresight of revelation to China as an emergent partner collaborating on multiple fronts. As if China played a role as an aggressive king and India being a king maker..A K Singh

India had been a destination of cross continental expeditions of millions of traders, soldiers, mercantile agents, monks, travellers and nomadic inhabitants from China since 2500 years in their hot pursuit of exploration of wealth of the knowledge India inherits, in its mystical treasures of affluence, in its message of spiritual splendors India obtains from its sages, pontiffs, deities and divinities. Efforts of Ashoka and successive emperors in their endeavors to spread Buddhism triggered the profusion of cross cultural exchanges which marked indelible dent on Chinese society and had a profound impact on modus vivendi of diverse group of missionaries, artisans, medical professionals and itinerant traders of China. Faxian (Fa Hien), Xuanzang (Huien Sang) and Yijing were among hundreds of Chinese monks who made pilgrims progress to India during first millennium CE. Faxian an old Chinese monk who came during 399 AD visited major Buddhist pilgrimage sites in India and Sri Lanka for the purpose of collection of texts related to monastic rules Vinaya which underscores the need for the crucial Buddhist literature in contemporary China. Lotus-sutra was translated into Chinese with the growing Buddhist community in China and its need of the text essential for the establishment and proper functioning of monastic institutions in

China. Fa Hiean describes about the make up of Buddhist monasteries, life style of Buddhist monks in India, teachings, Buddhist legends

and rituals prevalent in Buddhist India. Faxian near city of Taxila observes that this was a site where Buddha during one of his previous

lives had offered his body to a starving tigress. He traces the life story of Buddha from Kapilvastu, his birth in a garden at Lumbini and attainment of Nirvana at Kushinagara. Faxians journey prompted the demand of Buddhist relics, antics and artifacts from India to China. This

network of exchange fostered a relationship of mutual benefit for Buddhist monks and itinerant-traders between China and India which sparked off series of mercantile carvans, commercial ships, long distance traders for fulfilling the increasing demands of Chinese

Fa Hien translating Buddhist Text 399 AD

2 society for commodities associated to Buddhist rituals in India. Visiting India Fa Hien a 77 years old monk had written his A Record of Buddhist Kingdoms which became popular among contemporary Chinese clergy and India was considered a Holy Land. Daozheng one of the accompanied monk with Fa Hien was so exhilarated by the appeal of Buddhist sites and monasteries of India that he refused to go back to China and preferred to start living in splendidly beautiful holy land of India. From now on, he writes, until I attain Buddhahood, shall be living in the land of Buddha. I wish that I not to be reborn in borderland. Faxians chronicle formed Chinese perception of India as one of the sophisticated and culturally advanced society where the people are rich in habits, disciplined in manners and prosperous in way of living, art, history and cultural traditions. In 637 AD Xuanzang (Huein Sang) encountered Emperor of Kannauj at Uttar Pradesh Harshvardhan on his way to various Buddhist shrines, monasteries and pilgrimage in India as he heard about emperors virtues, valor and sympathy for Buddhist philosophy. Kingdom of Kannauj sprawled in between all the major Buddhist pilgrimages, learning centers at Nalanda and places of Buddhist prominence of those times. Harshvardhan gave opulent audience to Huein Sang as he was aware of the reign of a compassionate Tang ruler named Taizong in China. Huein Sang told the Indian king, Taizong our king reduced taxes and mitigated punishments. China now has surplus revenue and no body attempts to violate the laws, as to his moral influence and his profound improvement of the Chinese people, it is exhausting to narrate about it in any detail. Harshvardhan responded: saying Excellent ! The people of your land must have performed good deeds in order to have such a saintly lord. Pursuant to this happening Huien Sang and Harshvardhan occasioned the establishment of diplomatic relations between Kannauj and the Tangs court which led to promotion of Buddhist doctrines, political connection, mutual learning, and exchange of

goods and services. Why do you wish to leave after having come here ? inquired one of the monks at Nalanda. China, monk told, is a borderland where the common people are slighted and the religion despised. The

Buddhas are never born in that godforsaken country. As the people are narrow minded, with

deep moral impurity, saints and sages do not go there.

The climate is cold and the land is full of dangerous mountains. What is there for you to

be nostalgic about ? Huein Sang replied, The King of Dhamma, the Buddha has founded his teachings here in India and it is proper for us to propagate them. How can we forget about those who

are not yet enlightened while we have gained

the benefit in our own minds ? Huein Sang further argued the China is a civilized land with profound laws, principled officials and the cultured people bathed in Confucian dogmatic mode of life.Xuanzang (Huein Sang ) visited almost all the Buddhist places in India like Gandhara near Peshavar, swat valley in Orissa, Taxila the Mahayana Buddhist kingdom of Kashmir, Kanishka of Kushana, Lahore, Jalandhar in Punjab, Kullu valley, Mathura on Yamuna river, Ayodhya or Saket the homeland of Yogachara, Kaushambi, Sravasti,

Huein Sang visting Nalanda 637AD

Nalanda University, Monestery, Stupas 630 AD Bihar where Huien Sang visited.

3 Kapilvastu, Lumbini, Kushinagar, Sarnath, Vaishali, Patliputra, Bodhgaya, Kamaruapa the Assam, Andhra Pradesh Amaravathi Budh Vihara, Kanchi the imperial capital of Pallavas which was a strong center of Buddhism and many stupas and monasteries in search of Buddhist indoctrination he roamed. Huein Sang encountered more than hundred monasteries and tens of thousands of monks of both Mahayana and Hinayana sects and was impressed by all the kings men and of their patronage of scholarship and the philosophy of Buddhism. Huein Sang with the company of several thousands of scholar monks studied Sanskrit, Grammar, Logic, Yogachara school of Buddhism at Nalanda. Two massive assemblies were summoned by Harshvardhan king in honour of the visit by Huein Sang and the Mahayana form of Buddhism which he preached. One Mahamoksha-Parshad called an arena of cheritable offerings at Prayag the Allahabad and other at Kannauj which were attended by twenty kings and emperors of various countries where impressive spectacles were presented with a golden statue of Buddha kept in a lofty tower and a gorgeous procession of elephants was held escorting an image of the Sakya sage to the hall of assembly. The gathering at Prayaga witnessed five hundred thousands of people who had been summoned from distant corners of the Five Indies to receive gifts from the emperor. Harshavardhan was accompanied by the Chinese Masters of Law and the kings of twenty countries. Images of Buddha and Siva were installed on successive days and precious articles were distributed in charity on each occasion. Rene Grousset describes as, The Chinese pilgrim Fa Hien had finally found the omniscient master, the incomparable metaphysician in Mahatma Buddha who was to make known to him the ultimate secrets of the idealist systems, the foundation of Mahayana idealism which further spread to Korea, Japan and other south east Asian countries. On return from India Huien Sang brought with him thousands of Sanskrit texts, set up a translation center in Xian of China

inviting students and collaborators from all over Asia. He got thousands of fascicles of scriptures of Buddhist philosophy translated into Chinese. He initiated development of Faxiang school regarding Buddhist perception, consciousness, karma and rebirth. Huien Sangs version of Heart-Sutra is the basis for all Chinese commentaries on the Sutra and recitations throughout China, Korea and Japan. Entire South East Asia is enshrined in the hallowed treasures of Indias heritage of Buddhism, which is sacred holy sanctification of Hindu way of life, much more refined, more distinct, polished and sophisticated. Chanakya referring to Cinapatta for Chinese Silk Bundle in his Artha-Shastra, Zhang Quian quoting Shendu for for Hindu in Indus valley, Xuanzangs account of his Journey to India which later inspired Wu Chengens Ming

Dynasty novel Journey to the West one of the prominent four classical novels of Chinese literature are example of deep rooted Indo-Chinese cross-cultural-conjugal-state-of affairs of ancient India and middle age Chinese folklore. Rajaraja Chola and Rajendra Chola built up cross-border-trade and commercial links with Song Dynasty of China where Chinese coins have been discovered near Tanjavur, Pudukottai and Tiruvarur districts of Tamilnadu. Chinese Fishing nets invented by Chinese fishermen with a light lamp for attracting fishes are still used in

Chinese Fishing Nets at Kochin still exist with lighting lamp on top focusing bottom sea to catch

fishes.

4 Kochin of Kerala. Astronomical tables of sines by the Indian mathematician Araybhatta 499 AD were translated into Chinese book of Treatise on Astrology of the Kaiyuan Era compiled during Tang Dyanasty 718 CE. Wang Xuance delivered diplomatic mission to north India and attempted to besiege the forts and citadels of the capital. During Ming Rule 1425 AD series of naval expeditions by emperor Yongle were sponsored to conduct maritime trade and mercantile business in India. Zhen-Hie sponsored hundreds of sea ships and thousands of men on tremendous number of Indian kingdoms and sea ports supplying gifts of porcelain, ceramic, papers, tea, precious gems, minerals and silk. Records of Buddhism practiced in India were transmitted to China by Yijing in his work Memoirs-of-Eminent-Monk during Tang rule 671 AD a bio-graphical account of about fifty six Chinese monks who embarked on their trip to India in 7th century. Yijing illustrated forty practices at Indian Buddhist monasteries ranging from cleansing after meals, to the regulations of ordination comparing the errors practiced in China for purification and rectification of Dhamma. Relations with China soured when Sikh expanded and annexed Ladakh into the state of Jammu during 1834 AD upto Tibet and were forced to withdraw who were entangled in tension with British led to Anglo Sikh war amid the first opium war of East India Company with China. Jawahar Lal Nehru envisioned Resurgent-Asia governed by morals of Panchasheel amidst conflict of interest with Tibet. Mao Tse Tung wanted to bring Tibet under direct military control of China ending Lamaism, Tibetan Buddhist feudalism and opposed the Indian intervention in Tibets affairs.Nehru emphasized trading rights over Buddhist Tibet in a routine course of tradition. Indias mediation with China brought about ceasefire to the Korean war and established pleasing diplomatic relations in 1950 and signed Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence with a slogan of Hindi Chini Bhai

Bhai starting direct dialogue dealing ushering in cross cultural and inter-civil-bridge. Indias publication of map inclusive of Aksai Chin region with Indian border antagonized China when they built road causing border clashes where Zhou Enlai Chinese premier didnt accept McMohan Line as legal and legitimate. Shimla convention 1914 defined the border of Tibet with India and Dalai Lama sought for Dharmsala in Himachal Pradesh 1959 where thousands of Tibetan refugees settled in different parts of India including Karnataka.

China claimed territory over 1 Lakh sq Km of Aksai Chin where India demonstrated sovereignty and asked for restructuring the entire border of Jammu & Kashmir. Zhao En Lai demanded suzerainty over Aksai Chin territory in lieu of North Eastern States of India, an affair of humiliation and injustice for India which resulted in crushing defeat of India in war with China in 1962 when Chinese forces pushed India within forty eight kilometer of the border behind its line of control. With the improvement of China Pakistan relations, Sino-Soviet relations worsened including India. China continued assistance to dissident tribals of North Eastern India leading to strained diplomatic relation with China. Traditional trade in wool, fur, spices and condiments between Lhasa through Nathula Pass a subsidiary of ancient Silk Road also came to a standstill.

Yijing monk preaching common error rectification from Bhuddhist practice of Dhamma

and Sangha.

5 Naxalbari-militancy by communist naxalites and Maoists which is called Spring-Thunder-Over-India gave support to this indefatigable uprising along the border which led to Nathula Pass mortar and heavy machine gun exchange causing wounds, inflicting pains and bringing causalities. India and China further improved relations with Indira Gandhi and Morarji Desai with a land mark visit of Atal Bihari Vajpayee re-establishing the diplomatic relations further in 1979. Rajiv Gandhi entered bilateral agreement on cooperation on science and technology, on air links, on civil aviation and cultural exchanges and joint working. Indian premier Narsimha Rao and Li Peng agreed on reconciliation on border issue, cross border trade and enhanced cooperation on environmental issues of pollution, wild animal extinction, global warming and climate change fostering confidence between defense forces of both the countries. Efforts are on to diffuse border disputes, defining line of actual control, withdrawal of forces from borders, creating an atmosphere of mutual understanding and concessions. Chinese premier Wen Jiabao visited Bangalore in April 2005 to enforce increased co-operation in high tech industries and collaboration in entrepreneurship. Wen opined that the 21st century will be the Asian century of the IT Industry which impelled deep political, cultural and economic ties between the two nations. India should now reconsider about giving membership to China into SAARC instead of sustaining observers status. With the opening of Nathula Pass in 2006, an ancient Silk Road after 44 years of closure, it will help ease economic isolation, diffusion of claim of Arunachal Pradesh and withdrawal of Aksai Chin by China to India. Later Manmohan Singh Prime Minister of India asked Wen Jiabao to have co-operation in trade, commerce, defense, military, environment and other issues. Now as a BRIC country China is committed to develop friendship, deepen strategic co-operation and hopes to

see a dynamic China-India or Chindia relationship. Now the bilateral trade between China and India is expected to touch $ 1 Trillion by 2050 and the trade deficit with China of Indian side stands up at $ 40 billion. Napoleon once said, let China sleep, for when China wakes up, she will shake the world. From feudal lordship to Ching Kai Sheks dictatorship, from Sun Yet Sens democratic trial to thereafter transformation

of China into Russian model of communist regime, popular mood has been fantastically revolutionary, radically groundbreaking and progressive. Now China has woken up, as predicted, its economic growth shocked and awed the world as Raghav Bahl illustrates, principal thrust has come from capital spending on a scale unknown to mankind. China has built up school, hospitals, roads, railways, airports, bridges, ports, ships, skyscrapers, factories, malls, tech parks with ambition that is spectacular and brutally effective. Clearly China is crafting a new economic wisdom spending unbelievable amounts of capital under an escape velocity model. China is investing about half its GDP with hyper investment in creating super infrastructure, expanding economy, trigger higher productivity and capacity to create wealth with consumption trickling through. Whereas Indias well above half its GDP is consumed by over a billion people giving India an spontaneous strength that transformed the economy of the USA, UK, Germany and Japan in the long run. Where

Modern day China developing by leaps and bounds

6 agriculture is slowly picking up, manufacturing is rising, goods and services going more than half the GDP, 40% of the economy exposed to global trade of export and import is adequate enough to stand open, competitive and stable. India is a very pleasant soft democratic state, lenient, easy going, forbearing and merciful in its taste. Being the youngest country in the world with half a billion Indians standing less than 25 years old, English speaking, hard working Indias demographic dividend is exceptionally promising. Ten of worlds fastest growing cities are within India, with judicial system robust based on Roman judicature and English common law is a genuine and pleasantly sweet democracy. India was a mysterious, mythical subcontinent buried under the weight of its own paraphernalia of conventional conservative manuscripts where global risk capital simply chose to ignore this half asleep, half-stirring, tortoise cum elephant until Goldman Sach in New York coined an acronym BRICs which changed the game. BRICs is considered as economic locomotives of the 21st century suggesting that India could become the worlds third largest economy by 2050, ahead of Japan and Germany just following US and China. Winner of the race with the biggest stakes ever might not be determined by who is making huge investment and who is growing faster today, but by some thing more tangible, more substantial, more rational- who has superior innovative skills, tactful, insightful and more entrepreneurial grappling with gradually expanding economy in the most intensive competitive circumstances. True ! Indias tortoise and Chinas dragon both are breathing fire but on different planes, on distinctive boundary. Both must understand each other in a responsible and comprehensive way as both of these have the potential to make Resurgent Asia by 2050 which will be stronger, sturdier and one of the emerging super power in the world. Both are in the

game of race of one of the unprecedented historical competitive tournament. Chinas fiery dragon is as of now truly ahead of us as Yuan is globally pummeled for being artificially undervalued as against Indias rupee which is largely floating against worlds currencies. It is still to be seen. Can India fix its governance before China repairs its politics ?

A K Singh is the member of Indian Forest Service 1997 serving in the Ministry of Forest, Ecology and Environment of the Government of Karnataka Views portrayed

here are personal which are expressed in the wake of references cited hereinafter. Contact: 9481180956. aksinghifs@gmail.com References:

1. Takakusu, A Record of the Buddhist Religion 2. Rene Grousset, In the Footsteps of the Buddha, Orion

Press, New York 1971 3. Max Deeg 2007, Has Xuanzang really been in Mathura ? 4. Tansen Sen: Buddhism, Diplomacy and Trade: The

Realignment of Sino-Indian Relations. 5. Wriggins Sally Hovey, Xuanzang: A Buddhist Pilgrim on

the Silk Road.2003 6. Sun Shuyun, 2003, Ten Thousand Miles without a Cloud. 7. Chasing the Monks Shadow: A Journey in the Footsteps

of Xuanzang Penguin. 8. The Life of Hiuen-Tsang by Beal Samuel1973 9. Bernstein Richard: Ultimate Journey: Retracing the Path

of An Ancient Buddhist Monk Xuanzang who crossed Asia in Search of Enlightenment.

10. When Asia was the World: Traveling Merchants, Scholars, Warriors and Monks who created the Riches of the East by Gordon Stewart 2008.

11. Raghav Bahls Super Power, The Amazing Race Between Chinas Hare and Indias Tortoise.

12. John Lancaster 2005: India, China Hoping to Reshape the World Order Together. The Washington Post.

13. Tan Chung 1998: A Sino Indian Perspective for India China Understanding.

14. Vincent Arthur Smith 1904, The Early History of India. 15. D Curtin Phillip 1984, Cross Cultural Trade In World

History Cambridge University Press. 16. Brahama Chellaney. Rising Powers, Rising Tensions: The

Troubled China-India Relationship 17. Francine Frankel R And Harry Harding: The India-China

Relationship: What the United States Needs to Know. Columbia University Press 2004.

18. The Sino-Indian Border Dispute: Indias Current Options by Dalal JS Master Thesis 1993

19. India China Relations- Future Perspective by Deepak BR and D P Tripathi July 2012

20. China and India : Co operation or Conflict. By Waheguru Pal Singh Siddhu and Jing Dong Yuan, Lynne Rienner Publishers 2003