China in the Mahābhārata 5380342 195211242 2008-03-01T23:19:50Z Mangostar 4177882 /* Chinas along with other tribes */ link {{Unreferenced|date=February 2007}} [[Image:Kurukshetra.jpg|right|300px|thumb| the manuscript of [[Mahabharata]].]] '''China in the ''Mahābhārata''''' refers to an ancient [[China|Chinese]] people{{Fact|date=February 2007}} who lived across the [[Himalayas]] north of [[History of India|India]] in the [[1st millennium BC|first millennium BC]] or even earlier, and were mentioned in the ancient [[Indian epic poetry|Indian epic]] ''[[Mahabharata]]''. This was the earliest reference to the word "[[China]]", which may have been referring to either the [[Qin (state)|Qin]] state which later became the [[Qin Dynasty]], or a [[Han Chinese|Chinese]] tribe that inhabited the [[Tibet]] region. == References in Mahabharata == === Chinas along with other tribes === [[Image:Mahabharata BharatVarsh.jpg|right|thumb|300px|[[India]] during the time of [[Mahabharata]].]] China is mentioned as one among the northern kingdoms: :''Among the tribes of the north are the [[Mleccha]]s, and the Kruras, the [[Yavana Kingdom|Yavanas]], the [[Chinas]], the [[Kamboja Kingdom|Kamvojas]], the Darunas, and many Mleccha tribes; the Sukritvahas, the Kulatthas, the [[Huna Kingdom|Hunas]], and the Parasikas; the Ramanas, and the Dasamalikas. yes'' (6,9) Chinas were mentioned along with Chivukas and [[Himalaya Kingdom|Pulindas]] and [[Khasa Kingdom|Khasas]], [[Huna Kingdom|Hunas]], [[Pahlava Kingdom|Pahlavas]], [[Saka Kingdom|Sakas]], [[Yavana Kingdom|Yavanas]], [[Sora people|Savaras]], [[Pundra Kingdom|Paundras]], [[Kirata Kingdom|Kiratas]], [[Kanchi Kingdom|Kanchis]], [[Dravida Kingdom|Dravidas]], [[Sinhala Kingdom|Sinhalas]] and [[Kerala Kingdom|Keralas]]. All these tribes were described as Mlechha tribes. Here they were described as the protectors of sage [[Vasistha]] and his cow against the attack of king [[Viswamitra]]. (1,177) [[Pahlava Kingdom|Pahlavas]] and the [[Darada Kingdom|Daradas]] and the various tribes of the [[Kirata Kingdom|Kiratas]] and [[Yavana Kingdom|Yavanas]] and [[Saka Kingdom|Sakas]] and the [[Hara Huna Kingdom|Harahunas]] and [[China Kingdom|Chinas]] and [[Tushara Kingdom|Tukharas]] and the [[Sindhu Kingdom|Sindhavas]] and the Jagudas and the Ramathas and the Mundas and the inhabitants of the kingdom of women and the Tanganas and the [[Kekeya Kingdom|Kekayas]] and the [[Malava Kingdom|Malavas]] and the inhabitants of [[Kasmira Kingdom|Kasmira]] were mentioned at (3,51) as bringing tribute to [[Pandava]] king [[Yudhisthira]]. The [[Yavana Kingdom|Yavanas]], the [[Kirata Kingdom|Kiratas]], the [[Gandharva Kingdom|Gandharvas]], the [[China Kingdom|Chinas]], the Savaras, the Barbaras, the [[Saka Kingdom|Sakas]], the [[Tushara Kingdom|Tusharas]], the Kankas, the Pathavas, the [[Andhra Kingdom|Andhras]], the [[Madra Kingdom|Madrakas]], the [[Pundra Kingdom|Paundras]], the [[Himalaya Kingdom|Pulindas]], the Ramathas, the [[Kamboja Kingdom|Kamvojas]] were mentioned together as tribes beyond the kigdoms of [[Aryavarta]]. The Aryavarta kings had doubts on dealing with them. (12,64) [[Image:EpicIndia.jpg|left|thumb|300px|[[India]] during the time of [[Ramayana]] and [[Mahabharata]].]] === Pandava's travels === China is mentioned in the travel-descriptions of the Pandavas. The passage below, describes these Chinas, to be located somewhare in the high [[Himalayas]]: :''Leaving the place called Badari ([[Badrinath]] in [[Uttar Pradesh]]) and crossing the difficult [[Himalaya Kingdom|Himalayan]] regions, and leaving behind them, the countries of [[China of Mahabharata|China]], [[Tushara Kingdom|Tukhara]], [[Darada Kingdom|Darada]] and all the climes of [[Himalaya Kingdom|Kulinda]], rich in heaps of jewels, those warlike men viz the [[Pandavas]], reached the capital of Suvahu, the king of [[Himalaya Kingdom|Pulindas]] (Kiratas).''{{Fact|date=February 2007}} === Other References === [[Bhima]] mentiones about a '''China king''' Dhautamulaka, who caused the destruction of his own race (5,74) '''Deer skins from China''' is mentioned at (5,86). King [[Dhritarashtra]], wanted to give as present, a thousand deer-skins from China, to [[Krishna in the Mahābhārata|Vasudeva 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.'' == See also == *[[Kingdoms of Ancient India]] *[[Sino-Indian relations]] == References == *''[[Mahabharata]]'' of [[Krishna Dwaipayana Vyasa]], translated to English by Kisari Mohan Ganguli [[Category:Ancient Indian kingdoms]] [[Category:Kingdoms in the Mahābhārata]]