India and China: Civilisational and Colonial Connections offers a compelling and deeply researched exploration of one of the world’s oldest, richest, and most influential Civilisational relationships. Moving beyond the narrow prism of contemporary geopolitical rivalry, this volume reconstructs more than two millennia of intellectual, cultural, religious, commercial, and diplomatic interactions that profoundly shaped the histories of Asia’s two great civilisations.
Drawing upon archival sources from both India and China, this book examines the remarkable circulation of ideas, people, technologies, and commodities across the Himalaya’s and the oceans. As highlights the transmission of Buddhism from India to China, the monumental translation movement that introduced over35,000 Sanskrit-derived concepts into the Chinese intellectual tradition, and the contributions of monks, scholars, merchants, and travellers who served as enduring bridges between the two civilisations. Shared myths, philosophical traditions, artistic influences, and scientific knowledge further testify to the depth and vitality of this long Civilisational dialogue.
The volume also critically analyses how colonialism transformed mutual perceptions during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. It explores Qing views of colonised India, Chinese intellectual responses to Rabindranath Tagore, and the lasting influence of colonial narratives that continue to shape contemporary understandings of India-China relations. At the same time, it uncovers inspiring yet often overlooked episodes of solidarity, including Indian participation in the Taiping movement, cooperation between Indian revolutionaries and Sun Yat-sen, the Indian Medical Mission to China in 1938, and the humanitarian collaboration during the Second World War. The pioneering contributions of Ji Xianlin and Tan Yunshan are presented as enduring examples of scholarship transcending political boundaries.
By recovering a shared historical memory often overshadowed by conflict and misunderstanding, this book offers fresh perspectives on the historical foundations of one of the world’s most consequential bilateral relationships. It argues that a balanced understanding of the past is indispensable for building trust, promoting meaningful dialogue, and shaping a more stable and cooperative Asian future.
An essential read for scholars, students, diplomats, policymakers, and all those interested in Asian history, international relations, and civilisational dialogue, India and China: Civilisational and Colonial Connections encourages readers in both countries to explore the past with an open mind—because understanding a shared history is often the first step towards shaping a more constructive future.