Vikrant Shekhawat : Nov 03, 2024, 07:40 PM
Ramayan: Belief in Lord Shri Ram and his saga Ramayana is no longer just a matter of faith, but its historical evidence has also come to the fore from time to time. Many institutions in India, including NASA, have stamped the historicity of Ramayana through the evidence of Shri Ram Setu and other evidence. Now it has also got the support of Chinese scholars, who have claimed to have found the footprints of Shri Ram. This proves that Shri Ram actually incarnated on earth in Treta Yuga and Ramayana is not just a fictional story.Influence of Ramayana in ChinaAt the "Ramayana: A Timeless Guide" symposium organized by the Indian Embassy in Beijing, Chinese scholars revealed that evidence related to Ramayana in China is found in Buddhist scriptures. In this symposium, Chinese scholars, who have been researching religious and cultural influences for a long time, gave detailed information about the arrival of Ramayana to China and its influence.Professor Dr. Jiang Jingkui of Tsinghua University said that the cultural influence of Ramayana has expanded through inter-cultural transmission. The stories of Ramayana are not limited to Han Chinese culture, but it also has an influence in the Tibetan region, which the Chinese government knows as Xizang.Mention of Shri Ram in Buddhist scripturesThe main medium of dissemination of Ramayana in China has been Buddhist scriptures. According to Professor Jiang, the promoters of Buddhism have associated Dasharatha, Hanuman and other major characters with the teachings of Buddhism. In this process, not only intellectual translation of Ramayana took place but cultural changes were also seen in it.In Chinese literature, parallel to Hanuman, a character named 'Sun Wukong' has also been considered a part of this cultural influence. Professor Liu Jian of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences said in his presentation that the source of the importance of Sun Wukong in Chinese folklore is Hanuman of India. This proves that the image of Ramayana had made its place in Chinese literature as well.Ram's footprints: Discovery of Chinese scholarsSichuan University professor Qiu Yonghui said in his research that there is a temple in Fujian province of China, where idols and symbols of Hindu gods are found. This temple is managed by a Hindu priest. This is an important example of the entry and influence of Indian culture in China through Buddhism. Chinese scholar Xuanzang, who visited India in the seventh century, also mentioned the stories of Ramayana in his travelogues while studying at Nalanda.Influence of Ramayana in TibetThe influence of Ramayana in Tibet was seen during the Tubo Empire, where this epic was presented through literary and theatrical performances. According to Professor Jiang, the stories of Ramayana in Tibet were not limited to classical texts only, but were also popular among the common people.Ramayana: Interpretation of ideal personality and societyThe Ramayana epic is not just a religious text, but it gives a deep interpretation of the ideal society and ideal personality. Through the personality of Shri Ram and his ideal state, this epic realizes the concept of 'ideal' in Indian culture. According to Chinese scholars, Ramayana is not only an epic but it is also a cultural bridge that connects civilizations.ConclusionThis research of Chinese scholars once again proves the fact that Ramayana is not just a religious text, but a historical epic that has left its indelible mark on various cultures. The story of Shri Ram's life and the influence of his ideals are deeply prevalent not only in India, but also in countries like China and Tibet.