History of Indian influence on Southeast Asia Quotes

“Wikipedia: History of Indian influence on Southeast Asia”

“Although attempts have been made from time to time to minimise the extent of Indian influences upon Southeast Asia, the evidence for their importance is there for all to see and cannot be controverted.”

“Indian cultural patterns in particular became widely disseminated during the early centuries AD, while Chinese influence, although culturally less contagious, virtually dominated from Sung times (960 and later) the trade and politics of the eastern seas.”

“Amongst the south-eastern countries, Thailand seems to have witnessed the maximum influence of the Ramayana story. For example, one of its capitals was even named as Ayodhya, wherefrom kings of various dynasties ruled from 1350 to 1767 CE. ... Shadow-plays even today keep the story of Rama alive.”

“Indonesia too has retained the Rama tradition. No visitor to Java can afford to miss the excellent performance of dance-dramas based on the Ramayana story... But what is most breath-taking is the superb portrayal of a number of scenes from the Ramayana in the temples at Prambanam, dated to the 9th century CE.”

“Though China also exercised a considerable influence over countries of Southeast Asia, Indian influence was more effective and durable for the Chinese always remained colonies of foreigners with little inclination to mix with the local population and in contrast to what the Hindus achieved, there is nowhere any trace of the taking-over of Chinese culture by the children of the soil.”

“Indonesia is the country that has the maximum number of muslimsin the world. They are having various unique versions of Ramayana i.e. ‘Kakawin Ramayana’, ‘Swarnadeep Ramayana’, ‘Yogeshwar Ramayana’ just like our country. Lord Rama is venerated & adored there even today. There are ‘Ramker Ramayana’ in Cambodia, ‘Fra Lak Fra Lam Ramayana’ in Lao, ‘Hikayat Seri Ram’ in Malaysia and ‘Ramaken’ in Thailand.”

“The Indianization of Southeast Asia was a slow and gradual process. With a few exceptions... it was carried out by peaceful means and in consequence, as it developed, it did not build up a resistance to its further progress. Though its initial impact was probably at the level of the ruling classes, Indian influence had no difficulty in merging with indigenous cultures to create a series of distinct Southeast Asian amalgams in which it is now virtually impossible to disentangle all the Indians from the non-Indians. The result may not have simplified the task of a cultural historian; but it has now without doubt guaranteed the Indian heritage a place in Southeast Asian civilization from which it cannot possibly be dislodged without the total destruction of that civilization.”

“Chinese culture did not penetrate Southeast Asia as much as Indian culture because of the fundamental difference in the natures of expansion. Indian penetration was not conquest by a central power. India was politically divided and culturally, racially and linguistically diverse and tolerant. It had a long seafaring and trading history and Indian ships continued to sail to China. After the Zhou conquest of the Shang, Chinese thinking was land-based, centrally directed and to an extent racially motivated. It conquered, annexed and brought cultural unity where possible, administrative unity where not. Its influence spread as far south as Hue in Annam, ‘the pacified south’. Merchants in Southeast Asian and Indo-Chinese ports, on the other hand, spread Indian culture. Exchanges of ambassadors or goods between Indian kingdoms and Southeast Asian polities were made on the basis of equality, whereas Chinese expansion required suzerainty and regular tribute. This was and is an important cultural divide; to the north sinicised, conquered, assimilated, authoritarian; to the south Indianised, trade-minded, expansionary, looking southwest to its cultural origins and north for its biggest customer. Indo-China is so-named for good reason.”