How Ashoka and Kanishka Spread Indian Culture East & West

Summary

This script delves into the cultural legacies of two of India's greatest emperors, Ashoka the Great and Kaniska the Great. Ashoka unified the Indian subcontinent, later embracing Buddhism and promoting peace, while sending embassies to spread dharma across the world. Kaniska, a descendant of the Tushara kings, expanded the Kushan Empire across Central Asia and northern India, fostering cultural exchange through art, religion, and trade. Both emperors played pivotal roles in spreading Indian culture, with Ashoka impacting Southeast Asia and Kaniska influencing East Asia, shaping the cultural landscape of these regions for centuries.

Takeaways

• 😀 Ashoka was a unifier of India and expanded the Maurya Empire to its greatest territorial extent, creating a stable and prosperous empire.
• 😀 After his brutal conquest of Kalinga, Ashoka adopted Buddhism, becoming a patron of peace and non-violence, promoting the dharma.
• 😀 Ashoka sent embassies to Greece, Sri Lanka, and Southeast Asia, spreading Buddhism and Indian culture beyond the subcontinent.
• 😀 Ashoka’s children, Mahendra and Sanghamitra, played a pivotal role in spreading Buddhism to Sri Lanka, where the Bodhi tree sapling was planted.
• 😀 Ashoka’s influence extended to Thailand and Southeast Asia, where Buddhism and Indian cultural practices were introduced and embraced.
• 😀 Kanishka, the emperor of the Kushan Empire, was a great patron of culture and religion, supporting diverse traditions including Buddhism, Hinduism, and Zoroastrianism.
• 😀 Under Kanishka, two major schools of art flourished: the Matura style (Indian) and Gandhara style (blending Greek and Indian elements).
• 😀 Kanishka’s empire controlled important trade routes between India, China, and the Roman Empire, fostering cultural exchanges across continents.
• 😀 Kanishka sent Buddhist missionaries and scholars to China, which ultimately helped Indianize China and spread Buddhism to East Asia (Korea, Japan, Mongolia).
• 😀 Kanishka’s rule is credited with the spread of Indian culture to China and other parts of East Asia, beginning a long-lasting cultural connection that influenced Chinese philosophy, art, and religion.

Q & A

What were Ashoka's major contributions to spreading Indian culture?

Ashoka, after unifying the Indian subcontinent, became a great patron of Buddhism and dharma. He sent embassies to Greece, Sri Lanka, Southeast Asia, and other parts of the world to spread Indian culture. He also funded the construction of temples, monasteries, and viharas, and sent his children, Mahendra and Sanghapita, to Sri Lanka to spread Buddhism.

What is the significance of Ashoka's embassy to Greece?

Ashoka's embassy to Greece was a significant diplomatic effort to spread Indian culture and Buddhism. He sent religious scholars along with the embassies to promote dharma. This helped foster cultural exchange between India and Greece, despite the lack of long-term Indianization in the West.

What role did Ashoka's children play in spreading Indian culture?

Ashoka’s children, Mahendra and Sanghapita, played a crucial role in spreading Buddhism to Sri Lanka. They brought a sapling from the original Bodhi tree, planted it in Sri Lanka, and established Buddhism as a dominant religion there, which continues to this day.

How did Ashoka influence Southeast Asia?

Ashoka spread Indian culture, particularly Buddhism, to Southeast Asia, including modern-day Thailand, through his diplomatic efforts. His influence in spreading dharma helped establish Buddhism in the region, and it became a major cultural and religious force in countries like Thailand.

What was the Kushan Empire and how did Kaneshka contribute to Indian culture?

The Kushan Empire, ruled by Kaneshka, was a vast empire that stretched across northern and western India to parts of Central Asia and China. Kaneshka was a major patron of art, culture, and religion, funding the Matura and Gandhara schools of art. He promoted Buddhism and spread Indian culture eastward to China, Korea, and Japan.

What is the significance of the Matura and Gandhara art schools?

The Matura and Gandhara art schools thrived under Kaneshka’s patronage. The Matura school produced distinctive sculptures, while the Gandhara style was known for blending Buddhist depictions with Hellenistic influences. Both schools of art were influential in shaping the visual representation of Buddhism during Kaneshka's reign.

How did Kaneshka’s empire impact trade between India, China, and Rome?

Kaneshka’s empire controlled trade routes between India, China, and Rome, which made his empire a vital hub for commerce. He took taxes on trade flowing both east and west, making his empire enormously wealthy and promoting cultural exchanges along these routes.

What role did Kaneshka play in the 'Indianization' of China?

Kaneshka was instrumental in the 'Indianization' of China. Through his trade and diplomatic embassies, he sent scholars, Buddhist monks, and dharma teachers to China. His efforts helped introduce Indian culture and Buddhism to China, which later spread to Korea, Japan, and other parts of East Asia.

Why is Kaneshka considered one of the greatest Indian emperors despite his foreign origins?

Kaneshka is considered one of the greatest Indian emperors due to his immense contributions to the spread of Indian culture and Buddhism, as well as his patronage of art and religion. While he was of foreign descent, he identified strongly with Indian culture and promoted it across his empire, making him a key figure in Indian history.

What is the relationship between the Tusharas, the Kushans, and Indian culture?

The Tusharas, later known as the Kushans, were originally from the Tarim Basin (modern-day Xinjiang, China). Despite their foreign origins, the Kushans assimilated into Indian culture and became key promoters of Indian traditions, art, and Buddhism. Kaneshka, a descendant of the Tusharas, played a major role in spreading Indian culture across Central Asia and East Asia.