The Spread And Influence Of Indian Culture In Champa

The Kingdom of Champa was one of the Southeast Asian countries that had long-standing history and cultural life. Special geographical environment of Champa made it easy to be impacted by foreign cultures. Through its long relative history, Cham were exposed and absorbed the Chinese, Indian and Islamic cultures; In particular, the influence of Indian culture was the deepest. Some scholars have considered the Kingdom of Champa as a " Indianization" in Southeast Asia. They want to stress the crucial role of Indian culture on Champa’s history of culture development. While deliberating about the influence of Indian culture on Champa’s history and culture, some other scholars also noted the formation and the progression process of localizing foreign cultures of ethnic Cham.What were the main factors to promote Indian culture spread on Champa? When? How did Cham accept Indian culture? What role did Indian culture play with Champa’s history and culture? What aspects did Indian culture perform on Cham’s culture? Did Cham actively or passively accept Indian culture? Did Cham’s culture remain after Indian culture propagated? Were there the development and the change? These questions have not been discussed deeply.This thesis retrieve historical materialism as the lodestar guiding, synthesizing survey of historical documents, mainly the historical books from China which have records related to Lin Yi and Champa and the archaeological documentation of Champa, especially the archaeological findings after the seventies of the20th century; systemizing the comprehension in specialized study of the spread and influence of Indian culture for Champa, trying to make my own views and opinions on the issues outlined above; commenting on the views of " Indianizations" of the Western scholar-G. Coedes, focusing on perceptiveness of "Indianizations " can generalize the history of Champa or not? Right or wrong? The extent and scope of the so-called " Indianization" in Champa? The most basic elements did make Champa receive Indian culture? After Indian culture spread into, the local culture of the Cham had longer been maintained? Were there the development and the change?The thesis is divided into five chapters. Chapter I:Giving an overview of Champa history. Describing the natural environment of Champa (including location, geographic and climatic conditions) and Cham ethnic origin, as well as historical Champa profile from the2nd century to the17th century. Chapter Ⅱ:History process of the introduction of Indian culture to Champa, discussing three phases of the spreading. Chapter Ⅲ:The influence of Indian culture to religion in Champa. Chapter Ⅳ:The influence of Indian culture with language, writing and art of Champa. Chapter Ⅴ:Some thinking about India culture spread to Champa, discussing three characteristics of Indian culture spread to Champa and after Indian culture spread into Champa, after the collapse of the Kingdom of Champa, the elements of traditional culture continued to exist, and promoted the important role in social life and cultural life of the Cham people, and commenting on the views of "Indianizations" of the Western scholars.The author has pointed out:Indian culture spread to Champa had gone through three stages, namely Sa Huynh culture period (first phase), Lin Yi period (Lin Yi, stage of development) and the period of the Kingdom of Champa (spread comprehensive period); Indian culture spread to Champa had three specific characteristics, which were led by commerce, the dominance of religion and religious based Brahman (Brahmanism), serving monarchs;The institutional spread "Mandalas" of India and the concept of "god-king"(king and god unified) for the sacred rituals of kingship in Champa had provided a theological basis for the illegality of the formation and development of politics in Champa.The spread of the caste system of India had made Champa’s society exist differentiation, the Kshatriyas (class of the aristocrat prizefighters), Brahmin (priesthood)-Kshatriya accounted for dominance;For the fields of religion, literature, architecture, music, dancing, visual art. Indian culture had a significant impact, had spurred the development of civilization in the region of Champa; Cham culture inherent characteristics of indigenous, such as the existence of grave burial jars, sexual symbols cult worship, worship of nature, matriarchal society and the transmission links living life to the production in dancing. etc. Combined with the royalty regime, serving kingship was the main reason for Indian culture had been supported in Champa, and also the main cause of the decline of Indian culture in Champa after the Champa kingdom collapsed;I think that:In terms of socio-political, religious, language, literature, calendar, architectural sculpture of Champa culture, Indian culture had left a deep imprint. However, the cultural influence of India on Champa was a gradual process, selective, rather than purely "Indianization". While exposing and absorbing the influence of Indian culture, Cham still kept their own unique traditional culture, and then they combined with Indian culture, and created special cultural identity of their own.