Relationship of the Cholas with the Chinese

The Cholas are one of the three major Tamil kingdoms that ruled over the ancient Tamilakam region of India.

The Chola Empire during the reign of Rajendra Chola I in 1030 CE

The first records of a relationship between the Chinese and Cholas dates back to second century BC. As per Ban Gu's work Book of Han (Ch'ien Han Shu), a Chinese ambassador was sent to the Chola Empire. He has also mentioned that he had seen many unprecedented objects which are unseen at China, at the city of kuvangtche. Berend, an acoustics expert, annotates that the city named by Ban Gu is analogous with the acity of Kanchi.^[1] During the reign of the later Cholas such as Rajendra Chola I (1016–1033 CE) and Kulothunga Chola I (in 1077 CE), commercial and political diplomats were sent to China.^[2][3]

Chinese coins have been found during excavations in parts of central Tamil Nadu such as Olayakkunnam and Thaalikkottai, which were part of the earlier Chola Empire.^[4]

See also

• Relationship of the Tamils with the Chinese