Indian–Southeast Asian Contacts and Cultural Exchanges: Evidence from Vietnam

Abstract

The cultural histories of South Asian and Southeast Asian countries are considered to be closely correlated with cultural exchanges and trading networks (Nandana Chutiwongs 1996: 3). Long before the opening of the so called “silk route” and the construction of Buddhist and Hindu temples, which were the result of cultural absorption from Chinese and Indian civilizations, the primitive people already had contacts with each other. Having studied the Bronze Age on mainland Southeast Asia (1500–1000 bce), Charles Higham believes that long-distance exchanges were mainly along the river systems, including goods such as metal ingots, gemstones, shell, carnelian, fine pottery and (now surely perished) organic materials. These goods were used to express social status and make offerings to the dead (Higham 2004: 57). He also notices that from about 500 bce, following the invading route of the Qin and Han China, several societies in mainland Southeast Asia developed with direct influences from Chinese culture. Other areas, further to the south and in the islands, were only indirectly influenced by the expansion of the Han. The long coast and various river systems from the lower delta of the Mekong River to the Chao Phraya created the best conditions for the development of interregional and international exchanges and trading. The demand for luxury goods and local products from the Chinese and Roman empires speeded up the formation of trading mechanisms and societies in South and Southeast Asia (ibid.: 59; Borrel et al. 2014: 110–111). The seafarers, traders and migrants who gradually settled in the islands and on the mainland of Southeast Asia fostered the process of cultural interaction and exchanges. Knowledge about the monsoon created great chances firstly for the Indians and the Arabs and then the Romans to expand their trade and cultural exchanges with Asians, the Southeast Asian people in particularly (Moorhead 1957: 10–11).