Nalanda Professorship in India-China Studies: Events

ARI-ACM LECTURE – Xuanzang in History, Imagination, and Art
August 6, 2025

This event is jointly organised by the Asian Civilisations Museum (ACM) and the Asia Research Institute, National University of Singapore, and held in conjunction with the Nalanda Professorship in India-China Studies.

The Chinese monk Xuanzang (602?–664) is a towering figure in the history of Buddhist interactions between ancient China and India. His journey to India between 629 and 645, recorded in the Record of the Western Regions of the Great Tang, remains a vital source for understanding the state of Buddhist doctrine and practice across Central and South Asia in the seventh century. Upon returning to Tang China, Xuanzang’s extensive translation work played a critical role in shaping Chinese Buddhist traditions. More than a historical figure, he has come to symbolise the intellectual, spiritual, and cultural aspirations that have long animated exchanges between India and China. 

This event explores Xuanzang’s legacy through historical records, images he brought from India, and evolving representations of Xuanzang as the archetypal pilgrim. It invites us to reflect on the many ways this legendary monk has shaped – and continues to shape – ideas about inter-Asian connectivity.

ARI ASIA TRENDS 2025 – Why India and China? Historical Significance and Contemporary Relevance
April 22, 2022

This Asia Trends lecture is held in conjunction with the Nalanda Professorship in India-China Studies.

ABSTRACT

The past two decades have witnessed a surge in publications employing a China-India framework to examine Asia and the world. These studies emphasize the role of China and India in facilitating the circulations of religious, artistic, and scientific ideas during the first millennium, the significance of commercial goods and markets in these regions in shaping European colonial expansion, and their enduring influence on global politics and economies since the 1950s. This presentation explores some of these historical contributions and the continuing impact of China and India in the contemporary global arena. It argues that framing these two ancient civilizations—now modern nation-states—together offers a valuable lens for understanding a wide range of topics, from premodern intra-Asian interactions to contemporary global challenges.