In 2005, archeologists working in Nankang village of China’s Xi’an city found a joint tomb from the 6th century, sealed for about 1,441 years. Inside, lay a couple whose burial had Chinese motifs mixed with Indian and even Roman influences. The man was Li Dan (505-564 CE), a connection between South Asia and East Asia. His life and lineage, revealed through both stone and DNA, would rewrite a snippet of Silk Road history. Buried near the ancient capital of Chang’an, he was not only a Chinese aristocrat but was also of Indian descent— a Brahmin.
Xu Feihong, China’s Ambassador to India, on Friday shared this discovery that seems straight out of a historical novel. The tweet noted: “Genetic analysis has shown that Li Dan, who promoted Buddhism in northern China 1,400 years ago, was an ancient Indian descendant. His tomb in northern China combines Chinese and Indian elements, making it a remarkable testament to cultural exchange along the Silk Road.”…..
