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In his column What exactly is the Manusmriti?, Devdutt Pattanaik says the Manu mentions China. Which verse(s) is he referring to?

Manusmriti was composed roughly around 200 CE (Common Era). We know this because it refers to Saka (North West tribes) and Cheen (China) who established contact with India around this time.

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  • maybe you can ask him that ? there is a place to leave comments on that blog. – ram Nov 8 '18 at 3:53
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    I usually upvote all questions that I'm answering but this time I have not because I don't agree with the assertions of the author. – Rickross Nov 8 '18 at 12:42
  • @Rickross Which assertion? About 200 CE? Take a look at this intro by Patrick Olivelle in his translation of Manusmṛti. – sv. Nov 9 '18 at 18:09
  • Yes about that one.. Yeah I know that Olivelle has tried to assign time periods of not only Manu Smriti but he did the same for various other Smritis. I use one of his books to write many answers here. But I don't agree with his arguments by which he arrived at those time periods. Not substantial arguments IMO and I hv read them. @sv. – Rickross Nov 10 '18 at 6:34
  • Ok. What is the earliest date of Manu according to you? Whose translation are you using in the answer below. @Rickross – sv. Nov 11 '18 at 15:31
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The word "China", referring to a particular tribe, is found in Manu Smriti 10.44:

10.43. But in consequence of the omission of the sacred rites, and of their not consulting Brahmanas, the following tribes of Kshatriyas have gradually sunk in this world to the condition of Sudras

10.44. (Viz.) the Paundrakas, the Chodas, the Dravidas, the Kambogas, the Yavanas, the Sakas, the Paradas, the Pahlavas, the Chinas, the Kiratas, and the Daradas.

10.45. All those tribes in this world, which are excluded from (the community of) those born from the mouth, the arms, the thighs, and the feet (of Brahman), are called Dasyus, whether they speak the language of the Mlecchas (barbarians) or that of the Aryans

The relevant verse in Sanskrit is:

PoundrakAsha chauda drAvidAh kambojA yavanAh shakAh |
PAradA pahlavAsh chinAh kirAtA daradA khashA ||

So, according to Manu Smriti, all those tribes, including the China tribe, were originally Kshatriyas, but due to non-performance purificatory and sacred rites, they became VrAtyas and degraded themselves to the status of the Sudras.

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  • So 'the China tribe' = China/Chinese or some other tribe close to India? – sv. Nov 8 '18 at 19:21
  • Chinese IMO, the verse also refers to Yavanas (Greeks), Sakas (Hunas) etc. @sv. – Rickross Nov 9 '18 at 6:18

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