Introduction: Ji Xianlin and Sino-Indology

Ji Xianlin (1911-2009) was one of the founders of Sino-Indology, a field of study that seeks to examine the exchanges between and pursue comparative analysis of Indian and Chinese civilisations. The requirements for the field include knowledge of several ancient and modern languages and familiarity with the history and culture of different regions of Asia. Ji's scholarship exemplified his profound understanding of Indian, Chinese and Central Asian societies and expertise in Classical Chinese, Sanskrit, Tokharian and other languages. With these basic scholarly tools, Ji published essays and books on topics ranging from the origins of the Chinese term for the Buddha to the impact of Rabindranath Tagore on Chinese literature. Ji Xianlin's contributions to the academia went beyond his scholarship. He was instrumental in setting up various institutes and organisations in China, involved in the launching of several journals, and became a strong advocate for friendly relations between India and China. The articles on Indo-China interactions included in this special issue of China Report are dedicated to the memory of this eminent Sino-Indologist. [Reprinted by permission of Sage Publications Ltd., copyright holder.]