Cultural and Civilization Impacts from India and China on the Southeast Asia Region

Abstract

There is a large diaspora of Chinese and Indian people in Southeast Asian countries, numbering over 20 million. Throughout history, Southeast Asia has been profoundly impacted by the artistic, cultural, architectural, religious, and etiquette practices of neighbouring China and India. Historical sites in Southeast Asian nations like Indonesia and Thailand display tales and people from Indian mythology. Indian folklore and art use elements from the Ramayana and other epic tales. The Southeast Asian people's daily lives are rich with influences from Indic culture. The people of India still hold the title of “Vishwa guru” in their hearts. These Southeast Asian nations pay little attention to Chinese culture, despite the fact that it has a written history spanning five thousand years and has been home to numerous philosophers and thinkers, including Confucius, Laozi, and Taoism, among others. The Chinese, who see themselves as the “Center of the world,” sent a naval fleet under Zheng He's command to extend the Ming dynasty's control over Southeast Asia. Zheng He paid royal visits to several island nations during his voyage and presented priceless presents to the rulers, but his visits had little effect on the people's daily lives. After that, trade began to flow between China and Southeast Asian countries, although Chinese culture was considerably overshadowed by Indian culture. This cultural civilization examination of the Chinese and Indians primarily emphasizes Confucianism and Hindutva as determinants. This study employs qualitative analysis and the interdisciplinary framework of civil Culturology. It relies on the inductive technique. It contends that China prioritizes economic development, asserting that such development may foster peace. China prioritizes economic development in its foreign policies. Cultural confidence and autonomous pursuit are fundamental characteristics shown in India's national behavior. These disparities have been recognized to induce misperceptions and impede the economic interactions between the two nations. It is puzzling that China, with the world's second-largest economy, and India, with the world's fourth-largest economy, have not been able to establish cultural domination in these regions.