Cīna
OtherThe Pāḷi name for China, mentioned in the Milindapañha as a place of maritime trade and noted in the Commentaries for the softness of its silk.
The Pāḷi name of China. It is several times mentioned in the Milindapañha (121, 327), once as a place where ships congregate (359). Nāgasena speaks (121) of a contemporary Cīnarājā who could charm the ocean by an Act of Truth and could enter the ocean to a distance of one league in his chariot drawn by lions, the waves rolling back at his approach.
The Apadāna (ii.359) speaks of the Cīnaraṭṭha in a list of countries and tribes.
The Commentaries (e.g., VibbA.159) speak of the softness of Chinese silk (cīnapata).
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