India of Gupta Period — HISTORY STD 11 Arts — Question
Gujarat BoardEnglish MediumSTD 11 ArtsHISTORYIndia of Gupta Period5 Marks
Question
Give information about Fahian.
✓
Answer
The travelogue "Fo-Fo-Kyu" by the Chinese traveler Fahiyan provides information on the political, socio-economic and religious spheres of the Gupta period in India.
$1.$ Political realm: Fahiya traveled to India during the reign of Emperor Chandragupta.
However he says nothing about Emperor Chandragupta.
Yet his description of the political situation at the time is extremely detailed and important.
The monarchy of that time was liberal and efficient.
The people were happy, free, secure and prosperous.
The king was central and supreme in the administration.
He appointed bureaucrats and kept a close eye on their work.
They were paid in cash.
There was peace, order, security and prosperity everywhere in the state.
The crime rate was negligible. Fahiya traveled safely on desolate roads for years.
The people looked at the tourists with respect.
The punishment for the criminals was not very strict.
There was no death penalty.
Repeated offenders and state offenders had their hands cut off.
For the convenience and safety of the tourists, lush trees, wells, wells, lakes and rest houses with free meals were built on the roads.
$2.$ In the social sphere: Regarding the social life of that time, Fahiyan notes that killing of animals, drinking is banned in the entire state.
Most people are vegetarians.
People are fond of festivities, entertainment, costume ornaments.
People are found to be adorned with flowers, virtuous behavior, charity, honesty and philanthropy.
In the capital Pataliputra, the hospital is run with the financial help of kings, rich and well-to-do people.
It provides free treatment and medicine to the disabled, destitute and poor.
The people are educated, cheerful, truthful and enthusiastic.
$3.$ In the economic field: According to Fahian's note, the people of that time were happy and prosperous.
The state derived its income from agricultural revenue and trade tax.
There was a facility to pay the amount of revenue in cash or in the form of yield.
Large economic transactions in the purchase or sale of goods took place in gold, silver or copper coins.
Domestic and foreign trade was prosperous throughout the state.
Import and export trade with foreign countries was done by sea.
Bharuch, Khambhat and Tamralipti were the major ports of foreign trade.
Fahiya is mentioned to have reached Sri Lanka, Java, Sumatra, and China by ship from the port of Tamralipti.
$4.$ In the religious field: According to Fahian's description, there were many Buddhist monasteries and thousands of Buddhist monks in Gandhara, Takshashila, Punjab as well as Peshawar.
Many Buddhist monks lived in about $20$ monasteries in Mathura.
There were several Hinayana monasteries on the banks of the river Ganga in Kanoja.
In the capital Pataliputra, there were $600$ to $800$ Buddhist monks living in many monasteries of Mahayana and Hinayana sects.
Thus, the king and the people had respect for Buddhism and Buddhist monks.
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