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"India conquered and dominated China culturally for 20 centuries without ever having to send a single soldier across her border."

January 1, 1970

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Added on April 10, 2026

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Philosophers from China Educators from China Essayists from China Ambassadors of China Academics from China

Original Language: English

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The above is a widely known quote. However, some claim what Hu Shih said was "Rather than sending soldiers, India sent a few missionaries to conquer China culturally." Others claim that Hu Shih was not praising Indian culture at all and was in fact a reformist who viewed Indian philosophy negatively, blaming Indian introduced philosophy from monks like Xuanzang for destroying scientific empricism unlike earlier Chinese philosophers of the Warring States period.

https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Hu_Shih

The above is a widely known quote. However, some claim what Hu Shih said was "Rather than sending soldiers, India sent a few missionaries to conquer China culturally." Others claim that Hu Shih was not praising Indian culture at all and was in fact a reformist who viewed Indian philosophy negatively, blaming Indian introduced philosophy from monks like Xuanzang for destroying scientific empricism unlike earlier Chinese philosophers of the Warring States period.