China Bhavan

Cheena Bhavana in Shantiniketan (celebrated internationally as the Department of Chinese Language and Culture at Visva Bharati Central University, established in April 1937 by Rabindranath Tagore and eminent Chinese scholar Professor Tan Yun Shan to revive ancient civilizational, intellectual, and Buddhist bonds between India and China), situated on the university campus in Shantiniketan in West Bengal, is one of Asia's most historically significant, intellectually prestigious, and architecturally distinctive Sinological research institutions.

Inaugurated in 1937 amidst widespread international acclaim with blessings from Mahatma Gandhi and Chinese leaders, this historic institute was founded on Tagore's principle that 'India and China are two sisters, having the same thoughts and spirit,' creating the very first dedicated centre for Chinese language learning, Sino Indian philosophical research, and Sanskrit Chinese Buddhist translation in modern South Asia.

It's the home of an irreplaceable research library housing over 40,000 rare Chinese volumes (including the complete original woodblock printed Chinese Buddhist Canon 'Tripitaka' or Dazangjing, gifted by the Sino Indian Cultural Society in the 1930s), iconic interior wall murals and calligraphic couplets painted in 1939 by master artist Nandalal Bose depicting the journeys of Chinese Buddhist pilgrims Xuanzang and Faxian to ancient Nalanda, active departments teaching Mandarin Chinese language, literature, and Buddhist logic, research chambers where ancient Sanskrit manuscripts lost in India are reconstructed from classical Chinese translations, and an atmosphere of profound scholarship framed by shaded campus mahogany groves and stone pagodas.

It represents a rich Sino Indian civilizational dialogue, Buddhist Sinology heritage, and Visva Bharati academic sanctuary where Tagore's pan Asian ideals, Tan Yun Shan's scholarship, Nandalal Bose's art, and ancient Nalanda brotherhood unite in Shantiniketan.

Located on the central Visva Bharati campus adjacent to Hindi Bhavana and Nippon Bhavana, it sits just 2.5 km from Bolpur Shantiniketan Railway Station (BHP), 160 km from Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport (CCU) in Kolkata, and 65 km from Durgapur, easily accessible on foot, by toto battery rickshaws, and cycle rentals.

Rabindranath Tagore & Prof. Tan Yun Shan's Vision

Tagore met Professor Tan Yun Shan in Malaya in 1927, inspiring him to come to Shantiniketan to establish a bridge of cultural brotherhood.

Prof. Tan served as the founding director for over thirty years, building one of the greatest collections of Chinese literature outside China.

Truth is, viewing the original 1930s woodblock printed Chinese Buddhist scriptures preserved in the high wooden book stacks is impressive.

The 1939 Nandalal Bose Murals & Xuanzang's Journey

Nandalal Murals: In 1939, master artist Nandalal Bose painted large frescoes inside Cheena Bhavana depicting Buddhist pilgrims crossing mountain snows to reach India.

Calligraphy Panels: Traditional black ink Chinese calligraphy scrolls gifted by Chinese philosophers decorate the main seminar hall.

40,000+ Volume Library & Buddhist Tripitaka Archives

Chinese Tripitaka: The rare Chinese Buddhist Canon containing thousands of sacred sutras was presented directly to Tagore during the institute's founding.

Sanskrit Restoration: Scholars translate ancient Buddhist texts preserved only in Chinese back into their original Sanskrit and Pali forms.

After touring Cheena Bhavana, explore Nippon Bhavana nearby, admire the sculptures at Kala Bhavana, or visit the historic Tagore residences at Uttarayan Complex in Shantiniketan.