Homosexuality and religion supported them. Ancient religious texts such as the Vedas often refer to people of a third gender known as hijra, who are neither female nor male. Some see this third gender as an ancient parallel to modern western lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex identities. Hinduism has taken various positions, ranging from positive to neutral or antagonistic. Referring to the nature of Samsara, the Rigveda, one of the four canonical sacred texts of Hinduism says 'Vikruti Evam Prakriti' (perversity/diversity is what nature is all about, or, what seems unnatural is also natural). A "third gender" has been acknowledged within Hinduism
Religion in China texts were translated into Chinese, including a large number of Indian Tantric texts and the Vedas, which are known in Chinese as the "Minglun" or "Zhilun", or through phonetic transliteration as the "Weituo", "Feituo" or "Pituo". Various Chinese Buddhist monks dedicated themselves to the study of Hindu scriptures, thought and practice. In the Sui (581–618) and later Tang dynasty (618–907), Hindu texts translated into Chinese included the "Śulvasūtra", the "Śulvaśāstra" and the "Prescriptions of Brahmin Rishis". The Tibetans contributed with the translation into Chinese of the "Pāṇinisūtra" and the "Rāmāyaṇa". In the 7th century there was an intellectual exchange between