active 7th century Dandin

Dandin was an Indian Sanskrit writer who flourished around the late 6th to early 8th century, with sources commonly placing him in South India and often linking him with Kanchipuram. Details of his life are uncertain, but he is widely remembered as both a storyteller and a thinker about literature.

Two works are most firmly associated with him: Dashakumaracharita, a prose tale of adventure and intrigue, and Kavyadarsha (The Mirror of Poetry), an important work on poetics. Together, they show both sides of his talent: playful, skillful narrative on one hand, and clear literary analysis on the other.

Dandin's reputation lasted far beyond his own time. Scholars and readers have long valued his polished style, and Kavyadarsha became especially influential in shaping discussions of poetry and literary taste across South Asia and beyond.