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Author: Virarajendra

The Medieval Chola Empire and it's relations with the Chinese Empire - Part 1

(1) Introduction

With the beginning of the tenth century the Cholas with their capital in Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu, emerged as a powerful ruling dynasty after a long spell in partial obscurity in the political scene of South India.

(2) Period of Rajaraja Chola - 1 (A.D.985-1014)

In the year A.D.985 King Rajaraja Chola-1 (A.D.985-1014) ascended the throne at Thanjavur as the next successor of the Chola kingdom. He gradually conquered the neighbouring and far lying territories within the Indian continent forming a great Chola empire.

In the parallel period in China there existed the mighty Sung empire ruled by a royal dynasty named the Northern Sungs. This empire embraced a region - more or less the right half of the present China below the present Beijing, with its capital city at Dongjing (the present city of Kaifeng) on southern side of the river Hwang Ho (Yellow river).

At the time of of ascension of Rajaraja Chola - 1 on the Chola throne in Tamil Nadu, the Emperor Tai Tsung (A.D.976-997) of the Northern Sung Dynasty was ruling in China.

Rajaraja Chola - 1 laid a firm foundation to this empire by the wits of his political ingenuity and well streamlined administrative system backed by a powerful army and naval power which made it to grow steadily into an overseas empire.

During this period Nagapattinam the great 'seaport city' of medieval Cholas on the east coast of Tamil Nadu was well known to the traders of South-East Asia and China, and there had been active sea traffic between Tamil Nadu and these countries on account of trade. At this seaport city there had been traders from eighteen different countries including China, trading in their commodities and some of them settled down at Nagapattinam.

In the year A.D.997 the Chinese Emperor Tai Tsung demised and was succeeded by Emperor Cheng Tsung (A.D.998-1022) on the Chinese throne.

The first Chola trade and political delegation to China

Emperor Rajaraja Chola - 1 learnt from the Chinese and South-East Asian traders at Nagapattinam on the greatness of the Northern Sung Empire of China, and the ruling Chinese Emperor Cheng Tsung of that period. He with a view of strengthening the existing trade relations with new political relations with China and the relations with the other countries in Sourh-East Asia, decided to send a special delegation to pay homage to the Chinese Emperor and visit the other countries.

In the year A.D.1012 Rajaraja Chola - 1 sent for the first time a delegation of fifty two envoys with four great officers headed by his Vice Minister Chola Samudran (Choli-San-ouen), his deputy Pou-kia-sin a Judge Weng Wu and guards lead by Ya-kin-kia travelled from Thanjavur (the Chola interior capital city) to Nagapattinam (Na Wu Tan Shan) seaport city on the west coast (of present India) and embarked to China.

They touched in at Sri Lanka (Choli Seylan = northern half of Sri Lanka under the rule of Cholas), and after seventy seven days reached the kingdom of Rammanadesa (Tchen-Pin Kuo) of present lower Miyanmar.

From here they travelled for sixty one days and reached the kingdom of Kadarem (Ku Lo Kuo = Kedah country) of the present north Malaysia adjacent to sea having a mountain named the Sunghai Bujang (also known as Ku Lo = Kedah Peak). The only other island they stopped on the way was Yi Mo Lo Li.

They set sail from Kadarem for seventy one days on the way called at Chia Pa Island, Chan Pu Lao Island, and Chou Pao Lung Island, and reached the kingdom of Sri Vijaya (San Fo Chi Kuo - Palembang country) of the Sri Vijaya Empire on the lower east Sumatra of present Indonesia, ruled by the Buddhist Emperor Mara Vijayotungavarman (A.D.1008-1020).

The delegation again set sail for anothr eighteen days and crossed Man Shan Island, touched at Tien Chu Island and arrived at the Pin Tou Lang Island. The last leg of their sail from here took another twenty days callng at Lan Shan Island and Chiu Hsing Shan Island and finally at the Pi Pa Island at the Kouang-Tcheu port (the 'Canton port' now known as Guangzhou port) in the south of China (opposite present Taiwan island).

The Chola delegation reached the port of Kouang-Tcheou port of China in the year A.D.1015 (in the 8th 'reign year 'ta-tchong-siang-fou' of Emperor Cheng Sung) after 1150 days from the time they left the Chola Country (in the year A.D.1012), and of this total time taken 247 days was entirely for the sea travel. Hence it is very clear the balance 903 days being around two and half years were spent at the kingdoms of Rammanadesa, Kadarem and Sri Vijaya.

Probably the objective of the Emperor Rajaraja Chola - 1 in sending a big delegation to South-East Asia in addition to their intended official homage to the Emperor Cheng Sung of China, was to build new political and trade relations with the kingdoms of Rammanadesa, Kadarem and Sri Vijaya empire, headed by one of his four high ranking officers of his empire the Choli Samudran.

Note:

Though the contemporary period Chinese historcal annals mentions of the arrival of the Chola delegation at Rammanadesa, Kadarem and Sri Vijaya it doesnot mention any details of their stay at this cities. However we could be very definite that this Chola delegation met the kings of Rammanadesa, Kadarem and Sri Vijaya Emperor Mara Vijayotungavarman at their capital cities and would have paid homage and strengthened further their existing political and trade relations.

This is confirmed by the very fact that Mara Vijayountunavarman's father the Emperor Chulaamanivarman (A.D.998-1008) of Sri Vijaya was granted by Emperor Rajarja Chola - 1 in A.D.1006 the Aanimangalam village at the Nagapattinam Seaport city in the Chola Country, to build a Buddhist temple named as Chulaamanipanma Vihare with the lands being exempted from taxes. While this Vihare was being constructed Emperor Chulaamanivarman demised in the year A.D.1008 and the construction of the Vihare was completed by his son Mara Vijayotunavarman. This good Chola-Sri Vijaya relationship existed up to A.D.1023.

We also note during this perod there had been active trade between Rammanadesa (also known as Arumanam in Tamil) and Kadaaram, and the teak wood which was imported to Chola contry fromn Rammanadesa was known as 'Arumanavan' and the iron from Kadaaram was known as the 'Kadaaraththu Irumbu'.

Hence it is very clear the Chinese source wouldnot have taken interest to detail the delegation's visit to Rammanadesa, Kadarem and Sri Vijaya, as the objective of the Chinese source material was only to detail the Chola-Chinese relationships.

The Chola trade and political delegation in the Chinese Court

On arrival of the delegation in A.D.1015 the Chinese emperor instructed a protocal official Shi-Yu-chih to accomodate and accompany Soli Samudra and is collegues and the entertainment and privileges provided to him be same as that of the envoy of Kucha.

Chola delegation advanced right up t the steps of the throne and there deposited the pearls and precious stones on a tray and drawing back to the furthest end of the hall of audience made two deep bows. The interpreter explained that they meant by that to show their respect and their attachment from far as well as from near.

They also read a letter from Emperor Rajaraja Chola - 1 to the Chinese Emperor Cheng Sung and the interpreters in translating their speech said they wished to evince the respect of a distant nation for Chinese civilisation. They paid tributes consisting of their country’s native products, a robe and heawear woven of pearls, pearls, ivory, spices, and medicinal herbs.

In return the Chinese Emperor treated well the Chola Samudran and his collegues bestowed on the Chola envoy, cloths, garments, sacrificial animals and wine.

On the birthday of the Chinese Emperor they were invited to attend his official celebration, and Chola Samudran and his colleagues asked the monks of the Chi’I Sheng Chan Monastery to join them for the celebration.

(continued in Part - 2)

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