Early Visitors to Santubong
487-488 CE
In the Song Shu (宋书 Liu Song History Annals), which was edited by Shen Yue (沈约, 441–513) during the Nan/Southern dynasty, are records concerning the Poli nation (婆利国). The Poli nation was considered Santubong. All records show the arrival of emmissarys from Poli to pay tribute to China.
610-673 CE
Yan Liben (阎立本 610–673) officially recorded the arrival of the emissary of the Poli nation with the object of paying tribute to the emperor of China, the Poli nation being a nation of less developed in great detail in the year 631. At that time, the three South Sea nations, Campadesa (林邑, present-day Vietnam), Poli,(Santubong) (南蛮诸国) and Luo Cha (罗刹, present-day Sri Lanka) sent emissaries to the capital of China, Chang’an. The prime motive, of course, was to gain favor with the great regional power and in the process obtain support and protection from the imperial court of China against enemies.
800
Examining the mid-seventh century, many scholars are of the opinion that the Srivijaya Empire, which ruled the Malay Archipelago at that time, also ruled a substantial part of the western side of Borneo Island). This meant that Borneo was under great influence from a Hindu kingdom that practiced Mahayana Buddhism from the seventh to the thirteenth century AD Until the fourteenth- to fifteenth-centuries AD, the Empire of Majapahit controlled almost all of the coastal areas of Borneo except the southwest, in addition to the interior regions. This regional power, the “Hindu–Javanese Kingdom,” was very powerful, and it had a great impact on Borneo as regards politics and culture.
900
Arab and Persian geographers relate visiting the area east of Malaya and collecting camphor from Santubong. The Arabs did not name individual ports in their writings but did name camphor, a treasured Arab comodity exported from Santubong. The Chinese in their missives related to the presence of Arabs( Dashi (大食) in the Poni area, which included Santubong.
Middle Eastern glass type beads found in Santubong are consistent withIslamic-world trade networks, likely transmitted by Arab or Persian Muslim traders.
966-1408
Oral history states a Prince from Tanjungpura came to Santubong and established a dynasty.
1408
Indrana Rajian converts to Islam and Santubong became an Islamic kingdom.
1489
War erupts between Brunei and Santubong
1512
Brunei forces invade Santubong. The city is destroyed.
1573
In “Wanli” (万历, 1573–1620), there is noted a man from Zhang Zhou (漳州) China with the family name “Zhang” (张), upon whom was bestowed the honorific “Dato’ (那督)” in Borneo. This honorific was normally given only to those who had contributed significantly to the community, and therefore it is reasonable to surmise that the Chinese were already playing significant roles in the society of Borneo at this time.
1739
There are also some unusual records that involved relations between China and Borneo. In the Ming Shi (明史), volume 325, “A Biography of Foreign Countries,” it is recorded that Emperor Yongle (r.1402-14240(永乐皇帝) conferred the honors of rank and honorific titles on specific leaders of Borneo, notably the king, and bestowed upon them the imperial seal, chop, flag, silk, and much other paraphernalia of authority, which shows that the king was present with the consent and backing of the imperial court.
Parts from:
Wan Kong Ann Examining the Connection Between Ancient China and Borneo Through Santubong Archaeological Sites, Sino-Platonic Papers, No. 236 (April 2013).
Suriani binti Sahari Sarawak River Valley:Early Times to 1840 Kuching: privately printed, 2020
AI has no specific information about the Arabs visiting Santubong. However, it does have references to camphor which was said to be harvested from the area.
Tom McLaughlin for BorneoHistory.net
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