Langkasuka

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Prehistoric Malaysia (40,000–2,000 BCE)
Gangga Negara (2nd–11th century CE)
Langkasuka (2nd–14th century)
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Langkasuka (-langkha Sanskrit for "resplendent land" -sukkha of "bliss") was an ancient Hindu Malay kingdom located in the Malay Peninsula. The kingdom along with Old Kedah are probably the earliest kingdom founded on the Malay Peninsula. According to tradition the founding of the kingdom happened in the 2nd century. Malay legends claim that Langkasuka was founded at Kedah, and later moved to Pattani. It is believed that Langkawi derived its name from Langkasuka. The historical record is sparse, but a Chinese Liang Dynasty record (c. 500 AD) refers to the kingdom of "Langgasu" as being founded in the 1st century AD.

As described in the Chinese chronicles, Langkasuka was thirty days' journey from east to west, and twenty from north to south, 24,000 Li in distance from Guangzhou. Its capital was said to be surrounded by walls to form a city with double gates, towers and pavilions. Langkasuka at the beginning adopted Buddhism and south Indian writing system, inhabited by mostly chi-mo (Khmer or Mon Khmer) peoples, ruled by the Hindu Kings. The territory covered east coast Malay Peninsula to the east of Pattani and northeast area, located at long.101°18', lat.6°48', of today's Kedah state. Buddhist monk Yi Jing on his arrival mentioned three Chinese monks lived at Lang-chia-su. The name changed from time to time, known as (Lang-ya-se-chia) during Song dynasty (960-1279), (Long-ya-si-jiao) by Mongol Khan and (Lang-se-chia) by the Ming (1368-1644) of admiral Zheng He in his Mao Kun map.

Langkasuka kingdom.

The name Langkasuka was also mentioned in Malay and Javanese chronicles, while the Chinese chronicles mention a state Lang-ya-hsiu or Lang-chia-shu, which is usually identified to mean the same polity.

In Indian texts, Ilangasoka is named as one of Rajendra Chola's conquests in his expedition against the Srivijaya Empire. It was described as a kingdom that that was "undaunted in fierce battles".

In 515 AD King Bhagadatta first established relations with China, with further embassies sent in 523, 531 and 568. In the 12th century Langkasuka was a tributary to the Srivijaya empire, and around the 15th century it was replaced by the Pattani kingdom.

In 1963, Stewart Wavell led a Cambridge Expedition to locate Langkasuka and Tambralinga. The details of this expedition can be read in "The Naga King's Daughter", published by Antara Books.