Sanfotsi
Sanfotsi (Chinese rendering: "三佛齊"), according to historian Paul Kekai Manasala was a Prehispanic Philippine state that stretched from Lingmayon (Lingayen Gulf) in Luzon, Philippines until Palimbang (Pa-lin-fong) in Sumatra, Indonesia.[1] It was purportedly a large thalassocracy ruled by a high-king exercising sovereignty over several states that were dependencies of Sanfotsi. Although there is the consideration that Sanfotsi belonged to Palembang proper, recent scholars say the territorial extent was more vast.[2]
Accounts
Sanfotsi, as a state has had many recorded accounts, the majority of which are from Chinese sources such as the Chinese annals, Chu-fan-chi written by Chau Ju-kua as interpreted by Hirth and Rockhill and the Chou Ku-fei.
Chu-fan-chi
| “ | Sanfotsi lies between Chon-la (Kamboja) and Sho-po (Java). Its rule extend over fifteen chou (provinces). It lies due south of Tsu'an-chou. In the winter, with the monsoon, you sail a little more than a month and then come to Ling-ya-mon (Lingayen Gulf), where one-third of the passing merchants before entering this country of Sanfotsi.
A large proportion of the people are surnamed P'u (Umpu,Palembang/South Sumatra called for old honor person; Apu, A Filipino honorific). The people either live scattered about outside the city, or on the water on rafts of boards covered over with reeds, and these are exempt from taxation. They are skilled at fighting on land or water. When they are about to make war on another state they assemble and send for the such a force as the occasion demands. They appoint chiefs and leaders, and all provide their own military equipment and the necessary provisions. In facing the enemy and braving death they have not their equal among other nations. During most of the year the climate is hot, and there is but little cold weather. Their domestic animals are very much like those of China. They have wine of flowers, wine of coconuts, and wine of areca nuts and honey, all fermented, though without any yeast of any kind, but they are so intoxicating to drink. |
” |
Chou Ku-fei
| “ | Sanfotsi is in the Southern Ocean (South China Sea). It is the most important port-of-call on the sea-routes of the foreigners from the countries of Toupo on the east and from the countries of the Arabs and Kulin (Thailand) to the west; they all pass through on the way to China.
The country has no natural products, but the people are skilled in fighting. When they are about to fight, they cover their bodies with a medicine which prevents swords wounding them (anting-anting?). In fighting on land or on water none surpass them in impetousity of attack; even the Kulin people come after them. If some foreign ship, passing this place, should not enter here, an armed party would certainly come out kill them to the last. |
” |
Interpretation
Examining the accounts above we find that Sanfotsi was to the south of China, and was, in fact, due south of the port of Ts'uan-chou. This is supported by an official historical document describing the trade routes of the South, which mentions the voyage from Sanfotsi to China.
| “ | Sanfotsi is an important thoroughfare on the sea-routes of the foreigners on their way to and fro. Ships (leaving it for China) sail due north, and having passed the Shang-hia-chu islands and the sea of Kiau-chi (Tongking), they come within the limits of China." | ” |
Since the Philippines is the only area exactly and directly due south of the port of Ts'uan-chou and that several place names: Lingmayon (Lingayen) and Poni (Panay) have corroboration with the accounts, the previous theory that Sanfotsi be in Indonesia is suspect. Palinfong (Palembang) as recorded in the Chinese records, was only a dependency of San-fot-si.
References
- ↑ Etymology of "Sanfotsi" (三佛齊) (Article)
- ↑ Quest of the Dragon and Bird Clan by Paul Kekai Manansala
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 CHAU JU-KUA, Chau ju-kua: his work on the Chinese and Arab trade in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries : entitled Chu-fan-chi, translated from the Chinese and annotated by Friedrich Hirth and W. W. Rockhill. Taipei : Literature House, 1965