Quanzhou, door to ancient Maritime Silk Road
A man pays homage at Kaiyuan Temple, one of the oldest Buddhist temples in the country
For centuries, a network of ancient trade routes that would later become collectively known as the “Silk Road” connected vast stretches of the world’s Eastern and Western regions. According to historians, the term “Silk Road” derives its name from the lucrative trade in silk carried out along it, beginning from China’s Han dynasty (206 BC –220 AD). The routes didn’t just facilitate trade between East and West. They ensured the movement and mixing of populations; helping to bring about the transmission of knowledge, ideas, cultures and religious beliefs.
The maritime trade routes were an important part of the Silk Road, and on a recent visit to China, a delegation of Sri Lankan journalists were afforded an opportunity to visit Quanzhou – regarded as the starting point of the ancient Maritime Silk Road.
Located in the south-east coast of China in Fujian Province, Quanzhou served as one of the country’s most important ports through 11th century to the 14th century, welcoming sailors, traders and travellers from around the world. This in turn, helped the city to become a melting pot of different cultures and religions. Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims, Catholics and Jews co-existed within the city. Some of the city’s many prominent historical sites bear testimony to this. The Kaiyuan Temple, with its twin pagoda towers, is one of the oldest Buddhist temples in the country. The city is also home to Qingjing Mosque, which, built in the 11th Century, is China’s oldest mosque.
Several famous medieval explorers have also visited the city, which was known as Zaitun or Zayton by traders from the Arab world. Explorers such as Marco Polo and Ibn Battuta, who visited Quanzhou during its heyday, have described it as one of the biggest harbours in the world, with ships of all sizes from all over the world docking and setting sail.
According to UNESCO, the port was one of the four major Chinese ports in use under the Tang dynasty (618–907 AD) and went on to become the largest port in eastern China during the Song dynasty (960-1279 AD) and Yuan dynasty (1271—1368 AD). It was also linked with about hundred other ports along the Maritime Silk Roads, including Madras in India, Siraf in Iran, Muscat in Oman and Zanzibar.
Sri Lanka’s ports were important trading points along the ancient Maritime Silk Road and economic, political and cultural ties between different Chinese rulers and their counterparts in Sri Lanka throughout history is well-documented. Zheng He (pronounced Cheng Ho), the famous Chinese mariner and fleet admiral, who visited Sri Lanka during several of his seven expeditions during the Ming Dynasty era, began one of his voyages from this port.
Some ancient connections between Quanzhou and Sri Lanka still exist, in the form of Xu Shi Yin e, who is believed to be a direct descendant of a Sri Lankan Prince. Chinese records refer to the prince as Ba Lai Na and state that he had settled in Quanzhou after arriving at the port city as an emissary of the Sri Lankan King.
Tombs where three generations of the prince and his descendants were buried can be found near Quanzhou. Chinese officials claim the engraving on the tombstones bear resemblances to contemporary designs from Sri Lanka.
Accounts differ regarding why this Sri Lankan prince chose to stay on in China rather than return to his homeland. One popular anecdote is that while he was there, word reached him that his cousin had usurped the throne. Faced with imprisonment or death if he returned home, he chose to stay in China. Ms Xu shi though, insisted to us that the story was far less dramatic. According to her, the prince fell in love with the city while studying there and chose to stay on, going onto marry a Chinese noblewoman of Arab origin. The Chinese Emperor eventually gave him the Chinese surname ‘Shi’ and it was under this name that he lived the rest of his days. Xu Shi Yin e is one of the 19th generation descendants of the Sri Lankan prince.
Local historians also differ when it comes to the identity of the prince, who is believed to have been sent to China in 1459AD. Some believe that the prince is the son of King Parakramabahu VI, who ruled the Kingdom of Kotte. There are others however, who say that he was the son of another contemporary ruler, Dedigama Parakramabahu, who is also recorded to have sent envoys to China.
Whatever his origins, the prince is unlikely to have felt out of place in this city, given that it was a hotbed of different cultures.
The city is also famous as a centre for Chinese emigration. According to Chinese records, some 7.5 million overseas Chinese distributed in over 130 countries and regions can trace their ancestry to Quanzhou. The city has long enjoyed close relations with neighbouring Taiwan and about 9 million people in Taiwan of Han nationality are from Quanzhou.
A striking example of Quanzhou’s past as a key trading hub is the remarkably well-preserved wreck of a three-masted merchant vessel dating to the 13th Century reign of China’s Song Dynasty. Discovered by archaeologists from the shore area of Quanzhou Bay in 1974, the ship’s primary cargo of incense wood and spices indicated that it had been returning from a trading mission from Southeast Asia at the time of its sinking. The discovery provided archaeologists with valuable evidence relating to ship-building techniques and maritime trade during the period. The wreck, preserved by the Quanzhou Maritime Museum, is currently housed in a special pavilion belonging to the Kaiyuan Temple.
Seafaring was always a dangerous occupation, and those who set out to sea were well aware that fair winds were vital for their missions. For this they went to Jiuri Mountain, and there you can find dozens of inscriptions carved into its rock faces over the centuries detailing prayers made for fair winds by seafarers before embarking on their voyages.
Today, Quanzhou is a modern, bustling metropolis and local officials are keen on strengthening the region’s historic ties to Sri Lanka. Their hope is that direct flights would be established between Colombo and Quanzhou in the near future as part of these efforts.
(The writer’s visit was sponsored by the Chinese Embassy as part of celebrations to mark the 60th anniversary of the establishment of China-Sri Lanka diplomatic relations)