Author: Virarajendra
The Medieval Chola Empire and it's relations with the Chinese Empire - Part 2
(continued from Part - 1)
Early next year the minister Wang Chin-jo presented the Emperor with the "Song of Longevity" as a present of the peoples coming from the four corners of the earth. The emperor composed one in respons to it. It was quite possible Chola envoys and his collegues too would have paricipated in the presentaion of the song.
The next year he left the capital to return in A.D.1016. The Chinese emperor issued an edict to Emperor Rajaraja Chola - 1 and graciously bestowed on him many gifts. However Chola Samudran died whe he reached the Hsiang Yi country where he was buried. The Chinese Emperor felt sorry on hearing same and sent an official to Hsiang Yi country (in the present Hunan province of China) to hold a libation rite.
In the year A.D.1016 with a view of controlling the number of guards accompanying the envoy, deputy, judge from various countries coming to the Chinese capital in future to meet the Chinese Emperor was decided to be limted by the Prefect of Kwang Chou port and accordingly the guards from Chola and Sri Vijaya were limited to 20 numbers while that from Kadarem was limited to ten numbers.
The Emperor Rajaraja Chola - 1 demised in the year A.D.1014, and never lived to know the outcome of the big trade and political delegtion he sent to China and the South-East Asian countries.
With the growing Tamil Trade with China thereafter the Kwang Chou (Canton) thus became the main port of entry into China for Tamil Traders from Chola country, and made this port environs a place of temporary Settlements of many Tamil - Traders and the Warriors accompanying these Traders in safeguarding their interests coming from Chola country. These made them to build Hindu Temples in the Cholian Architectural style at Kuwang Chou with artisons from Tamil Nadu.
The following Video at the URL given below, enlightens on same.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gcb64...yer_detailpage
Note:
There had been few other Hindu Temples in Kwang Chou (Canton = present Quanchow) and the broken sculptures are now kept on display at Quanchow Museum. One such portion of sculpture depicts the Silanthi (spider), Yaanai (elephant) and Sivalingam related to Chola Kochenganaan (one of the 63 Tamil Saiva Saints of Tamil nadu) story found in Tamil Sunderamoorthy Naayanar's "Thiruthondar Thokai" and Seikkilar's Periyapuraanam). This confirms the presense of Tamil Traders at Kuwang Chow during that period.
(2) Period of Rajendra Chola - 1 (A.D.1012-1044)
In the year A.D.1014 Emperor Rajaraja Chola - 1 was succeeded on the Chola throne at Thanjavur by his son Emperor Rajendra Chola - 1 (A.D.1012-1044).
The second Chola trade delegation to China
In the year A.D.1020 (in the fourth reign year 'tien-hi' of Emperor Cheng Sung) a second trade delegation was sent to China by Rajendra Chola - 1 which was lead by the chief ambassodor Pa-lan-te-molie.
On the arrival of the delegation at the port of Kouang-Tcheou, Pa-lan-te-molie died of the disease of exhaustion. However the other members of the delegation were sent to the Chinese court to present the credentials he carried with him to the Chinese Emperor. He treated the other members of the delegation with due respect, and confered the title of "Podre of Traitor" on the deceased Pa-lan-e-molie as in the case of all foreigners who met the same fate, and all members of the delegation were provided with rich presents and sent were back to Chola country.
In the year A.D.1022 the Chinese Emperor Cheng Sung demised and was succeeded on the Chinese throne by Emperor Jen Sung (A.D.1023-1064)
Chola War expedition to South-East Asia
In the year A.D.1024 Emperor Rajendra Chola - 1 despatched Chola forces in many ships and captured the Sri Vijaya of Indonesia, Kadarem of Malaysia and many other South-East Asian countries. With the fall of Sri Vijaya to Cholas, Emperor Rajendra Chola - 1 appointed one of the Chola Princes as his viceroy at Sri Vijaya.
The third Chola trade delegation to China from Sri Vijaya
In the year A.D.1028 (in he sixth reign year 'tien-ching' of the Emperor Jen Sung) the Chola Viceroy Sri Deva (Si-li-tieh-hwa) sent an embassy to Chinese court on behalf of Sri Vijaya kingdom lead by Pu Ta-to-lo-hsieh and his deputy Ya-Chia-lu with tributes. The custom was the envoys from distant countries who brought tribute received a girdle adorned with gold and silver. But this time a girdle entirely of gold was given to them, possibly in recognition of the Chola supremacy in South-East Asia during of period by the Chinese Emperor.
The fourth Chola trade delegation to China
Again in the year A.D.1033 (in the a second reign year 'ming -tao' of the Emperor Jen Sung) another trade delegation of twenty seven envoy were sent under the Chola ambassador named Pou-ya-toli to China by Rajendra Chola - 1. He carried a letter from Rajendra Chola - 1 written in characters of gold to the Chinese Emperor, and presented him with a dress and a cap ornamented wih pearls, and hundred and five 'leang' pearls and hundred pieces of ivory.
This ambassador mentioned that many embassies which left his country tto China had faced storms in the sea and have perished along with their goods. He expressed his great desire to advance right up to the front of the imperial throne and perform the ceremony called Sa-tien which was in his view was the greatest way of show his respect to the emperor.
The prmission was granted and the ambassador put all the pearls on a silver tray which he raised above his head after kneeling down, and then he spread them at the feet of the Emperor, who provided him with honorary titles.
Emperor Rajendra Chola - 1 was followed by Emperor Rajadhiraja Chola - 1 (A.D.1018-1054], and Emperor Rajendra Chola - 2 (A.D.1051-1063) on the Chola throne.
(3) Period of Virarajendra Chola - 1 (A.D.1063-1070)
Emperor Rajendra Chola - 2 demised in the year A.D.1063 and was succeeded by Emperor Virarajendra Chola (A.D.1063-70) on the Chola throne.
During this time the Chinese Emperor Jen Sung demised and was succeeded by Emperor Ying Sung (A.D.1064-1068) on the Chinese throne.
In the year 1065 the Chola Viceroy at Sri Vijaya and overlord of Kadarem was defeated by the next intended successor from the original Sailendra dynasty of Sri Vijaya. The Chola viceroy approached Emperor Virarajendra to regain his position at Sri Vijaya, and on his request another Chola expedition was sent to Sri Vijaya in the year A.D.1067 under the command of Kulothunga Deva (A.D.1064-1070) king of the Vengi kingdom, which became part of the Chola Empire under Virarajendra Chola in the year A.D.1064 (Kulothunga Deva later succeeded to the Chola Empire in A.D.1070 as Emperor Kulothunga Chola - 1 (A.D.1070-1120).
The fifth Chola trade delegation to China from Sri Vijaya
He reinstated the Chola viceroy at Sri Vijaya and remained at Sri Vijaya for some time until condiions at Sri Vijaya settled. It was during this period Kulothunga Deva (Ti Hua Ka Lo) in the year A.D.1067 paid a visit to the Chinese court with tributes and he was given the title by the Chinese Emperor Ying Sung as "Great General who supports Obedience and cherishes Renovation".
The Emperor provided with an imperal edict which read as follows: "Our reputation and Our teachings overshadow all countries whether far or near and if their people are only loyal and dutiful, we always give them Chinese titles favouring them with fine names in order to distinguish their countries. You have gladly obeyed our high influence and come across the sea to bring valuable articles as tribute. We praise you for this and have raised your rank in order to give an encouragement to loyalty and dutifulness"
On his return through the Kwang Chou port (Canton) he heard of a great Tao temple which was destroyed and burnt in A.D.1052 by a Chinese Bandit chief named Lang of Kwang Yuen and it remained in ruins with no one to reinstate. King Kulothunga Deva on his return from the Chinese court to Sri Vijaya sent his envoy named Chih Lo Lo to escort his ships to the seaport city Kwang Chou to investigate in to the position of this temple. He saw this Tao temple ruins and returned back and reported to king Kulothunga Deva.
In the same year A.D.1067 (in the fourth reign year 'chih ping' o Emperor Ying Sung) prince Rajendra Chola sent Chola Sha-Wen to Kwang Chou port to meet the Prefectural Authority of Kwang Chou seaport city and begin the construction of the main Gate of the temple. In the year A.D.1068 (first reign year 'nsi ning' of Emperor Shen Sung)
(3) Period of Kulothunga Chola - 1 (A.D.1070-1120)
After the demise of Athirajendra Chola the Kulothungha Chola - 1 (A.D.1070-1120) succeeded on the Chola throne in the year A.D.1070.
During this period the Chinese Emperor Ying Sung too demised and was succeeded by Emperor Shen Sung (A.D.1068-1086) on the Chinese throne
The sixth Chola trade delegation to China
In the year A.D.1077 a further trade delegation was sent to China by Kulothunga Chola - 1 (in the tenth reign year 'hi-ning' of Emperor Shen Sung). The Chinese Emperor Shen Sung sent an officer of the Inner Department to bid welcome to them.
(continued in Part - 3)
