Funan
Funan (Old Khmer Bnam, Vietnamese Phù Nam) was a pre-Angkor Indianized kingdom located around the Mekong delta, believed to have been established in the A.D. first century by a Mon-Khmer people, although extensive human settlement may have gone back as far as the 4th century B.C. Funan, said to be by the Chinese envoys as a single unified empire was actually likely to be a collection of city-states. War was common among the city-states but they were also unified at times. At its height, Funan and all its principalities covered much of mainland Southeast Asia from modern day south Vietnam, parts of Laos, Thailand, Burma and extending into the Malay peninsula. Little is known about it, except that it was a powerful trading state. This is evidenced by the discovery of Roman, Chinese, and Indian goods during archaeological excavations at Oc Eo in southern Vietnam. The capital was initially located at Vyadhapura, near the modern Cambodian town of Phumi Banam in the Prey Veng Province, though it may have been moved to Oc Eo at a later time.
Origin
The Funanese were likely Mon-Khmer, related to the Mon of Burma and the ancestors of modern Cambodians. They were likely the only close relatives of the Ancient Khmers and hybridized into a single ethnic when Chenla absorbed Funan in the 5th century A.D. Some debated that the Funanese were of Malay origin, but evidence are so far invalid. According to reports by two Chinese envoys, K'ang T'ai and Chu Ying, the state was established by an Indian Brahmin named Kaundinya, who in the first century C.E. was given instruction in a dream to take a magic bow from a temple and defeat a Khmer queen, Soma. Soma, the daughter of the king of the Nagas, married Kaundinya and their lineage became the royal dynasty of Funan. The myth had the advantage of providing the legitimacy of both an Indian Brahmin and the divinity of the cobras, who at that time were held in religious regard by the inhabitants of the region. It is debated whom found Funan. However, it is very unlikely that the empire were founded by Indian traders because they would likely not hold the knowledge needed to start an empire. It is thought Funan existed before Indianization but gained political power and territories through trade and cultural exchange with India.
History
The Funanese Empire reached its furthest extent under the rule of Fan Shih-man in the early third century C.E., extending as far south as Malaysia and as far west as Burma. The Funanese established a strong system of mercantilism and commercial monopolies that would become a pattern for empires in the region. Fan Shih-man expanded the fleet and improved the Funanese bureaucracy, creating a quasi-feudal pattern that left local customs and identities largely intact, particularly in the empire's farther reaches.
Culture
Funanese culture was a mixture of native beliefs and Indian idea. Many southeast Asian believed the cobra to be sacred and the introduce of the Indian naga was quickly absorbed by the locals. The kingdom is said to have been heavily influenced by Indian culture, and to have employed Indians for state administration purposes. Sanskrit was the language at the court, and the Funanese advocated Hindu and, after the fifth century, Buddhist religious doctrines. Records show that taxes were paid in silver, gold, pearls, and perfumed wood. K'ang T'ai reported that the Funanese practiced slavery and that justice was rendered through trial by ordeal, including such methods as carrying a red-hot iron chain and retrieving gold rings and eggs from boiling water.
K'ang T'ai's report was unflattering to Funanese civilization, though Chinese court records show that a group of Funanese musicians visited China in 263 C.E. The Chinese Emperor was so impressed that he ordered the establishment of an institute for Funanese music near Nanking. The Funanese were reported also to have extensive book collections and archives throughout their country, demonstrating a high level of scholarly achievement.
Economy
Funan was Southeast Asia's first great economy. The Kingdom was rich because of trade and agriculture. Citizens lived relaxed lifestyles. The Funanese population were concentrated mainly along the Mekong River, the area was a natural region for the development of an economy based on fishing and rice cultivation. The Funanese economy depended on rice surpluses produced by an extensive inland irrigation system. Maritime trade also played an extremely important role in the development of Funan. Archaeological remnants of what was the kingdom's main port, Oc Eo, was found to have Roman as well as Persian, Indian, and Greek artifacts.
Legacy
King Fan Shih-man, the greatest king of Funan and his successors sent ambassadors to China and India. The kingdom likely accelerated the process of Indianization into Southeast Asia. Later kingdoms of Southeast Asia emulated the Funanese court.
During its golden age Funan controlled modern southern Vietnam, Cambodia, central Thailand, northern Malaysia, and southern Myanmar. Although Funan collapsed under the pressure of neighboring Chenla, its capital Vyadhapura remained the largest and most important urban center in the region until Angkor Thom.
The Funan kingdom had an efficient navy and rose to prosperity by regulating the sea trade between China and India. Funan collapsed in the sixth century and was absorbed by the Chenla kingdom whom are undeniably Khmers.
Relations
The French historian George Coedes once hypothesized a relation between the Funanese rulers and the Sailendra dynasty of Indonesia. The argument that the Sailendra title could be related to Funanese 'mountain lord' titles has been refuted by several specialists on Cambodian history. It is stated that there is no evidence found in early Cambodian epigraphy for such titles.[1]
Funan's political history is little known apart from its relations with China. A brief conflict is recorded to have happened in the 270s when Funan and its neighbor Champa joined forces to attack the Chinese province of Tongking. In 357, Funan became a vassal of China, and would continue as such until its disintegration in the sixth century. Chenla, a vassal of Funan eventually absorbed Funan entirely.
Funan rulers
- Fan Shih-Man
- Fan Chin-Sheng
- Fan Chan
- Fan Hsun
Notes
- ^ Michael Vickery (2003-2004, pp.103, 132-133)
References
- M. Vickery (2003–2004). "Funan reviewed: Deconstructing the Ancients". Bulletin de l' Ecole Francaise d' Extreme Orient: 101–143
External links
See also
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