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The Kingdom of Butuan was an ancient Indianized kingdom in pre-colonial southern Philippines centered on the present Mindanao city of Butuan. It was known for its mining of gold, its gold products and its extensive trade network across the Nusantara area. The kingdom had trading relationships with the ancient civilizations of China, India, Indonesia, Persia, Cambodia and areas now comprised in Thailand.[2]
The balangay (large outrigger boats) that have been found along the east and west banks of the Libertad river have revealed much about Butuan's history. As a result Butuan is considered to have been a major trading port in the Caraga region during the pre-colonial era.[3]
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Chinese records
Evidence indicates that Butuan was in contact with Song dynasty of China by at least 1001 AD. The Chinese annal Song Shih recorded the first appearance of a Butuan tributary mission at the Chinese Imperial Court on March 17, 1001 AD and it described Butuan (P'u-tuan) as a small Hindu country with a Buddhist Monarchy in the sea that had a regular connection with the Champa kingdom and intermittent contact with China under the Rajah named Kiling.[4] The rajah sent an envoy under I-hsu-han, with a formal memorial requesting equal status in court protocol with the Champa envoy. The request was denied later by the Imperial court, mainly because of favoritism over Champa.[5]
A new ruler with the Indianized name Sri Bata Shaja later succeeded in attaining diplomatic equality with Champa by sending the flamboyant ambassador Likanhsieh. Likanhsieh shocked the Emperor by presenting a memorial engraved on a gold tablet, some white dragon (Bailong 白龍) camphor, Moluccan cloves, and a South Sea slave at the eve of an important ceremonial state sacrifice.[6] This display of irreverence sparked interests from China over the small Rajahnate and the diplomatic relations between the two states reached its peak during the Yuan Dynasty.
Excavated artifacts
Numerous jars have been found in the Butuan area that indicate the wealth of the kingdom and the existence of foreign traditions.[7] Some of these jars have been dated as follows:
- Sathing Phra (900-1100 AD)
- Haripunjaya (800-900 AD),
- Chinese (10th to 15th centuries AD),
- Khmer (9th to 10th centuries AD),
- Thai (14th to 15th centuries AD)
- Champa (11th to 13th centuries AD)
- Persian (9th to 10th centuries AD)
Artifacts have been recovered from within the vicinities of Ambangan Archeological Site in Libertad that attest to the historical accounts that Butuan traded with the Chinese and Southeast Asia countries during these periods.
Origins of the name
The name Butuan is believed to have existed long before the Spanish conquistadores arrived in the Philippine archipelago. One possible indication of this is a rhinocerous ivory seal with design carved in ancient Javanese or early kawi script (used around the 10th century AD ) which, according to a Dutch scholar, was deciphered as But-wan. Another account suggests the name derives from the word batuan, a mangosteen-related fruit common in Mindanao. Another alternative is that the name derives from Datu Bantuan, possibly a former chieftain of the region.[8]
Recorded monarchs
| The Royal Title of the Reigning Rajah | Embassy To China | From | Until |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rajah Kiling | The Embassy of I-shu-han | 989 | 1009 |
| Sri Bata Shaja | Mission by Likanhsieh | 1011 | ? |
See also
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References
- ^ Fred S. Cabuang (September 6, 2007). "Saving Butuanon language". http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2007/sept/06/yehey/opinion/20070906opi7.html. Retrieved 2009-10-09.
- ^ http://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/2071/
- ^ Lealiz, Sia (February 04, 2009). "Discovering the Ancient Kingdom of Butuan". The Philippine Star. http://www.philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=437256. Retrieved 2009-10-09.
- ^ "Timeline of history". http://valoable1.webs.com/timelineofhistory.htm. Retrieved 2009-10-09.
- ^ Scott, William Prehispanic Source Materials: For the Study of Philippine History, p. 66
- ^ Song Shih Chapter 7 to 8
- ^ Luna, Lillian (2004). MAPEH for Secondary Students. Art Books and History Books. St Bernadette Publications Inc.. ISBN 971-621-327-1.
- ^ "Historic Butuan". http://butuancity.info/about-butuan/92-historic-butuan.html. Retrieved 2009-10-09.
External links
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