Two Early Ming Texts on Borneo. (March 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kurz, Johannes L.
• Is Part Of: Ming studies. Number 70(2014)
• Page Start: 60
• Page End: 72
• Publication Date: 2015-03
• Subjects: Borneo in Ming sources, -- history of Borneo, -- Ming China and Southeast Asia, -- Song Lian 宋濂 (1310–81), -- Hu Guang 胡廣 (1362–1432); China -- History -- Ming dynasty, 1368-1644 -- Periodicals; China -- Civilization -- 960-1644 -- Periodicals; 951.02605
• DOI: 10.1179/0147037X14Z.00000000029
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0147-037X

Abstract

Abstract : The present article provides translations of two texts from the early Ming dynasty. The first text describes a diplomatic mission from the Ming court to a place in Boni, most likely Borneo, in 1370 that was based on the report of the envoy and compiled by Song Lian. The second text, a tomb inscription, is the earliest record of the voyage of a chieftain from Boni to the Ming court in 1408, and his death and burial there within a month after his arrival. The significance of the texts consists in their being used nowadays as early evidence for the existence of a Muslim Malay Monarchy that lasts until today in the form of the sultanate of Brunei. In contrast, the two texts when read together do not support this view.