Chi Tu

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Chi Tu
Raktamaritika
2nd century–7th century
Location of Chi Tu as indicated in the map of Transpeninsula route-ways.
Capital Sing-ha/ Singgora/ Songkhla
Languages Old Malay, Kelantan Malay
Religion Buddhism
Government Monarchy
History
 •  Coronation 2nd century
 •  Conquered by Srivijaya 7th century
Succeeded by
Srivijaya
Tambralinga
Pan Pan
Today part of  Malaysia
 Thailand

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Chi Tu (other alternative spellings include Chihtu, Chitu or Ch-ih-t'u; Sanskrit: Raktamaritika or Raktamrittika; Chinese: 赤土国, pinyin: Chì-tǔ-guó; Malay language: Tanah Merah) is an ancient kingdom mentioned in the history of China. The Sui Dynasty (581-618) annals describe an advanced kingdom called Chi Tu in 607, when Chang Chun was sent as an ambassador there. The location of Chi Tu was disputed to be around Kelantan or Pahang state in Malay Peninsula, or in Songkhla and Pattani Province of southern Thailand. The best evidence to support the Kelantan theory was when the envoys left Chi Tu, the sail took 10 days to reach Champa, this indicates the kingdom was located somewhere ‘red earth’ around the main river of Kelantan. The inscribed Buddhagupta Stone found in Kedah mentioned a Raktamrttika, meaning "red earth land".

History

Original copy of the 7th-century Chinese Sui Dynasty annals of Chi Tu Kingdom (Chinese: 赤土国) - Chapter 82, biographies 47

The Chi Tu kingdom is believed to have existed from 100 BC to the 7th century.[1] The royal family's name is Chu-dan (means Gautama Buddha) and the king is Li-fo-duo-se.[2] According to Chinese records, Chi Tu was built by kit mow (Mon-Khmer) peoples who sailed from the coast of Funan (southern Indochina). Centuries later, the local inhabitants, replaced Funan peoples. "...Chi Tu is a derivation nation of Funan, located in within the southern sea, sailing hundred days to reach, the majority terrain was red, thus named Red Earth Kingdom (Chi means red, Tu means earth). East bordering Po-Lo-La, West bordering Po-Lo-So, South bordering Ho Lo Tan, thousands of square miles in land area.[3] The king has three wives and the kingdom embraced Buddhism....".

Chi Tu kingdom along with Langkasuka, Kedah and others were early important trade centers (approximately 100 BC to 700 AD). During this period, ships coming from China and Funan (from Indian Ocean as well) stop at the coast of Malay Peninsula. They get the local porters to transport the goods, using rafts, elephants and manpower along the Early transpeninsular routeway and part of the ancient Spice Route (Sea Route).

Location

Scholars do not agree on the location of Raktamaritika. While some consider it in the area of Phatthalung / Songkhla area, or Kelantan.[4]:51,54,79 The ruins around the Songkhla lake such as Bang Kaeo in Phatthalung or Sathing Phra in Songkhla then might be one of the cities of Raktamaritika.

Sources from Indian scholars

Replica of Buddhagupta stone on display at the National History Museum, Kuala Lumpur.

J.L. Meons (1937) believed that early Srivijaya was located in Kelantan[5] and K.A. Nilakanta Sastri (1949) supported the idea.[6] The Kelantan theory may not be far-fetched, since Chinese Sui Dynasty annals of the 7th century describe an advanced kingdom called Chi Tu or Raktamrittika (as in Kelantanese history) as being in Kelantan, which the name was later changed to "Sri Wijaya Mala". The founding of Sri Wijaya Mala was 667 BC with its capital called "Valai", and it was situated along the upper Kelantan river of Pergau, known for its rich gold mines. It was until 570 BC that the kingdom changed its name to Sri Wijaya.[7]

Songkhla vicinity theory

The inscription of the Buddhagupta Stone found in Kedah mentioned a Raktamaritika, the meaning is red earth land, to be the home town of a seafarer named Buddhagupta.

The old name of Songkhla is Singgora (City of Lions), which coincides with the fact that according to the Chinese chronicles the capital of Chitu was Sing-Ha (means lion) and also the nearby Singhanakhon district.

This name may also be related to Tambralinga because there is "Tam" (means red) in this name as same as Raktamaritika and Tampapanni. And this state has appeared in 642, the same area of the central Malay peninsula after Chitu has already faded away from the history. The best evidence supporting this theory is the mention that when the envoys left Chitu, the sailing took 10 days to reach Champa, which indicates the kingdom was located at the ‘red earth’ areas such as Rattaphum because Rattaphum means red earth as well.

See also

References

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Further reading

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External links

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