Hj. Zulheimy Ma'amor: DAN MING: CHINESE RECORD ABOUT THE MALAY

Monday, 12 January 2026

DAN MING: CHINESE RECORD ABOUT THE MALAY

It is fascinating how Chinese imperial records serve as some of the most consistent historical "snapshots" of Southeast Asian history. You are right that the word Malay appears under various phonetic guises across several dynasties, including the Ming (1368–1644) and the Yuan (1271–1368) that preceded it.

These variations occurred because Chinese scribes had to map the sounds of local languages onto Chinese characters, which often changed based on the regional dialect of the scribe (such as Cantonese, Hokkien, or Mandarin).

Evolution of the Name in Chinese Records

The terms you mentioned appear across different historical texts, tracing the evolution of the "Melayu" kingdom and people:

Chinese Name	Pinyin	Historical Context
Mo-lo-yu (末羅瑜)	Mòluóyú	First recorded by the monk I-Tsing (Yijing) in the 7th century (Tang Dynasty) to describe a kingdom in Sumatra.
Ma-li-yu-er (麻里予兒)	Málǐyǔ'ér	Frequently found in Yuan Dynasty records. In 1295, the Emperor sent a decree telling the Sukhothai kingdom to "do no evil to Ma-li-yu-er."
Bok-la-yu (木剌由)	Mùláyóu	A common transcription used during the Yuan and early Ming periods.
Mok-la-yu (木剌由)	Mùláyóu	A variant of the above; "Mok" or "Mu" (木) was often used for the "Me" or "Ma" sound.
Oo-lai-yu (巫來由)	Wūláiyóu	Often cited in later Ming and Qing records, or traced back to phonetic transcriptions in Buddhist travelogues.

Why the Ming Dynasty records are special

During the Ming Dynasty, specifically under the Yongle Emperor, the relationship with the Malay world reached its peak.

The Admiral Zheng He (Cheng Ho): His voyages led to a surge in documentation. The Ming records (such as the Ming Shilu or Veritable Records of the Ming) provided detailed accounts of the Malacca Sultanate (often called Man-la-jia 滿剌加).
The Bureau of Translators: The Ming government actually compiled a Chinese-Malay dictionary called the Man-la-jia Guo Yi Yu (Translated Words of the Kingdom of Malacca). This was one of the first official attempts to systematically bridge the two languages.

Cultural Significance

These records are vital because many local Malay historical documents (like the Sejarah Melayu) were written much later and often blended myth with fact. The Chinese records provide exact dates and external validation for the existence of these kingdoms as early as the 7th century.

MING SHILU (THE VERITABLE RECORDS OF THE MING)

In the Ming Shilu (the Veritable Records of the Ming), the founding and early days of Malacca are documented with surprising administrative detail. While the Malay legend focuses on the "brave mouse deer," the Chinese records focus on the strategic alliance and the legal elevation of Malacca from a "fishing village" to a sovereign nation.

Here is how the Ming records describe the founding of Malacca:

1. From "No King" to a Kingdom

According to the Ming records (specifically the accounts of Ma Huan, the translator for Admiral Zheng He), Malacca was originally not a "country."

The Status: It was described as a small coastal settlement under the jurisdiction of Siam (Thailand), to whom it paid an annual tribute of 40 taels of gold.
The Change: In 1403, the Emperor sent the eunuch Yin Qing (尹庆) to Malacca. He was the first official envoy to acknowledge the local ruler, recorded as Bai-li-mi-su-la (Parameswara).

2. The Formal Enfeoffment (1405)

The Ming records mark 1405 as the year Malacca was officially recognized as a kingdom (guo).

The Stone Tablet: The Emperor gave Zheng He a stone tablet to be placed on the "Western Mountain" of Malacca. This tablet formally "enfeoffed" the mountain, effectively declaring Malacca a protected state under the Ming umbrella.
Diplomatic Immunity: This move was crucial. The records state that after this recognition, "Siam did not dare to invade it." This protection allowed the tiny settlement to grow into a massive trade empire without being swallowed by its larger neighbors.

3. The Personal Visit (1411)

One of the most remarkable entries in the Ming Shilu is the record of Bai-li-mi-su-la's personal visit to China.

The Delegation: He didn't go alone. He traveled with his wife, son, and a massive entourage of 540 officials.
The Reception: The Yongle Emperor hosted a grand banquet for them. The records meticulously list the gifts exchanged, including gold, silk, and a "sea-going ship" gifted to the King so he could return home safely.

4. Records of Succession

The Ming records act as a "death certificate" for the early Malay kings, providing dates that are often more precise than local oral traditions:

1414: The records state that the son of the first King (referred to as Mu-kan-sa-yu-ti-er-sha, likely Megat Iskandar Shah) arrived at the Ming court to report that his father had died and to ask for formal recognition as the new King.

Comparison: Legend vs. Ming Record

Feature	Malay Annals (Sejarah Melayu)	Ming Records (Ming Shilu / Ma Huan)
Origin Story	The Mouse Deer kicking the dog.	A strategic settlement escaping Siamese control.
Religion	Focuses on the conversion to Islam.	Initially records "no king," then later notes the King and people are Muslim.
Focus	Royal genealogy and "Daulat" (sovereignty).	Trade, tribute, and the "protection" of the Emperor.
Zheng He	Mentions a "Princess Hang Li Po."	Records the "Government Depot" (官廠) built for the fleet.

The Ming records are essentially the "birth certificate" of Malacca in international law at the time. They prove that Malacca didn't just happen by luck; it was a carefully managed diplomatic project.

"GOVERNMENT DEPOT" IN MALACCA

The "Government Depot" in Malacca, known in Chinese records as Guan Chang (官廠), was much more than just a simple warehouse. It was a massive, fortified logistics hub that essentially functioned as a "sovereign enclave" for the Ming Empire.

According to the records of Ma Huan, the translator who traveled with Admiral Zheng He, the depot was a central piece of Malacca's early infrastructure.

1. Structure and Security

The depot was a high-security complex designed to protect the Emperor’s "Treasure" and his men:

The Palisade: It was surrounded by a wooden wall with five gated watchtowers.
Internal Fortification: Inside, there was a second "inner wall" (like a citadel) where the most valuable goods and the treasury were kept.
The Watchmen: Soldiers patrolled the perimeter at night with bells and signals, just like a military camp in China.

2. The Strategic "Waiting Room"

Malacca was the most important stop for the fleet because of the Monsoon winds.

The Transit Hub: The fleet would arrive in Malacca and wait for the winds to shift before crossing the Indian Ocean.
Storage: Instead of keeping the entire fleet (hundreds of ships) loaded, they would offload silk, porcelain, and copper coins into the Guan Chang and "re-pack" for the next leg of the journey.
Centralization: All the ships returning from places like Africa, Arabia, and India would "re-group" at the Malacca depot before sailing back to China as one giant, unified fleet.

3. Modern Evidence and Location

For centuries, the exact location of the Guan Chang was a mystery. However:

The Cheng Ho Cultural Museum: This museum in Malacca’s Old Town (near Jonker Street) is widely believed by historians to sit on part of the original site of the depot.
Ming-era Wells: During the museum's construction, five ancient Ming-era wells were discovered. These wells provided the massive amount of fresh water needed by the 27,000 + sailors in Zheng He’s fleet.
Bukit Cina: While some believe the depot was closer to the river, the surrounding area (including Bukit Cina) was used as the official residence and cemetery for the Chinese community associated with these missions.

Cheng Ho Cultural Museum, Melaka

4. Cultural Legacy: The Birth of the Peranakan

The Guan Chang wasn't just for goods; it was a living community. Many Chinese officials, artisans, and soldiers remained at the depot for months or even years. This long-term presence is considered by many historians to be the "seed" of the Baba Nyonya (Peranakan) culture, as these men eventually integrated and intermarried with the local population.

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