KUNLUN PEOPLE AND KUNLUN BO (SHIP)

Source: Sungai Batu 788 BC; The Great Kingdom of Kedah Tua

The earliest account pertaining to Kunlun people and Kunlun Bo (ship) probably in 3rd century AD, which around 200 - 299 AD. Very much earlier than Srivijaya. We will discuss later.

As we mentioned in previous post and also in the past, merchant vessels that came from Southeast Asia (SeA) in China port, was simply called Kunlun Bo. It also indicated that the seamen/sailor of the vessel were Kunlun. The vessel also built by the Kunlun, crewed and navigated mostly by the Kunlun too without denying participation of other Malay ethnic. And own by the local Ruler or co-owned by Malay merchant. Kunlun people which may comprise of several sea-peoples are ethnic that belong to larger Malay ethnic. The Ruler and merchant might be the Malay ethnic who lives inland while Kunlun were those who live by the sea.

The logic is simple. The resources to build the vessel came from inland. All the timber came from the forest and in the process of getting the resources out, there should be a synergy and co-ordination between the inland community and the sea-people, especially if the vessel to be construct belong the Ruler or local leaders. In other word, there were dynamic interaction between the Malay who lives inland and the Malay ethnic who lives by the sea, a.k.a, Kunlun. Justifying from the history of the sea-people, they are loyal to the Kings, Rulers and leaders who engaging them. The Malay inland meaning those who involved and lived by farming, agriculture, animal breeding, trading etc.

In Chinese account, by 3rd century AD, Kunlun Bo were present in China port. Among the points written are;

- the length are 50 meters (in today's measurement unit) and the floating body are 4 to 5 meter.

- it can carry up to 700 hundreds person.

- between 250 - 1000 tons of cargo.

- 2 to 4 sail depends in the size

While in 8th century AD, another China account said;

- apart of the cargo, it can support 1000 men.

- the length is over 60 meters

- did not use nails or clamps

- constructed by assembling several layers of plank.

- fibrous bark of coconut tree were made into cords as to binding the ship's part. (probably also, the fibre of coconut fruit, or 'sabut kelapa' in Malay)

Let us examine the size. Firstly, it said the length is 50 metres and over 60 metres by 8th century. While the height of floating body is 5 metres from the water level. Let us visualise the ship by comparing to today's residential building. The width of regular double storey link house is 7.5 metre. Therefore, 50 metre equivalent to almost 7 houses in a row, while the height is about one and a half storey. Then, 60 metres equivalent to 8 houses , but it was said more than 60 metres, meaning its more than 8 houses. The width of the ship, probably at least 1/3 of the length. If 60 metres length, the width is about 20 metres at least. Therefore, the size of Kunlun Bo was similar to 8 double storey house in a row..!! Even the size of 6 double storey house was gargantuan at that time.

No wonder why the Portuguese were shocked when they met the Malay ship in Straits of Malacca. Probably it was much bigger than we visualised above.

Now, anyone think it is worth to throw the replica of Flor de Lamar to the sea and replace with Mendam Berahi the great ship of Malacca Sultanate ?!! 😲😳 

How uncivilised idea of building the colonial warship and made into tourist attraction and signifying the foreign tourist as well as our younger and future generation that we are proud being invaded and enslaved. Uncivilised mentality and inferiority complex at lowest level !! Thousand years of maritime glory, but at the end, goes down the drain by praising and admiring the colonial ship.

And now, in Sungai Batu Archaeological Complex, there are not less than 6 ancient vessel which probably local and foreign ship and aged about at least 1400 years* waiting to be excavated and bring out from the ancient river. (* our simple hypothesis is that Sungai Mas replaced Sg Batu as entrepot in 5th century AD). The ships were important although it might be foreign ships, since it will prove that Sg Batu was once a city port that cater international trade with the status of Emporia as what Ptolemy wrotes almost 2000 years ago.

Back to Kunlun Bo, Pierre Yves Manguin has deduced 6 attributes of Kunlun Bo :-

1. Very large ship

2. No nail being used , instead of peg, seam and dowel

3. The body were made up of several layers of plank.

4. Using 2 rudders

5. Multiple masts and sails

6. Have no outriggers

Manguin also believes that, a word 'kolandiao phonta' as written in Periplus Of Erythrean Sea by Pliny in 1st century AD , actually referred to Kunlun Bo. Some researchers said, Kunlun Bo also sighted travel from India bringing commodity to Malay Peninsular and harbouring in Kalah/Kataha/Kedah Tua. This is consistent with Jane Allen's claim that people of Kataha who firstly initiated the trade with India as early as 2nd century BC. The trade to India can be connected to spice trading / route that connecting to another corner of Malay Archipelago, Maluku, the spice island, particularly where the clove came from. It enjoined to another island where the camphor especially, for Chinese ritual and medication came from, it was known by Chinese as Boni or Brunei or Borneo. Clove was also exported to China as it was reported that the Chinese use as mouth freshener for those who working and visiting the Palace by chewing in mouth. Here we can see the dots were connected and fit into ancient history and accounts of late BC and early AD century as we discussed in several postings.

As mentioned, Kunlun Bo have reached China port in 3rd century AD and very likely that the Malay-Kunlun merchant have brought commodity from India or other commodity from west country of Indian Ocean like Oman and other Arabs country as well as Meditterranean and African country to China and vise versa. India have several ports that functioning as hub for specific commodity that serve the west and the east. Justifying from Pliny, in late BC century and early AD century, the merchant vessel from the west country do not dare to travel as far as Southeast Asia. Firstly, the seamen thinks SeA country as mystical, mysterious, barbaric and cannibalism. They might be right in certain things but the second reason was, some Arab traders simply made up terrifying stories as to hinder others to come in order for them to monopolise their resources.

From the above, Kedah Tua as most earliest civilisation ever known in this region, was obviously important in international trade networking since late BC century. The strategic location between Indian Ocean and China, abundance of natural resources, superiority in maritime and shipping, dedicated, skill and nautical experts of the Kunlun men and the most important aspect, Kedah Tua was the largest iron ingot producer in the world ever known by justifying the numbers of tuyere found.

Even though we have found a trail of trade between Nusantara and Egypt between 700 - 900 BC, but we are still looking for the written evidence in order to reveal how and who was responsible in the trade. How far we can trace the existence of Kunlun people and their association with Malay community. How was their involvement in iron industry in Kedah Tua based in the claim by Urak Lawoi that their ancestral place in (territory of) Gunung Jerai.

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21/11/2020 : 6 Rabiulakhir 1442H: 11.17 pm