SUNGAI BATU 788 BC : THE GREAT KINGDOM OF KEDAH TUA
2 years ago, in 24 July 2021, we made a posting about Bukit Choras, where prior to that, PPAG researcher have announced a potential discovery resulting from ground survey.
Several days ago, JWN and PPAG made the announcement pertaining to the discovery of Buddhist temple where the relative dating shows 8 - 9 th century AD.
Bukit Choras is not new to archaeology finding and even the Site # 1 was marked at Bukit Choras though it was not the first discovery of Bujang Valley archaeology. (The numbering does not indicate the sequence of discovery).
Few days ago, I received a screenshot that highlighted 3 issues.
First, the location of BC is quite far from the heart of Bujang Valley, which is Sg Merbok and Sg Kuala Muda.
Secondly, in Malaysiakini, a historian claim that the recent discovery is the evidence that the native of Malay Peninsula is Hindu-Buddhist.
Thirdly, it says Bukit Choras was an island and isolated from main land.
Ok, we discuss the third issue first. From geological data, the sea level during 8th-9th century AD was not as high as we thought, it almost similar to current level due to holocene cycle. During 2nd - 10 th century, it was cold epoch due to high amount of glacier on the poles. Therefore it caused a low level of sea, but the riverine might different. It could be larger and deep since river stream relies on the water from hinterland. Since the river network was big, it ease the movement of ships to reach Bukit Choras back then. Surprisingly, some said, Bukit Choras not in Bujang Valley. Its made me think that more things have to be done to ensure the public is well informed. Bujang Valley has no fix geographic boarder rather it depends on archaeological findings. That was the reason why the area of Bujang Valley begins with 200km² and now its more than 1000km². As gazetted, the most northern part of Bujang Valley is Bukit Choras and the sourhern part is Cheruk To' Kun. Eastern part, is Tasik Pedu and western part is up to the shore facing Selat Melaka.
The second issue where a claimed made by the historian in Malaysiakini that can be considered as pre-mature. Just based of the statue and excavation result he made a careless deduction. There not even a paper published by the researcher in regards of the finding, but the historian has made a hypothesis based on old and outdated theory of Indianisation. These are the problem when he looks Bukit Choras in isolation. As far as at this moment, the narrative have changed as proposed by many scholars based on research findings, that the temple regardless Buddhis or Hindu was built by the initiative of traders or pilgrims, and even the current Bukit Choras researcher hold to later narratives / theory.
Undoubtedly, Indian traders were important players in Kedah Tua trading society.
WHY there were many Indians in Kedah ? The answer is, to supply the Indian ports with trade goods from SeAsia and China.
WHO's account we can refer to that time ? The answer is Abu Dulaf. His real name is Mis'ar al Mulhalhil, he was the Persian court envoy to China and he wrote about Kalah during his stoppage and he mentioned that many Indians in the market place and the trade used siver coin called 'fahri’ (Fatimi, 1963)/ ‘fihzi’ (Arshad,2018).
WHAT currency the fahri/fihzi belongs to ? The most probable answer is Srivijaya coin because Abu Dulaf said the silver coin was about two third the value of his dirham (Caliphate dirham). One dirham equivalent to 3 grams and Srivijaya silver coin weight less than 3 gram based on relics found. By logic, it was Srivijaya coins since Kedah was absorb into Srivijaya in 7th century AD as I-Tsing wrote in his account.
WHEN was Abu Dulaf stop at Kedah ? The answer is 10 th century AD.
Therefore the story, the accounts, the WHO, WHY, WHAT and WHEN matched to each other.
Although Srivijayan was a Buddhis kingdom, it does not mean the people were Buddhis in total. The historian failed to understand the real situation back then when he look at the Bukit Choras temple in isolation and hastily made a statement to suit his opinion.
Back to our posting 2 years ago, it has proved that Prof Agus esotheric cosmological study was right when he said in his presentation that northern part of Gunung Jerai might locate a significant important structure especially Buddhism since they are particular in cosmological aspects. This might be the answer for the first issue.
Copy and paste:
26/9/2023 > 10 Rabiulawal 1445H: 11.00 am
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