The short answer is: It depends on who you ask. While she is a foundational figure in Malaysian history and Peranakan culture, her existence is a subject of intense debate between literary tradition and historical records.
Here is the breakdown of the evidence (and lack thereof):
1. The Case for "Legend" (Literary Sources)
Princess Hang Li Po is most famously documented in the Sejarah Melayu (The Malay Annals), written in the 17th century.
- The Story: According to the Annals, the Ming Emperor of China sent his daughter, Hang Li Po, to Malacca to marry Sultan Mansur Shah (reigned 1459–1477) to cement diplomatic ties.
- The Legacy: She reportedly arrived with 500 attendants. The Sultan gave them a hill for their settlement, now known as Bukit Cina in Malacca. This event is often cited as the origin of the Baba Nyonya (Peranakan) community.
- Physical Landmarks: To this day, you can visit Hang Li Po’s Well (Perigi Raja) in Malacca, which was said to be built for her.
2. The Case for "Myth" (Historical Gaps)
Modern historians, most notably the late Professor Khoo Kay Kim, have argued that she may be a mythical figure rather than a historical one for several reasons:
- Lack of Chinese Records: The Ming Shi-lu (Imperial Records of the Ming Dynasty) are incredibly detailed, logging even minor diplomatic gifts. However, there is no mention of a "Princess Hang Li Po" or any Ming princess being sent to Malacca.
- Imperial Policy: During the Ming Dynasty, it was highly unusual for an Emperor to send a biological daughter (a "Princess of the Blood") to marry a foreign ruler. If a woman was sent, she was usually a court lady or a concubine given a title for the occasion.
- Conflicting Timelines: Portuguese records from the early 1500s (like the Suma Oriental) mention a Chinese girl who married a Sultan of Malacca, but they place her with a different ruler (Sultan Megat Iskandar Shah) and describe her as a woman of "non-royal rank."
3. The Middle Ground: Who Was She?
Many historians believe the story is semi-historical. She may not have been a "Princess" in the literal sense, but rather:
- A Diplomatic Gift: A high-ranking court maiden or the daughter of a prominent Chinese official sent to Malacca to represent the Emperor’s favor.
- A Cultural Symbol: A literary device used by the authors of the Sejarah Melayu to elevate the prestige of the Malacca Sultanate by showing that even the Great Emperor of China recognized its power.
Summary
| Aspect | Evidence for Existence | Evidence Against |
| Written Records | Detailed accounts in Sejarah Melayu. | Zero mention in Ming Dynasty imperial logs. |
| Physical Evidence | Bukit Cina and Hang Li Po’s Well. | No contemporary 15th-century inscriptions. |
| Cultural Impact | Regarded as the "mother" of Peranakan culture. | Likely a court lady/concubine, not a "Princess." |
Whether she was a biological princess or a symbolic diplomat, her "existence" in the Malaysian national identity is very real. She represents the centuries-old friendship and cultural blending between China and the Malay world.
Reference:
- Wikipedia: Hang Li Po
- SCMP.com: Was Chiness Princess Hang Li Po sent to marry a Malacca Sultan, a real person?
- JSTOR Daily: The Princess Brides of the Malay Annals.
- New Straits Times : The Search for Hang Li Po
Google Gemini AI
21.2.2026: 11.56 a.m
