FUKAMI (2010) : PIZONG (PULAU PISANG)

The reference to Fukami (2010) likely points to research regarding the early "Maritime Silk Road" routes. The mention of Pizong (皮宗) in the Hanshu (Book of Han) is widely debated among historians and archaeologists, as it represents one of the earliest recorded Chinese naval expeditions into the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean.

Key Contextual Breakdown

• The Timeline: The records appearing after 111 BC is significant because that was the year Emperor Wu of Han conquered Nanyue (modern-day Guangdong and Northern Vietnam). This gave the Han Dynasty direct access to the sea and prompted the emperor to send out envoys to trade for pearls, glass, and exotic stones.
• Identifying Pizong: While "Banana Island" is a common translation or association, scholars often debate its exact location. The most frequent identifications include:
• The Malay Peninsula: Specifically areas around the Isthmus of Kra or the western coast.
• Pulau Pisang: Located in the Strait of Malacca (the name literally translates to "Banana Island" in Malay).
• The Route: According to the Hanshu, the journey started from Xuwen or Hepu, passed through various kingdoms (like Huangzhi), and used Pizong as a critical stopover point for supplies or navigation.

Historical Significance

The inclusion of Pizong in the Hanshu serves as proof that the Han Dynasty wasn't just a land power; they were actively mapping the maritime world over 2,000 years ago. These records are some of the oldest written accounts of Southeast Asian geography in existence.

PIZONG AND PISANG?

The linguistic connection between the Chinese term Pizong (皮宗) and the Malay word Pisang is one of the most significant pieces of evidence for early contact between Han China and the Malay Archipelago.

Historians, notably Fujita Toyohachi (1914) and later Fukami (2010), argue that Pizong is likely the oldest recorded Indonesian/Malay word in Chinese historical texts.

1. Phonetic Transliteration

The core of the connection lies in historical phonology. In modern Mandarin, Pizong and Pisang sound somewhat different, but ancient pronunciations align much more closely:

• Old Chinese/Middle Chinese Reconstruction: In the Han Dynasty (approx. 2,000 years ago), the characters 皮宗 (Pí-zōng) would have been pronounced roughly as *bia-tsuŋ.
• The Malay Match: This matches the phonetic structure of Pisang (banana) remarkably well. The "P" or "B" sound at the start and the "ng" nasal ending are consistent across the two millennia.
• The "Banana" Meaning: Pisang is the Malay/Indonesian word for banana. Finding a place named "Banana Island" in a region where that fruit is native—and finding a Chinese transliteration that mimics the sound—strongly suggests the Chinese were recording the local name rather than naming it themselves.

2. Geographic Evolution of the Name

The identification of Pizong as Pisang is supported by the fact that the name appears to "evolve" or reappear in later Chinese records as the language and seafaring knowledge grew:

Period	Term Used	Reference	Likely Location
Han Dynasty	Pizong (皮宗)	Hanshu	Pulau Pisang / Malay Peninsula
Sui Dynasty	Bisong (比嵩)	Tongdian	Transliteration update
Ming Dynasty	Pisong (毘宋 / 披宗)	Zheng He's Charts	Pulau Pisang (Strait of Malacca)

3. Historical Significance

If Pizong is indeed Pisang, it tells us two things:

• Direct Interaction: The Han envoys weren't just passing by; they were interacting with locals enough to learn and transcribe the local name for the island.
• Linguistic Continuity: The word Pisang has remained largely unchanged in the Malay language for over 2,000 years, making it a "linguistic fossil."

Why "Banana"?

In maritime navigation, islands were often named after their shape or a prominent resource. Pulau Pisang in the Strait of Malacca remains a key navigational landmark today. Its distinctive profile and the abundance of bananas in the region made it a natural "waypoint" for ancient sailors.

Google Gemini AI

9/2/2026: 3.43 p.m