THE KINGDOM OF LANGKASUKA

THE BOOK OF LIANG: THE KINGDOM OF LANG-YA-SHU

The Kingdom of Lang-ya-shu (often identified as Langkasuka) holds a fascinating place in Southeast Asian history. Its description in the Book of Liang (Liang Shu), a 7th-century Chinese chronicle, provides some of the earliest and most vivid accounts of life in the Malay Peninsula during the 6th century.

Here is a breakdown of what the Book of Liang reveals about this ancient kingdom.

Key Historical Details

The Book of Liang records an embassy sent from Lang-ya-shu to the Chinese court in 515 CE. According to the text, the kingdom was already over 400 years old at that time.

• Location: The text describes it as being "thirty days' journey from east to west, and twenty from north to south." Modern historians generally place its center in the Pattani region of modern-day Thailand and parts of northern Malaysia (Kedah).
• Climate: Described as consistently warm, allowing for lush vegetation and "abundant fruits and flowers."

Cultural and Social Observations

The chroniclers were particularly struck by the customs and the perceived wealth of the kingdom:

• Social Hierarchy: The King and high-ranking officials traveled on elephants under white umbrellas, accompanied by banners and drums.
• Attire: Both men and women were said to go bare-chested with their hair hanging loose, wearing sarongs of "kan-man" (likely a type of cotton or silk). The King and nobles, however, wore high-quality rose-colored cloth and gold jewelry.
• Defense: The cities were described as having walls with double gates, towers, and pavilions, indicating a sophisticated level of urban planning and military defense.

The "King's Lineage" Legend

One of the more colorful entries in the Book of Liang concerns a dynastic shift. It claims a member of the royal family, who was exceptionally virtuous, was cast out by the King. He fled to India and married a princess there. When the old King died, the people "longed for the virtuous man" and invited him back to rule.

"His son sent an envoy to the [Chinese] Emperor with a letter saying: 'The precious pillars of our country are like the stars... our king's merit is as high as the mountain.'"

Historical Significance

Feature	Description
Religious Shift	While early accounts suggest Hindu-Buddhist influences, it was a major center for early Mahayana Buddhism.
Trade Hub	It served as a vital "land bridge" for traders crossing the Isthmus of Kra to avoid the long sail around the Malay Peninsula.
Diplomacy	The missions to the Liang Dynasty (515, 523, 531, and 568 CE) show it was a major diplomatic player in the Nanyang (South Seas).

The Kingdom of Lang-ya-shu eventually faded from the records as it was likely absorbed by the rising Srivijaya Empire, but the Book of Liang remains our "time machine" into its golden age.

OTHER ACCOUNTS ABOUT LANGKASUKA

Beyond the Book of Liang, Langkasuka appears in several other historical records spanning over a thousand years. These accounts shift the perspective from Chinese diplomacy to Indian naval conquests, Javanese imperial claims, and local Malay legends.

Here are the primary alternative accounts of Langkasuka:

1. The Tamil Records: The Chola Invasion

In the 11th century, the Chola Dynasty of South India launched a massive naval expedition against the Srivijaya Empire. The Tanjore Inscription (1025–1030 CE) of King Rajendra Chola I explicitly mentions Langkasuka.

• Name Used: Ilangasogam.
• Description: It is described as a kingdom that was "undaunted in fierce battles." This suggests that by the 11th century, Langkasuka was a formidable military power, not just a quiet trading port.

2. The Javanese Account: Nagarakretagama

The 14th-century Javanese epic poem Nagarakretagama, written by Mpu Prapanca in 1365 during the height of the Majapahit Empire, lists Langkasuka as a vassal state.

• Name Used: Lengkasuka.
• Context: It is listed among the territories in the Malay Peninsula (Semenanjung) that acknowledged the suzerainty of the Javanese King Hayam Wuruk. This marks the transition of Langkasuka from an independent power to a satellite state of larger regional empires.

3. The Malay Legend: Hikayat Merong Mahawangsa

The Hikayat Merong Mahawangsa (also known as the Kedah Annals) provides a more "mythical" perspective. While written later, it preserves local oral traditions.

• The Founder: It credits the legendary Merong Mahawangsa, a traveler of royal Roman descent, with founding the kingdom after his fleet was attacked by the mythical bird, the Garuda.
• Location Conflict: Interestingly, this text places Langkasuka on the west coast (near Kedah Peak/Gunung Jerai), whereas Chinese and Arab records place it on the east coast (Pattani). Some historians believe the kingdom might have spanned the entire peninsula or moved its capital over time.

4. Later Chinese Accounts (Tang to Ming)

• The Monk I-Tsing (7th Century): The famous pilgrim Yijing (I-Tsing) mentioned three Chinese monks (Yilang, Zhian, and Yixuan) who stopped at Lang-ya-shu and were treated as "distinguished guests" by the King, confirming it remained a significant Buddhist center.
• Zheng He’s Maps (15th Century): On the Mao Kun map (used by Admiral Zheng He), the kingdom appears as Lang-xi-jia. By this era, however, it was depicted more as a geographic landmark than a dominant empire, as the power of Pattani and Melaka began to rise.

5. Arab and Persian Sailors

Muslim navigators referred to the kingdom as Langasyuka. They used it as a landmark for "crossing the sea" toward China. 15th-century Arab texts place it specifically between Kelantan and Songkhla, aligning with modern archaeological findings in Yarang (Pattani).

Summary of Perspectives

Source	Era	View of Langkasuka
Chola Inscriptions	11th Century	A brave military power.
Nagarakretagama	14th Century	A vassal of the Majapahit Empire.
Malay Annals	18th Century	A legendary ancestral home linked to Kedah.
Arab Texts	15th Century	A crucial navigational landmark.

Google Gemini AI

15/2/2026: 11.24 p.m