William Henry Scott on Maharlikanism

Butuan

Wed, 05 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

“Butuan” from the Sung Hui Yao Kao, Vol. 197

BUTUAN. Butuan is in the sea. It has had mutual relations with Champa, but not much communication with China. In October 1003 its King Ch’i-ling sent Minister Li-i:-han and Assistant Minister Chia-mi-nan to present tribute of native products and red parrots. In February 1004 when the New Year Festival was proclaimed, the Emperor sent messengers in the middle of the night to fetch the Butuan envcys to see the lanterns and attend the feast, and they were also given strings of cash. In April 1004 Li-i-han and the others were sent to present tribute of native products. In October or November, an official complained, “The Butuan envoys trade for a lot of Chinese goods, gold, and silver, to take back to their coun- try, and they also take all kinds of flags and pennons. People from distant lands don’t understand rules and regulations. I would there- fore recommend that new restrictions be imposed to prohibit their dealing directly in the marketplace, and making private contracts.’' It was done.

History According to William Henry Scott

Wed, 05 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

According to Chinese records, Filipinos went to China before the Chinese came to the Philippines.

As late as the Tang Dynasty (618-906), the Chinese only knew of Borneo, called Polo, as being between Taiwan and Java.

History According to William Henry Scott

Wed, 05 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

An 1178 account of overseas trade was still unaware that some of China’s trading partners were on the eastern side of the South China Sea, and flatly says the world comes to an end just east of Java.14

History According to William Henry Scott

Wed, 05 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

On 16 November 1420 Kanlai lpentun appeared at court with a large following which included his wife, children, and prime minister. On the 28th he sent up a personal petition:

Conclusions

Wed, 05 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The presence of Filipinos in China between 982 and 1427 is suggestive for the pre-colonial history of those peoples archaeologist Wilhelm Solheim has called Nusantao-“southem island people.”

None of these contacts were made on pioneering voyages of discovery, across sea routes already known in pursuit of commerce already profitable. Butuan in the eleventh century and Sulu in the 15th were dealing in non-Philippine products; spices, aromatics, silks, and porcelain.