Anchored in History: Unveiling Singapore’s Early Maritime Links with China in the 7th Century

Anchored in History: Unveiling Singapore’s
Early Maritime Links with China in the 7th Century

In the 7th century, Chinese diplomats and pilgrims visited Chi Tu 赤土 and Mo Luo Yü 末罗瑜 by crossing the South Sea, now known as South China Sea. Among them are Chang Jun 常骏 and Yi Jing 义净 (635 – 713). Chang Jun visited Chi Tu in 607 CE as a diplomate of Sui Dynasty (581 – 618). He wrote the Record of the Red Earth Kingdom 赤土国记. Although this book is lost, detailed descriptions of the capital are preserved in historical texts. On the other hand, Yi Jing visited Mo Luo Yü twice in 672 CE and 685 CE. He used it as a transit point, staying for about five months. The actual location of the Chi Tu and Mo Luo Yü has been debated. This talk will analyse the different theories and connect the evidence with a new perspective, and unveil the once-obscure aspect of Singapore’s history in the 7th century.

Speaker - Dr. TAI Yew Seng

Tai Yew Seng is an archaeologist and teaches Chinese maritime history and Chinese ceramic history in NUS. He has been involved in pre-modern Singapore history research and archaeological projects in the last few years. Prior to the Singapore research, he was involved in Aceh Geohazard Projects, which conducted archaeological survey in 44 villages in Aceh, Sumatra. He has been involved in archaeological excavations in Kenya and China.

Date:
25 Jul 2024, Thursday

Program:
1720hrs – Registration
1750hrs – Admin & Safety Brief
1755hrs – GOH Speech
Mr. Teo Eng Dih, Chief Executive, Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore
1805hrs – Presentation
1845hrs – Q&A
1930hrs – Light refreshments
2030hrs – End

Venue:
Singapore Maritime Gallery
31 Marina Coastal Dr, Level 2
Singapore 018988

Registration:

Please click here to register online.

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