Chi Tu

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Chi Tu
2nd century–7th century
Capital Unknown
Languages Malay language
Religion Buddhism
Government Monarchy
 -  Coronation 2nd century
 -  Conquered by Srivijaya 7th century
Today part of  Malaysia
Part of a series on the
History of Malaysia
Portal icon Malaysia portal
Part of a series on the
History of Thailand
1686 Map of Siam.
Sukhothai Kingdom
Ayutthaya Kingdom
Thonburi Kingdom
Rattanakosin Kingdom
Military period
Democratic period
Portal icon Thailand portal

Chi Tu (other alternative spellings include Chihtu, Chitu or Ch-ih-t'u; Sanskrit: Raktamaritika or Raktamrittika; Chinese: 赤土国, pinyin: Chì-tǔ-guó; Malay language: Tanah Merah) is an ancient kingdom mentioned in the history of China. The Sui Dynasty (581-618) annals describe an advanced kingdom called Chi Tu in 607, when Chang Chun was sent as an ambassador there. The location of Chi Tu was disputed to be around Kelantan or Pahang state in Malay Peninsula, or in Songkhla and Pattani Province of southern Thailand. The best evidence to support the Kelantan theory was when the envoys left Chi Tu, the sail took 10 days to reach Champa, this indicates the kingdom was located somewhere ‘red earth’ around the main river of Kelantan. The inscribed Buddhagupta Stone found in Kedah mentioned a Raktamrttika, meaning "red earth land".


Original copy of the 7th-century Chinese Sui Dynasty annals of Chi Tu Kingdom (Chinese: 赤土国) - Chapter 82, biographies 47

The Chi Tu kingdom is believed to have existed from 100 BC to the 7th century.[1] The royal family's name is Chu-dan (means Gautama Buddha) and the king is Li-fo-duo-se.[2] According to Chinese records, Chi Tu was built by kit mow (Mon-Khmer) peoples who sailed from the coast of Funan (southern Indochina). Centuries later, the local inhabitants, replaced Funan peoples. "...Chi Tu is a derivation nation of Funan, located in within the southern sea, sailing hundred days to reach, the majority terrain was red, thus named Red Earth Kingdom (Chi means red, Tu means earth). East bordering Po-Lo-La, West bordering Po-Lo-So, South bordering Ho Lo Tan, thousands of square miles in land area.[3] The king has three wives and the kingdom embraced Buddhism....".



Scholars do not agree on the location of Raktamaritika. While some consider it in the area of Phatthalung / Songkhla area. The ruins around the Songkhla lake such as Bang Kaeo in Phatthalung or Sathing Phra in Songkhla then might be one of the cities of Raktamaritika.

Sources from Indian scholars[edit]

J.L. Meons (1937) believed that early Srivijaya was located in Kelantan[4] and K.A. Nilakanta Sastri (1949) supported the idea.[5] The Kelantan theory may not be far-fetched, since Chinese Sui Dynasty annals of the 7th century describe an advanced kingdom called Chi Tu or Raktamrittika (as in Kelantanese history) as being in Kelantan, which the name was later changed to "Sri Wijaya Mala". The founding of Sri Wijaya Mala was 667 BC with its capital called "Valai", and it was situated along the upper Kelantan river of Pergau, known for its rich gold mines. It was until 570 BC that the kingdom changed its name to Sri Wijaya.[6]

Songkhla vicinity theory[edit]




See also[edit]


  3. ^ Geoff Wade (2007). Southeast Asia-China interactions: reprint of articles from the Journal of the Malaysian Branch, Royal Asiatic Society. Malaysian Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society. ISBN 9-6799-4838-2. 
  4. ^ J.L. Moens (1937). Srivijaya Java en Kataha. TBG. 

Further reading[edit]

  • Stuart Munro-Hay (1998), Nakhon Sri Thammarat. The Archaeology, History and Legends of a Souther Thai Town, White Lotus, p. 19-22, ISBN 974-7534-73-8 

External links[edit]