Suvarnadvipa,

Zabag (Chinese: Sanfotsi; Hindu: Suvarnadvipa, Javaka; Arabic: Zabaj) is thought to have been an ancient kingdom located south of China somewhere in Southeast Asia, between Chenla (now Cambodia) and Java. The established studies by several historians associated this kingdom with Srivijaya and pointed its location somewhere in Sumatra, Java or Malay peninsula. However its exact location is still the subject of debate among scholars. Other possible locations such as northernBorneo and Philippines are also suggested.[1]  

Sanfotsi lies between Chenla and Toupo (Chopo or Java). Its rule extend over fifteen chou. It lies due south of Tsu'an-chou. In the winter, with the monsoon, you sail a little more than a month and then come to Lingyamon, where one-third of the passing merchants before entering this country of Sanfotsi.

A large proportion of the people are surnamed P'u .

The people either live scattered about outside the city, or on the water on rafts of boards covered over with reeds, and these are exempt from taxation.

They are skilled at fighting on land or water. When they are about to make war on another state they assemble and send for the such a force as the occasion demands. They appoint chiefs and leaders, and all provide their own military equipment and the necessary provisions. In facing the enemy and braving death they have not their equal among other nations.

During most of the year the climate is hot, and there is but little cold weather. Their domestic animals are very much like those ofChina. They have wine of flowers, wine of coconuts, and wine of areca nuts and honey, all fermented, though without any yeast of any kind, but they are so intoxicating to drink.[2]

• Chou Fu-kei hundreds of years later says the same thing:

Sanfotsi is in the Southern Ocean (South China Sea). It is the most important port-of-call on the sea-routes of the foreigners from the countries of Toupo on the east and from the countries of the Arabs and Kulin to the west; they all pass through on the way to China.

The country has no natural products, but the people are skilled in fighting. When they are about to fight, they cover their bodies with a medicine which prevents swords wounding them (amulets). In fighting on land or on water none surpass them in impetousity of attack; even the Kulin people come after them. If some foreign ship, passing this place, should not enter here, an armed party would certainly come out kill them to the last.[2]

LOCATION

SRIVIJAYA

Many historian identify Zabag with Srivijaya, a maritime empire centered inSumatra. A French scholar George Coedès published his discoveries and interpretations in Dutch and Indonesian-language newspapers.[3] Coedès noted that the Chinese references to "Sanfoqi" or "Sanfotsi", previously read as "Sribhoja", and the inscriptions in Old Malay refer to the same empire.[4]

Srivijaya and by extension Sumatra had been known by different names to different peoples. The Chinese called it Sanfotsi or San Fo Qi, and at one time there was an even older kingdom of Kantoli that could be considered as the predecessor of Srivijaya.[5][6] In Sanskrit and Pali, it was referred to as Yavadesh and Javadeh respectively.[5] The Arabs called it Zabag and the Khmer called it Melayu.[5] This is another reason why the discovery of Srivijaya was so difficult.[5]While some of these names are strongly reminiscent of the name of Java, there is a distinct possibility that they may have referred to Sumatra instead.[7]

OTHER LOCATIONS

LOCATION OF TOUPO

"Ye-po-ti of Fashien and Choup'o of the Gunavarman story with Java though probable ,is not accepted by all scholars"{[8]

"Two weeks before reaching Poni by sea" -Chinese works.[8]

Modern Historian are now pointing Cotabato Delta as the Medieval location of Toupo,the successor of Maguindanao/Cotabato Sultanate.[8]

EXTERNAL LINKS

• The Medieval Geography of Sanfotsi and Zabag

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