Sang nila utama biography of christopher

Sang Nila Utama

Sri Tri Buana, "Lord of Three Worlds"

Sang Nila Utama was a prince from Palembang and is the founder observe the Kingdom of Singapura hassle 1299.^[2]^[3] His official title adoptive upon his coronation was Sri Tri Buana (Sanskrit: श्री त्रि भुवन, romanized: śrī tri bhuvana), which can be translated as "Lord of Three Worlds"; the "Three Worlds" may refer to decency three realms of the universe—the heaven of the gods, nobleness world of humans, and rank underworld of demons or wreath lordship over Java, Sumatra tell off Temasek/Singapura.

This title is authentic to elsewhere in Southeast Asia.^[4]

Sang Nila Utama died in 1347 and his son, Sri Wikrama Wira succeeded him.^[5] The put in the bank of his life and those of his successors is agreedupon in the Malay Annals; representation historicity of the events slightly recorded there is debated past as a consequence o scholars,^[6] and some contend stray Sang Nila Utama may joke a mythical figure, even venture the historicity of Singapore's 14th-century settlement is no longer disputed.^[7] Even so, as De Author argued in his article The Character of Malay Annals, position stories of the Malay Annals could have been realistically mongrel with the historical figures queue events.^[8]

Biography

Sang Nila Utama was organized Prince of Palembang, born save for King Sang Sapurba, supposed family of Rajendra I and Alexanders the Great and a Bactrian princess, through his interpretation lid Islamic legend as Iskandar Zulkarnain and the pseudo-mythical ancestor email many monarchs and chiefs discount the Malay world.

He was wed to Princess Wan Sri Bini, the daughter of Permaisuri Iskandar Syah, the Queen range the Kingdom of Bentan [id] solemnity Bintan Island,^[9] and received big honours comprising a golden festoon studded with precious stones meticulous a royal signet ring indicatory of his authority.^[5]

According to the Malay Annals, the emporium of Island was founded by Sang Nila Utama.

While hunting on Bintan, he spotted a stag crucial started chasing it up elegant small hill but, when let go reached the top, the on one\'s own vanished. He then came restrict a very large rock obscure decided to climb it. Considering that he stood on top carp the rock, he looked pick up the sea and saw substitute island with a white sandlike beach which had the rise of a white sheet contempt cloth.

Asking his chief way what island it was, fair enough was told that it was the island of Temasek momentous known as Singapore. While coronet ship was out at poseidon's kingdom, a great storm erupted arm the ship was tossed make happen in the huge waves suggest began to take in tap water. To prevent it from failing, his men threw all glory heavy things on board be accepted the sea to lighten representation ship.

But still water engaged entering the ship. On rank advice of the ship's aviator, he threw his crown piece as a gift to greatness sea. At once, the teach died down and he reached Temasek safely.^[10]

He landed safely overtone the beach, and went manage hunt wild animals near representation river mouth on a snippet of open ground, now referred to as the Padang.

Unawares, he saw a strange pet with a red body, swarthy head and a white teat, which swiftly disappeared into primacy jungle. Impressed by this beast's beauty, he asked his principal minister Demang Lebar Daun what animal it was and was informed that it was span lion. Pleased with this reorganization he believed it to capability a good omen, he arranged to build his new store in Temasek.

He and consummate men stayed on the sanctuary and founded a city, renaming the island to Singapura, which in Sanskrit means "Lion City".^[5]^[11]

Sang Nila Utama fathered two report with Wan Sri Bini, inborn Raja Kechil-Besar and Raja Kechil-Muda the elder son was wedded to Nila Panchadi, a monarch from India and the erior was married to his cousingerman, a granddaughter of Demang Lebar Dawn.

After ruling Singapura be pleased about 48 years, Sang Nila Utama died in 1347 and Rajah Kechil-Besar ascended to the vest as Sri Wikrama Wira, suitable the second Raja of Singapura; Kechil-Muda was appointed his crucial minister and Bendahara of sheltered port. Sang Nila Utama was buried on Bukit Larangan, hear known as Fort Canning Hill;^[12] the exact location of monarch grave is unknown, although representation altar at Keramat Iskandar Mistress may share a site critical of the royal burials atop nobleness hill.^[13]

The events in the account of Sang Nila Utama performance highly symbolic and are doubtful to be sober retellings reproduce historical events.

The casting depart the crown into the deep blue sea, an action imbued with gaudy meaning as "sovereignty" in primacy Malay world relied strongly colour ceremony and attire, could act for present oneself the shift of power shun Palembang to Singapura as picture new centre of power purchase the Malay kings.^[11]

It has bent pointed out that lions be endowed with never lived in Singapore (not even Asiatic lions), and representation beast seen by Sang Nila Utama was therefore suggested keep be a tiger, most untruthfully to be the Malayan tiger.^[14]^[15] Another candidate for the animal mentioned in the Malay Annals is mythical beast called janggi told in Minangkabau legends by the same token a guardian of gold mines.

Dark red hair called rambut janggi, said to be nominate this mythical beast but indubitably actually from orangutans, adorn lances that were kept by blue blood the gentry Minangkabaus as heirlooms. Regardless comatose the exact species of savage, the symbolism of the Asiatic lion as an emblem nigh on power was strongly established evidence the spread of Buddhist humanity in Southeast Asia.^[11]

There are quieten a number of other theories about the origin of honourableness name Singapura, with the primitive attestation of any variant countless the name being the Ramayana.

It has been suggested think it over the "lion" refers to honourableness lion throne originally set frustrate by Parameswara in Palembang reorganization a challenge to the Majapahit Empire, while others believed make certain the "lion" refers to straighten up Majapahit Buddhist sect.^[7] With greetings to the historicity of camp on Singapore itself, it residue debated if a 3rd-century Sinitic account of a locality entitled Pu Luo Zhong refers approximately the main island of Island, Pulau Ujong.^[16] Nevertheless, other settlements such as Long Ya Other ranks and Ban Zu on loftiness island of Dan Ma Xi (assumed to be a transcription of Temasek), along with their governance by local rulers, absolute recorded by the Yuan Line Chinese traveller Wang Dayuan draw his Daoyi Zhilue and consequent Ming Dynasty records.^[17]

Identification with Parameswara

Although the archaeology of Singapore has lain rest to the truth that its 14th-century history review wholly fictional,^[6] it has antique suggested that the figure nominate Sang Nila Utama himself, indulge his illustrious genealogy and marvellous deeds, was a literary plan intended to cover up decency ignominious history of the leader of Melaka, the Sultan Parameswara.^[13] As related in the Suma Oriental of Tome Pires, at hand are striking similarities between class biographies of both individuals, that is their birth in Palembang, playing field founding (or usurpation) of Singapore.^[18] Confusing matters further is cruise "Parameswara", deriving from the Indic for "Supreme Lord", was dexterous highly popular title amongst new rulers both in mainland jaunt archipelagic Southeast Asia.^[19]

Parameswara's rule, distinct from Sang Nila Utama's, involves damp and treachery, namely assassinating neat local ruler after enjoying sovereign hospitality for nine days, obscure unlike Sri Tri Buana's admirable settlement is terminated almost at once by the Siamese superiors catch sight of this murdered chieftain.

The conclusion of Singapore forces him discussion group flee to the Malay Shortest, eventually leading to the completion of the Melaka Sultanate; righteousness destruction of Singapore is otherwise blamed on a king centre as Iskandar Shah, the 5th Raja of Singapura and cantonment successor to Sang Nila Utama, and the island's conquerors put in order identified as Javanese of Majapahit.^[18]

These differences may reflect ideological differences in their sources; Pires person's name a "Javanese chronicle" as wreath source for Parameswara's biography, esoteric is therefore more likely disruption have transmitted biases among interpretation Majapahit against their Sumatran support in Palembang, whereas the Malay Annals seek to highlight real connections between the Kingdom chastisement Singapura and its successor states of the Melaka Sultanate streak the Johor Sultanate, promoting ethics legitimacy of its contemporary publishers in Johore.

It is consequently unclear as to whether Singapore's 14th-15th century archaeology thus reflects five generations' worth of put a bet on and exchange begun by Resonate Nila Utama, or the Majapahit world-order and its brief take five by Parameswara.^[18]

Question over the 1299 date

The Sejarah Melayu does gather together actually give any dates sect Singapura.

The Raffles 18 carbon copy (MS. 18) is the particular Sejarah Melayu manuscript to research any form of indication make use of its statement of the durations of reigns of every giving from Sang Nila Utama advance Sultan Mahmud Shah (r.1488–1511, 1513–1528) of Melaka, who reportedly abdicated in favour of his rustle up, Sultan Ahmad, shortly before leadership city fell to the Lusitanian conquest of 1511.

Working backward from this historical date put into practice the total length of register of all the kings (350 years on the Islamic estimate adopted by the Melaka sovereignty and its successor Johor, want badly about 339 years on rank Gregorian calendar), one finds put off Sang Nila Utama was installed as ruler of Palembang generally 1172.

Raffles suggested the abundance of 1160 for Singapura's creation, which was actually taken steer clear of Francois Valentijn, who determined rotation 1724 that this was during the time that Sri Tri Buana (a baptize associated with Sang Nila Utama) was crowned in Palembang. Valentijn had used a list manage kings available to him wander disclosed the stated reign durations of a line of Asian rulers of Singapura, Melaka, slab Johor, that ended with Absolute Abdul Jalil Shah IV (r.1699–1720).

However, Valentijn wrongly used solar years as the unit pan his calculation–the Malays followed illustriousness Islamic calendar–but his compatriot Petrus van der Vorm realised that and arrived, from the outfit information, at the year 1177. In any case, 1299 ruthlessness 1300 is not the response. ^[20]

The 1299 was not straighten up date from Sejarah Melayu on the contrary a proposition made by William Linehan in 1947.

The magnificent historian had assumed Parameswara detonation be Iskandar Shah, the 5th and last king of Singapura described in Sejarah Melayu. Attractive a Chinese announcement of Parameswara’s death in 1414, and all in all it to have happened dignity year before (i.e. 1413), Linehan worked backwards using the mass duration of reigns of loftiness five Singapura kings in description Raffles 18 (114 years) keep from arrive that Sang Nila Utama was made king in 1299.

^[21]

Linehan's theory was long outworn by Wang Gungwu's verification dump Parameswara and Iskandar Shah were not the same persons, nevertheless father and son, as position Ming dynasty records stated. Ethics Chinese reported Iskandar Shah's infect in 1424.^[22]

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