The country Ma-yi - Chao Ju-kua's pre-

Spanish description of the Philippines

Posted under General Histor y
Sunday July 29, 2012 (7 years ago)

(There is no direct reference as to the time in which Chao Ju-kua lived, but his name is
mentioned in the Imperial Catalogue, whence it appears that he was probably
descended from some member of the imperial family of the Sung dynasty, whose real
name was Chao.; and that he was born after the beginning of the second half of the
twelfth century. He was inspector of the salt gabel in the province of Fo-kien, and his
title was probably Shih-po, which means " Superintendent of Sea Trade." As this post
existed in Fo-kien only during the years 1277- 1287, it is probable that those dates fix
the period of Chao Ju-kua. His work is called the Chu-fan-chih, and the greater part of
his notes are copies from older records. His position, however, gave him opportunity to
gather information personally from the traders who anchored at his port. At that time
more foreign traders frequented Chinese ports than either before or after, and it would
be comparatively easy to gather information. The Chu-fan-chih contains more
geographical information than do the court records. See F. Hirth's China and the Roman
Orient (Leipsic and Munich; and Shanghai and Hong-kong, 1885), pp. 21-25.)

The country Ma-yi 1

The country Ma-yi is located north of Poni . About one thousand families inhabit the
2 3

shores of a river which has many windings . The natives dress in linen, wearing clothes
4

that look like sheets; or they cover their bodies with sarongs . In the thick woods are
5

scattered copper statues of Buddha, but no one can tell the origin of those statues .
6

Pirates seldom visit those districts. When [Chinese] merchantmen arrive at that port
they cast anchor at a place [called] the place of Mandarins. That place serves them as a
market, or site where the products of their countries are exchanged. When a vessel has
entered into the port (its captain) offers presents consisting of white parasols and
umbrellas which serve them for daily use. The traders are obliged to observe these
civilities in order to be able to count on the favor of those gentlemen.
(Chao Ju-kua's map)

In order to trade, the savage traders are assembled , and have the goods carried in
7

baskets, and although the bearers are often unknown, none of the goods are ever lost
or stolen. The savage traders transport these goods to other islands, and thus eight or
nine months pass until they have obtained other goods of value equivalent to those that
have been received [from the Chinese]. This forces the traders of the vessel to delay
their departure, and hence it happens that the vessels that maintain trade with Ma-yi are
the ones that take the longest to return to their country.

The most noteworthy places of this country are: San-hsii; Pai-pu-yen; Pu-li-lu, which is
located near San-hsii; Li-yin-tung; Lin-hsin; and Li-han . The products of that country are
8

yellow wax , cotton, pearls, shells , betel nuts, and jute [yu-ta] textiles . Foreign traders
9 10 11

import porcelain, commercial gold , iron vases for perfumes, leaden objects, glass,
12

pearls of all colors , and iron needles .

13 14

San-hsii, or the "Three Islands," belong to Ma-yi. Their names are Ka-may-en, Pa-lao-
yu, and Pa-chineng . Each of these islands is inhabited by its own races, who are
15

scattered throughout them. But upon the arrival of the vessels, the natives assemble in
order to trade. Their general name is San-hsii. Their customs are about the same as
those observed in Ma-yi. Each tribe consists of about one thousand families. The
16

country has many lofty hills and rugged rocks which rise up like gigantic walls. The
houses of the inhabitants are built of bamboo. The high region of the country has few
springs, but the women go to the banks of the rivulets and creeks and thence back to
the mountain bearing on their heads two or three jars filled with water, a load that does
not bother them. They ascend the mountain with the same ease as if they were on the
level. The interior of the valleys is inhabited by a race called Hay-tan. They are of short
stature, have round yellow eyes, curly hair, and their teeth can be plainly seen [showing]
from between their lips . They build their nests in the forking of the branches of trees,
17

and a family, usually consisting of from three to five individuals, lives in each nest .
18

They wander through the fastnesses of the thickets and invisible to the sight, shoot their
arrows at the passers-by. On this account they are greatly feared. When the trader
takes them a porcelain jar, they bow and take it, and then uttering cries of joy, run away
with it.

When foreign traders come to one of their villages , they must not touch the ground, but
19

must remain aboard their vessel, which is anchored in the middle of the current and 20

announce their presence by beat of drum. Thereupon the savage traders approach in
their light craft, in which they carry cotton , yellow wax, strange cloth , cocoanuts,
21 22

onions , and fine mats, and all those things they offer for sale in exchange [for the
23

articles of the Chinese]. In case of misunderstanding in the price of the goods, it is

necessary to summon the chief of the traders of that place, so that he may present
himself in person, and arrange the tariff to the satisfaction of all. The imported objects
are silk umbrellas, porcelain, and a kind of basket woven from rattan. Foreign traders
receive twice or thrice the value of the goods sold aboard, in order to serve them as a
bond of security. Afterward the foreign traders disembark and perform their contracts
there, and then return to their vessel. The goods pledged by the natives remain only
three or four days aboard the vessel, and then after the expiration of that term they are
restored [to shore]. Then the vessel visits another village of the savages, for the coast
villages of the Three Islands do not have one common jurisdiction . The hills keep the
24

winds from the vessels during the continuance of the northeast monsoon. But when the
southwest monsoon begins, the dashing of the waves against the coast is so violent
that great currents are formed that do not allow the vessels to remain at anchor. This is
the reason why those who maintain trade with the Three Islands delay their return for
four or five months. Porcelain, black damask, and other silk fabrics, pearls of various
colors, lead, fishnets, and tin are imported. Pu-li-lu is near Three Islands. Its villages are
very densely populated , but its inhabitants are very cruel and inclined to piracy. The
25

sea is full of reefs and shoals, and the beach has rocks which are indented like dry
wood, and their points are very sharp like those of swords and spears . In order that the 26

vessels may reach that country, they take a long and circuitous route, in order to avoid
those shoals. There are corals there, but it is very difficult to get them. The popular and
trading customs are the same as those which exist at Three Islands.

1 Notes from Blair and Robertson

This description is translated from a copy of the Periodico Hebdomadario Escolar (i.e., "Students' Weekly
Paper") for November 9, 1901, being no. 6 in order of issue of that paper. It was there published by Clemente
J. Zulueta (now deceased), then professor of history, and later engaged in archival researches in Spain for the
Philippine branch of the United States government, who was a man of real ability. He himself communicated
the existence of this publication to us; the copy of the paper, which is rare, was lent us by James A. LeRoy.

An editorial note at the beginning of the chapter reads as follows:

"As we consider it of some importance to the historical, or rather pre-historical, cartography of Filipinas, we
transcribe the following lines, which are a Spanish translation of chapter xl of the geography of the Chinese
writer Chao Ju-kua. Professor Blumentritt translated it from the English, and Dr. Hirth translated directly into
English the MS. of Chao Ju-kua [ca., I891] who according to Blumentritt, flourished in the thirteenth century-that
is, three centuries before Magallanes's expedition."
Our search for the translation by Dr. Hirth has been unavailing, and we are therefore compelled to retranslate
Blumentritt's translation. Concerning this translation we are furnished the following information in a letter from
James A. LeRoy, dated January 27, 1904: "Zulueta owns the original letter and the translation of this chapter
as written out by Ferdinand Blumentritt and sent to Rizal while the latter was in exile in 1894. Blumentritt made
the annotations to the chapter, as is proved by his letter. In his letter to Rizal enclosing the translation of the
chapter, Blumentritt tells Rizal that the previous year (1893) a friend of his in Madrid had published (how or
where is not told) his hastily-made version of this chapter, with hasty notes, which he had sent this friend for his
own use in a study of the prehistoric Philippines, but had no idea that it would be used independently." A
Spanish version with parallel English translation appeared in Revista historica de Filipinas (i.e., "Filipino
Historical Review") for June, 1905 (vol. i, no. 2), which is signed by P. L. Stangl. His version differs from that of
Blumentritt given by Zulueta, being divided into two chapters - xl, called "Ma-yi," and xli, called "San- Hsii." We
have, however, preferred to use Zulueta's version, as we do not know whence Stangl's version has proceeded.
We subjoin Blumentritt's notes accompanying Zulueta's version, signing such notes "B."

Notes
2
"Ma-yi", the ancient name for Luzon, is derived from "Bahi " or "Bahy," former names of the lake of Bay. In
other Chinese dialects, the name is given as "Ma-yit", "Ba-hi", or "Ba-yit". As the chief Tagalogs of Bulakan at
the time of the conquest bore the title of " Gat-maytan", I infer that the name "Ma-yi" might very reasonably be
derived from the ancient name of Bulakan, for that province was always the richest district of Luzon. The whole
of the Philippine archipelago was called "Ma-yi" by the Chinese author. Dr. Hirth says also that the Chinese
character " Ma-hi," may also be read "Mo-yat," "Ba-ek," "Ma-i," "Ma-yek," etc. - B.

3 Ancient Chinese name for the island of Borneo. - B.

4 Probably the river is the Pasig, and the settlement, Manila. - B.

5 Sarong is the Malay word for skirt. - B.

6This confirms the statement that the Philippine Islands were once under the influence of Buddhism, from India.
- B.

It is far more likely that such images were traded by the Chinese to the superstitious people, and that Buddhism
never had any foothold and was never introduced in the Philippines; notwithstanding P. L. Stangl's belief that
Buddhism was introduced into the Philippines from Java.

7 The Chinese call all foreigners savages except the Japanese, Koreans, and people of Anam. - B.

8San-hsii signifies the "Three Islands" and is attributed to the Visayan Islands. Pai-pu-yen is perhaps the
Babuyanes. Puli-lu may be Mindanao; Li-yin-tung, Lingayen; Lin-hsin sounds like Lin-hsing (called Lin-sung by
Stangl), a Chinese name corresponding to their name for modern Luzon. However, Lin-hsin appears to be the
Chinese name for Calilaya (modern Tayabas). Li-han is the primitive Chinese name for the present Malolos,
whose princes bore the title of "Gat-Salihan" or "Gat-Salian." -B.

9Stangl believes that the yellow wax is an aromatic resin resembling wax, and somewhat like but not exactly
the same as white pitch, and today sold in Mindanao under the name of yellow wax.

10 i.e., Tortoise-shell. - B.

11
Yu-ta seems to be the abaca. - B. Stangl prints "yii-ta."

Coins of Siam and Java? For it appears that such coins circulated in the country. - B. Stangl reads the second
12

half of this note "But how did it come to pass current in the country?" It is probable that the commercial gold
was in the form of gold dust or ornaments of gold. If there were any Javanese or Siamese gold coins in the
country (and it is highly improbable), they must have been taken there by the Chinese, who were keen traders
who early penetrated to all parts of the eastern archipelagoes.

13 Stangl inserts here " iron fixtures " [enseres de hierro].

14 The following paragraph begins chapter xli in Stangl.

Ka-may-en is Mait or the modern Mindoro; and ← Pa-lao-yu, Paragua. " Pa-chi-neng " may also be read "Pa-
15

kat-lung" and "Ba-ki-lung." It seems to be the term for the true Visayans, while under the name San-hsii are
understood the Visayans proper, together with the islands of Mindoro and Palawan. - B.

16I believe that the word " tribe " means here village or settlement; for I think that the author meant to say that
the villages usually had one thousand families. - B.

This phrase needs explanation. The Indians were accustomed to stain the teeth black, a custom quite general
17

among many Malay nations. The Negritos, on the contrary, did not stain them. - B.

In Chao Ju-kua's description, Stangl translates "round eyes of a shining appearance," instead of "round yellow
eyes."

18These " Hay-tan " are the Aetas, Itas, or Negritos of modern authors. The antiquity of this ethnographical
name surprises us. The description of the Negritos seems to have been written yesterday. The Chinese author,
in speaking of the nests of the Negritos, seems to have confused them with the houses that are built today in
the forking of the branches of trees by some heathen tribes of Mindanao. - B.

Mr. James A. LeRoy, in a letter dated March 14, I905, says that it is at least doubtful that the Negritos were
ever tree-dwellers in the true sense of the word, i.e., building solid, defensible structures like those of the typical
tree-dwellers. The Negritos do indeed spend a portion of their time in the treetops and often hunt their game in
that way. It is probable that the tree-dwellers of the Philippines are Malays, although some of them may have a
strain of Negrito blood.

19 This refers to the Indians and not the Negritos. - B.

20 Of the mouth of the rivers? - B.

21 By cotton, the author evidently means cotton textiles. - B.

This is not necessarily so. Stangl remarks that the author's meaning must be the tree cotton, which is called
kapok, basing his assertion upon the word that is used, presumably in the Chinese. The cotton plant is called
kapas in Java. Apropos of tree cotton, Census of the Philippines, iv, p. 120, says: " A species of tree cotton
(Ceiba pentandra) is found growing in a wild state in many of the islands; the cotton is useless for spinning
purposes, the staple being very short, but it is used for making cushions and other articles."

22 Foreign cloth: sinamay [a light fabric made from abaca] and other textiles of the country? - B.

23 Camotes? - B.

24The author accentuates the fact that the Visayan villages had no common jurisdiction. This appears to imply
that several villages in Luzon were under the jurisdiction of one king or prince. - B. This does not necessarily
follow.

25The island of Mindanao was also more populous during the period of the Spanish conquest than now. The
islands of Sarangani which have now 1,500 Bilanes and Ioo Moros, were very thickly populated by the latter in
1548, and they had a large fort on a hill there. - B. But see VOL. IX, p. 290, where it appears that the early
reports of the population of Mindanao were greatly overstated.

According to the letters from the Jesuit fathers of Filipinas, there are yet similar coasts near Zamboanga, and
26

such as are described by the Chinese author. - B.

Reference:
The Philippine Islands, [Vol. 1, no. 34]
Blair, Emma Helen, ed. d.1911., Robertson, James Alexander, joint ed. 1873-1939., Bourne, Edward
Gaylord,

Source: https://kahimyang.com/kauswagan/articles/1253/the-country-mayi-chao-jukuas-
prespanish-description-of-the-philippines