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CHAPTER 3

THE HISTORY

OF

ANCIENT BRUNEI

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“Oh mankind! We have created you from a male and female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one another.

Verily, the most honourable of you in the sight of Allah is that (believer) who has at-Taqwa

[i.e. one of the muttaqun: i.e. pious and righteous persons who fear Allah much

(abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds which He has ordained)]. Verily, Allah is

All-Knowing, All-Aware”

Surah Al-Hujarat verse 13

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Where did the ancient people of Borneo live a long time ago?

They lived in small villages.

What does the word ‘tribe’ refer to?

A group of people who are usually related to one another and who have a common language and culture.

THE ANCIENT PEOPLE OF BORNEO

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STONE AGE TOOLS

HINDU AND BUDDHIST STATUES

INSCRIPTIONSARABIC

SANSKRIT

CHINESE ARCHIVAL RECORDS

HISTORICAL EVIDENCE

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PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE USEOF HISTORICAL EVIDENCE

Difficult to work out what the information means.

For example, the records in the Chinese archives made references to areas in the northwest coast of Borneo.

Different names were also found, such as:

YE-PO-TI, PO-LO-CHUNG, P’O-LI OR PO-NI

which may refer to the same place.

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PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE USEOF HISTORICAL EVIDENCE

Different meanings to the words:

BORNEO BRUNEI

To some historians: Brunei was referred to as the whole island.

To the Europeans: Brunei was referred to as Borneo.

TODAY : Borneo is referred to as the whole island and Brunei is a small part of Borneo.

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Old Map of Borneo

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Map of the island of Borneo today

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Although the task of gathering information is difficult, historians and archaeologists have managed to find different sources.

A Dutch’s description Admiral vonNoort’s Report in December 1600

Difficult to make out the meanings as well as the description

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WRITTEN RECORDS OF OTHER COUNTRIES

Since the first few centuries A.D., there was evidence to show the presence of trade in the northwest coast of Brunei with:

Traders from countries in Southeast Asia.

Foreigners especially from China and India.

Chinese traders in the 6th century mentioned a place found in the northwest of Borneo as P’o-li.

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VIJAYAPURA

Historical evidence showed that Vijayapura was the first Brunei kingdom.

Evidence was obtained from historical records from the Chinese and Indian traders who visited the ports.

Main activity was in trade.

Traded in camphor.It was the main export.

Also exported forest products. Camphor trees and flowers

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HISTORY OF VIJAYAPURA

Records obtained from accounts written by the Chinese and Arabs in the 7th century.

It was founded by members of the royal family of the Funan empire.

The royal family escaped Funan during the attack on Funan by the Chenlas.

Believed to have landed on the northwest coast of Borneo.

Captured P’o-li and changed its name to Vijayapura, which means victory.

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HISTORY OF VIJAYAPURA

The Chinese referred to Vijayapura as FO-SHIH-PU-LO.

The Arab traders named it SRIBUZA.

During the 7th century, Vijayapura thrived on the sea-borne trade.

It also extended its control over the

Coastal areas of northern Borneo. Coastal parts of the islands off the northern most coast of Borneo (present day Phillipines).

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PO-NI

In 977 A.D., the Chinese reported the use of the name Po-ni instead of Vijayapura to refer to the Brunei kingdom.

Po-ni was located on Brunei bay.

People practised Hinduism and Buddhism.

Po-ni was a trading empire which exported good quality camphor.

A thriving port with a navy made up of nobles and whose sailors were Orang lauts. (Sea nomads)

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REPORT ON PO-NI BY CHUA JU-KUA

Po-ni had more than 100 warships to protect its trade.

Po-ni’s king was carried in a litter (usongan in Bahasa Melayu)

when he went outside his palace.

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CHINESE REPORT ON PO-NI IN 1280

PO-NI was controlling large parts of Borneo

Islands. (Present Day SABAH and SARAWAK)

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END OF PO-NI

Became a vassal state of the Majapahit empire around 1365.

Had to pay an annual tribute of 40 katis of camphor.

In 1369: - Capital was attacked by Sulus. - Gold and treasures were looted. - Majapahit came to assist Po-ni. - Po-ni became weak after the attack by

the Sulus.

There was a lot of gold in the kingdom. Gold threads were sewn into cloth.

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A Chinese ReportChinese Report which was dated in1371, described Po-Ni as weak and poor.

END OF PO-NI

It was totally controlled by the Majapahit Empire.

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The country of Po-ni is hot and torrid with frequent storms. The town has no outer wall, and its defence is effected by a fenceof tree poles… The king… goes barefooted. He has no horse or sedan chair and goes about on foot...

… They have no proper dishes or cups and eat out of vessels made of pei-to leaves woven together… They also have no pens or paper,and write by engraving with knives on pei-to leaves.

A Chinese description of Po-ni in A.D. 1371

There is no sign of the gold and wealth mentioned by Chua Ju-kua in 1225.

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The SULUS came to Po-ni in these kinds of boats to raid its gold and treasures in 1365

END OF PO-NI AND THE FIRST SULTAN OF BRUNEI

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The first ruler of Po-ni was Ma-Ha-Mo-Sha.(From the Chinese records)

Historians believed that this was Awang Alak Betatar who took a Muslim name Sultan Muhammad Shah and became theFirst Muslim ruler of Brunei.

END OF PO-NI AND THE FIRST SULTAN OF BRUNEI

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FROM THE CHINESE REPORTS, IT WAS NOTED THAT

Po-ni was a vassal state of the Majapahit empire until 1389 when the ruler, Hayam Wuruk, passed away and the Majapahit empire also declined.

Muhammad Shah maintained friendly relations with China.

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The Founding of Brunei

1. Long ago in Garang, a place in the Temburong district, lived Awang Alak Betatar and his thirteen brothers. Awang Alak Betatar was chosen by his brothers as their leader because of his intelligence.

2. One day, Awang Alak Betatar called his brothers for a meeting.

“We have stayed in Garang for years now,” Awang Alak Betatar said. “How would you feel if we were to find a new place to live, brothers?”

His brothers agreed that this would be a good idea.

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The Founding of Brunei

3. A week later, Awang Alak Betatar’s brothers, led by Pateh Berbai, began their search. They landed at a site called Butir on the Brunei river.

Of all the places that we have been to, Butiris the most suitable for a settlement. It is flanked by hills with ample water supplyand the river is abundant with fish. I thinkBrother Awang Alak Betatar will like it too.

4. Pateh Berbai and his brothers went back to Garang to tell Awang Alak Betatar the good news. A conference was then held and Awang Alak Betatar agreed to his brothers’ suggestion.

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5. Weeks later, Awang Alak Betatar and his brothers sailed together with their followers to establish the new settlement which was to become Brunei Town.

The Founding of Brunei

When they arrived, they began clearing the bushes and cleaning the area.

6. Each of Awang Alak Betatar’s brothers set up his own house. Soon, more and more people came to settle there and Awang Alak Betatar became the first ruler of Brunei.

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OTHER ARCHAEOLOGICAL FINDINGS

Arab and Chinese archival records.

Archaeological findings made in Brunei in Kota Batu.

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How did Brunei get its name?

Chinese records Brunei referred to as Po-Ni Country of lasting tranquility

Arabian recordsDarussalam

Abode of peace

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ARCHAEOLOGICAL FINDINGS

Remains of a trading settlement matching Arab descriptions of Sribuza at Kota Baru.

Described as a city with houses floating on rafts at the edge of a great bay fed by a river.

Evidence of Po-ni’s trade found such as:

Chinese pottery and coins at Muara Ceramics from Siam and China in Lumut

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HISTORICAL SOURCE OF BRUNEI

Syair Awang Semaun

Epic stories on the founding of Brunei

Salasilah Raja-Raja Brunei

A record of the Sultans of Brunei after Brunei accepted Islam.

BATU TERSILAH

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HISTORY OF

ANCIENT BRUNEI

CHINESE RECORDSCHINESE RECORDS

ARCHAEOLOGICAL

FINDINGS

HISTORICAL SOURCES OF BRUNEI

ARAB RECORDSARAB RECORDS