sailed around the Malay Peninsula, and on to south China. This elim-
inated the land portage across the Kra Isthmus, and so diminished the
wealth and importance of the principalities dependent upon it. By
contrast, increasing use of this new sea route between India and China
provided the opportunity for Srivijaya, strategically situated as it was
astride the Melaka Strait, to wax wealthy. Srivijayan warships
patrolled the strait, forcing all shipping to put in to Srivijayan ports,
where they were taxed and allowed to proceed.
Despite records of ‘tribute’ missions from India, it is clear that
much of the Southern Ocean trade, particularly by Persians and Arabs,
was not covered by any formal recognition of the pre-eminence of the
Son of Heaven. For the pragmatic Chinese of the Tang period, it was
more important to stimulate trade than to insist on formalities, though
this did not in any way lessen Chinese conviction as to the centrality
and superiority of the Middle Kingdom.
The burgeoning trade with both Southeast Asia and the Indian
Ocean brought large numbers of foreign merchants to Canton and
Long-bien, where they were permitted to organise and administer their
own communities. This provided increased opportunities for unscrupu-
lous officials to indulge in graft and corruption. In 684, a delegation of
foreign merchants was so mistreated by the governor of Canton that a
‘K’un-lunman’ (referring to someone from Southeast Asia) killed the
governor and several other officials, using a sword smuggled in the
sleeve of his robe.^6
This dramatic event ushered in a period of improved administra-
tion and increased trade, until rebellion shook the Tang dynasty.
Demand for goods slumped and, in the absence of central administra-
tive controls, corruption again grew apace. By 758 foreign merchants
at Canton had had enough. Persian and Arab traders (but apparently
not Southeast Asians) pillaged and burned the port, and sailed away.
Merchants who stayed were targets for extortion by local rebels, and
then had their goods and property confiscated for allegedly supporting
rebellion when imperial power was restored.
A Short History of China and Southeast Asia