Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c14.s4.t24: Rajendra Chola
Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c14.s4.t24
- Language
- English
Rajendra Chola
v2.c14.s4.t24.1
The Cholas were a long-lasting and powerful dynasty of southern India, whose origins date back
v2.c14.s4.t24.2
A scene of the Guangzhou Harbour during the Qing Dynasty
v2.c14.s4.t24.3
to at least 3^rd century BCE. Their power, based on control of the fertile Kaveri river delta region and of maritime trade in the Indian Ocean and Bay of Bengal, reached its height from the 10^th till 12^th centuries CE. Rajendra Chola (r. 1012-1044) was one of the most powerful rulers of this dynasty, who considerably extended the boundaries of his kingdom, even successfully attacking Patna on the river Ganga in the north. He also launched successful naval expeditions against Sri Lanka, the Maldives and the kingdom of Srivijaya. Of the four recorded Chola embassies sent to China, two were sent during his reign.
v2.c14.s4.t24.4
There was a flourishing maritime trade in this period between peninsular India and China. This is testified by the large number of porcelain sherds from China found in numerous sites across southern India. The Chola ports were also important for the trans-shipment trade in goods carried between Song China and points further west in the Persian Gulf region. It was probably in order to consolidate and expand these trading links with China that the Chola kings sent missions to the Song court in the 11th century. Chinese sources like the *Lingwai daida* of Zhou Qufei and the *Zhufanzhi* of Zhao Rugua contain notices of these Chola missions. According to these sources, one of the missions sent by Rajendra Chola in 1020 CE was headed by an envoy called Pa-lan-de-ma-lie-di, who died in Guangzhou before he could reach the Song capital. However, the mission completed the journey and returned home. The sources also recorded that in the eyes of the Chinese empire, the Chola mission was ranked along with that of Qiuze (Kucha), a small tributary state of the Chinese empire, indicating that the Song government was not aware of the military power of the Cholas at this time. The Song also seemed to be under the wrong impression that the Cholas were subject to the power of Srivijaya. Scholars have analysed that rivalry between Srivijaya and the Cholas over domination of the maritime trade in this region, and particularly over the trade with China, could have led to Srivijaya trying to mislead the Song empire about Chola power. It is possible that it was this rivalry that led Rajendra Chola to launch his unprecedented naval expeditions against Srivijaya in 1017 CE and 1025 CE. Overall, the missions of Rajendra Chola and other Chola kings sent to China testify to the growing importance of commerce and of the maritime routes in the relations between India and China in this period.