Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c14.s4.t25: Devakara

v2.c14.s4.t25.1

Devakara, the king of Chola in the late 11ᵗʰ century CE, kept good diplomatic relations with the imperial court of the Northern Song Dynasty. According to the volume 489 of *History of the Song Dynasty*, Dihuajialuo (king of Chola of south India) sent diplomatic corps to China in 1077. The diplomatic corps consisted 27 members, among them the principal envoy was Cirara and deputy envoy was Nambipada, and the accompanying officer was Madhuvara. They brought precious gifts and many pearls, glass wares, and a lot of medicinal materials, spices, etc. They also introduced the diplomatic protocol of “Chedian” namely the envoy standing on the steps of audience hall to drip pearls and kapur on his knees. The Emperor was very satisfied and awarded the principal envoy as General Huaihua, the deputy envoy as General Baoshun, and the members of the corps clothes, wares, coins, etc. Meanwhile, the Emperor ordered them to pass on a present of coins 81,800 Min (1 Min = 1000 Wen) and silver 52,000 Liang to the king Dihuajialuo. (*Xue Keqiao*)