Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c14.s4.t9: Yang Tingbi
Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c14.s4.t9
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Yang Tingbi
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Yang Tingbi (about 13th century, dates of birth and death are unknown), an official of Yuan Dynasty, visited India many times as imperial envoy.
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During the years of Zhiyuan of Yuanshizu Emperor (1264-1294 CE), Suo Du, Zuocheng (official name) of Xingzhongshusheng (administrative organisation) had ever been ordered to issue 10 imperial edicts to require all feudatory states to pay allegiance to the imperial court. Soon, Champa Kingdom (present-day in central Vietnam), Maabar Kingdom (namely, Zhunian in southeast India, now Chola) successively sent letters of credence to express their
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Records about Yang Tingbi
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subservience to the imperial court, but Julan (now Quilon in southwest India) and other countries did not make any presentation. Xingzhongshusheng planned to send another 15 people, but was refused by Shizu. In December of the 16th year of Zhiyuan (1279 CE), Shizu sent Yang Tingbi, the Darughachi (supervisor) of Guangdong Zhaotaosi (official position), to Julan. He arrived in March next year, and then returned to China with a letter of credence written by the younger brother of King Binadi with statements of sending an envoy to pay gifts in the coming year. In October the same year, Shizu sent Xuanweishi (official name) Hasaerhaiya, together with Yang Tingbi, to visit Julan. They set off from Quanzhou in lunar January of the 18th year, and reached Sengqieyeshan three months later. Due to the shortage of food and adverse wind direction, they landed on Maabar Kingdom and tried to head to Julan by land. However, at that time, the Maabar Kingdom was at war with Julan, and it was impossible for them to pass through. After the two men returned to China, a third visit was paid by Yang Tingbi in November to Julan. He arrived in Julan in February of the 19th year of Zhiyuan, and was greeted by the King. In March, Julan sent the envoy to China. At that time, Wuzanersalima of Arkaim (Christian) and Hierarch Mahema of Musliman (Muslim) were in Julan as well, and both of them expressed their willingness to work with China by sending envoys. On the way back, Yang Tingbi also persuaded Nawang (probably Nicobar Islands in southeast of Bay of Bengal) and other countries to submit to the imperial court. In lunar January of the 20th year (1283 CE), a forth visit to Julan was made under the government’s order, Yang Tingbi as Xuanweishi arrived in Julan in February and granted the king a gold token. In the the same year, Maabar sent the envoy to China a second time. When they arrived in the capital in May Yuanshizu sent special officials to welcome them halfway. By the 23rd year of Zhiyuan, 10 countries had submitted to the court under the imperial edicts carried by Yang Tingbi.
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(*Ge Weijun*)