It is the Chinese records of the Song, Yuan to Ming dynasties period that supplied the milieu crucial for the understanding of the story and history of the Sulu-China international diplomatic and trade relations. The Southern Song Dynasty strengthens its naval forces to defend its waters and .land borders to conduct maritime missions abroad.

The Song court maintained diplomatic relations with Europeans, Indians and Arabs and other countries but it it's neighboring states which were have the good impact on its domestic and foreign policy.

Emperor Taizu of Song Dynasty.

The great thing that influenced foreign economies abroad especially Sulu were the economic power of Song dynasty. After sometimes of having internal crisis within China, it was once again unified, under the Yuan Dynasty ensued by Ming Dynasty.

Ming emperor, Zhu Yuanzhang or Hongwu Emperor was claimed by some writers as a Muslim of Semitic (Semu) origin. But many had question the truth and authenticity - whatever his religion was, it does not matter.

Trade with Sulu rule, European powers and the Japanese brought about the massive amounts of silver. Beginning in 1405, Emperor Yong Lo entrusted his favored eunuch Chinese Muslim named Zheng Ho as the admiral for a gigantic new fleet of ships designated for international tributary missions.

It was also in this year 1405 that China sent mission to Sulu. This was perhaps to witness the enthronement of Sayyid Abubakar as Paduka Batara Maulana Al-Sultan Shariful Hashim in Buansa City, Sulu as the first ever Sultan of Sulu. Before this, Sulu was ruled by Raja Baginda under the Rajaship system of Banua or villages fragmented governance.

By the Admiral Zheng Ho's ventures brought Chinese merchants to actively participate in trading and many migrated to places like Singapore, Manila, Mindanao, Sulu and Borneo to take advantage of the new commercial opportunities.

In 1408, one of the Zheng Ho's companions Pei Pei Hsien aboard fleet Sam Po Kong died and buried at Jati Tunggal in Jolo, Sulu after having their emergency stop because of monsoon rain at Tanjung, Indanan and proceeded and settled to Maubuh in Patikul after their visit to Melaka.

On his stay in Maubuh of about 8 years he built a deep-well artesian as a symbol of gratitude for the hospitality of Sulu native people. His memorial tomb stands today known as Poon Tao Kong.

Unlike the Europe, the China remained no so much interest in commercial and colonial possibilities overseas because the major source of revenue of Ming government was coming from land tax and not from trade tax.

The Sulu missions to China then not only to give gifts for Chinese emperor but also bringing goods to be sold on the markets. The Chinese court fixed the price for these good without paying taxes. They traded according to the spirit of mutual trust - and that is Islamic.

Sulu people to this date in many market in the rural areas of Sulu still practices mutual exchange of goods in good faith. Silver and Gold coins were also used in Sulu before - it is called Pilak, as a currency of Sulu. The "Halal Money" is soon getting its position in Sulu Sultanate.

In 1417 by the mission of the Sulu two men rulers Sultan Paduka Batara Kamaluddin and Maharaja Gemding and one woman ruler Paduka Prabu and the entourage about 334 Sulu people to Dezhou, Shantong, China upon invitation of emperor Yong Lo. They brought gift for the emperor.

One of the those were expensive and precious pearls and gold. The Sulu pearls were particularly famous. By 1421, the envoy of the Sultan of Sulu brought to the Ming emperor a pearl of a more than 350 grams and was described by Ming officials as a rare item that is seldom to be brought to China.

Wang Zhenping writes about the Sulu pearls expensively bought in China market. He says: "Yuan dynasty sources provide some information on the enormous value of pearls produced in Sulu. These pearls were greenish white in color and round in shape. The Chinese used them as jewelleries. They regarded them as the best among all the pearls produced in Southeast Asia since the luster of these pearls would never fade. Large-sized Sulu pearls measured more than one cun (1/3decimeter) in diameter. Of these pearls, the largest one would cost seven hundred to eight hundred silver ingots at its place of origin; a medium one, three hundred silver ingots, and a small one, ten to twenty silver ingots. When Chinese merchants brought these Sulu pearls home; they would reap a handsome profit that was ten to thirty times of their original prices."

By the constant missions of both Sulus and Chinese, many Chinese have been buried in Sulu land. One of those Chinese left a good symbol of diplomatic relationship, the stone-engraved of Chinese Characters asking the spirit for a good luck.

According Dr. Rey Ty in Mandarin language these characters in pinyin are Fu (Luck) and Shen (Spirit). According to one of our Chinese friends these characters are "Fuk Chuk" to mean praying for a good luck. Dr. Rey Ty says "Fuk Chuk" sounds Cantones and in Fujian language it is "Hok Sin".

Historical facts tigthen the international relations among countries. This remind people of Sulu and China for ther great relationship in the past. This past relationship could be built again by the proof of these great historical accounts. The silver and gold coins shall reign once more!!!

Photo of Chinese Stone-Carved: Neldy Jolo

http://theislandsofpearls.blogspot.com/