Tamil Merchants and the Hindu-Buddhist Diaspora in Early Southeast Asia

Flashcards testing concepts, inscriptions, figures, dates, proper nouns, and merchant activities from 'Tamil Merchants and the Hindu-Buddhist Diaspora in Early Southeast Asia' by John Guy.

What ivory object from Andhra Pradesh, dating to the third-fourth centuries CE, was excavated at Chansen, Lopburi, Thailand?

An ivory comb, which is a probable Indian import.

What terracotta artifact excavated at Chansen, Lopburi, Thailand represents a probable Indian import?

A terracotta representation of Gaja-Laksmi.

What feature is displayed on the rock-cut inscription of King Purnavarman (c. 450) at Ciaruteun near Bogor, West Java?

A pair of footprints (pada) representing a Vishnupada, serving as the earliest representation of pada in Southeast Asia to evoke both divine authority and the ruler's personal identification with Vishnu.

What is the significance of the seventh-century Telaga Batu stele found in Palembang, South Sumatra?

It is a naga-stele 'curse inscription' that commands subjects to 'drink the curse,' which would be activated by acts of disloyalty.

What are the earliest known Indic inscriptions in Southeast Asia, installed by King Mulavarman in eastern Kalimantan (Borneo) in the late fourth century?

The seven Kutei yupa steles, which record Vedic animal sacrifice and gift-giving rituals performed by Brahmans on behalf of the king.

What is the significance of the goldsmith's touchstone excavated at Wat Klong Thom, Krabi province, Thailand?

It features the earliest Tamil inscription in Southeast Asia, written in Tamil Brahmi script of the third or fourth century CE, identifying its owner as 'Perum patan' [the great goldsmith].

What archaeological finds in Takuapa on the west coast of the Thai peninsula evidence a mid-ninth-century Tamil Hindu presence?

An early ninth-century Tamil inscription referencing merchant guilds and three large-scale Pallava-style stone Hindu sculptures known as the Pra Narai figures.

What artifact from Pyu (c. eighth century, likely Sri Ksetra, Burma) features a depiction of a stupa?

A Pyu miniature clay votive tablet.

Who is named as the donor on the sixth-century Buddhist commemorative stele found in the Lembah Bujang valley, Kedah?

'The great sea-captain Buddhagupta', described as a resident of 'Raktamrittika' (presumed to be 'Tanah Merah' or Red Earth).

What structure in Nagapattinam, India, was built under Chola patronage to encourage visits by Chinese merchants?

The 'Chinese Pagoda' of Nagapattinam, recorded as built in 1267 or 1276.

Where was the late Chola-style stone pillar capital with inverted pendant lotus bud designs found in Thailand?

At a site north of Nakhon Si Thammarat.

What late Chola-period stone architectural element featuring a lion design was recovered from Lembah Bujang, Kedah?

A balustrade section.

What is recorded on the bilingual Tamil and Chinese inscription dated April 1281 (Saka era 1203) found in Quanzhou?

A dedication to Shiva (Hara) by donor Sambandh Perumal (using the honorific 'Tava-chchakka-tavar-ttigal').

How were thirteenth-century Hindu architectural elements preserved at the Kaiyuan Temple in Quanzhou?

They were integrated during a Ming-period renovation, including two late Chola-style pillars decorated with scenes from Hindu mythology and basement reliefs with lotus mouldings and lions.

What localized Hindu mythical scene is carved on the thirteenth-century stone relief from Quanzhou?

An elephant worshipping a linga with flowers.

Which south Indian royal clan is associated with the ruler name-ending 'varman' in early Southeast Asian Sanskrit inscriptions?

The Pallava clan of Tamil Nadu.

Which two merchant guilds or organisations are mentioned in the ninth-century Tamil inscription from Takuapa?

The manigramattar (manigraman) and the sena mugattar.

What function did the sena mugattar serve according to Javanese inscriptions?

They served as guild employees, specifically armed merchant militia (viran kodiyar) who protected guild godowns and caravans.

Which Indian merchant guild recorded its activities on the February-March 1088 Tamil inscription at Lobu Tua, Barus, Sumatra?

The ainurruvar guild.

How is the privilege of holding trading rights phrased in the 1088 Barus Tamil inscription?

It is described as having the privilege to 'step on the spread cloth'.

What is the earliest recorded Sanskrit inscription in mainland Southeast Asia?

The Vo Canh stele, found near Nha Trang, central Vietnam, in Cham territory.

What unique epigraphic distinction belongs to the mid-fifth-century Devanika inscription at Champasak, Laos?

It is inscribed on a tripartite pillar with square, octagonal, and round sections, representing the earliest occurrence of an inscribed linga in Southeast Asian epigraphy.

What two names are used in Buddhist Jataka stories to designate Southeast Asia as a source of wealth?

Suvarnadvipa ('Island of Gold') and Suvarnabhumi ('Land of Gold').

Which Pallava ruler is associated with the tank Sri Avani naranam mentioned in the Takuapa inscription?

Pallava king Nandivarman III (reigned 826–850 CE).

What term referred to foreign quarters in Song China, and what official served as the legal intermediary between foreign communities and Chinese authorities?

The foreign quarters were called 'fanfang', and the legal intermediary was the Shahbandar (harbourmaster).

What were the origin and trade route of the early ninth-century Belitung shipwreck discovered in the Java Sea?

It was an Arab dhow constructed of African hardwoods active in trade between China and the Persian Gulf.

Who carved the stone reliefs for the Hindu temple in Quanzhou, and who directed the construction?

The sculptures were executed by stonemasons trained in the Chinese tradition under the direction of an Indian architect (sthapati) versed in sastric traditions.