The resurgence of ethno religious groups claiming their descendancy from the earliest Muslim communities who settled in Quanzhou has led to the Ding lineage being incorporated into the Hui people in 1979. The Hui people form the largest of 10 Muslim nationalities in China and are the 20th century descendants of Arab and Persian ancestors. This is borne out by the abundance of preserved family genealogies, gravestones, stele inscriptions and dynastic records, which are now recognized as part of local Chinese culture.
The Chinese began to forge links with and travel to many countries in Southeast Asia from early times. This can be seen from archaeological finds across the region and is recorded in the literature of the time. Inscriptions in the form of epigraphic materials also provide insights into the travels of the Chinese during the period, including likely origins and departure and arrival sites.
Serving as the gateway between East and West, the Gulf of Thailand was a busy trade route for commercial vessels. Since the area was rich in resources, spices and exotic goods, traders also often stopped to purchase and sell merchandise, as well as stock up on food and water supplies. While the gulf was safer than many seas, inevitably some ships sank with their cargoes.
Researchers agree that silk production began in China in the first millennium B.C. and that this led to the creation of the first Silk Roads, which connected to the Roman Empire, via India, Persia, Afghanistan, the Pamir mountains and beyond. By the first centuries B.C., it is clear from archaeological finds in Viet Nam that trading links had developed there and that silk was being produced and woven in the Giao Chi region.
Despite the lack of written records before the Hispanic era, archaeological finds provide a material history of extensive trade. Commerce occurred via the maritime and land silk roads that spread from China through mainland Asia, insular Southeast Asia, and eventually into the Philippines. The earliest Chinese finds date from late Tang Dynasty (9th century AD), providing quantitative evidence of the Philippine share in maritime trade.
The sea routes between South India, Sri Lanka and the Indonesian archipelago of Sumatra, Java and Bali were already well established by the beginning of the Christian era, long before Persian and Arab ships arrived. However, trade links extended once seasonal variations in monsoon winds were harnessed to support inter-continental journeys and as shipbuilding techniques advanced. Despite small populations, many areas of Indonesia became fertile sources for valuable products and markets, both for international, as well as local trade.
Until recently, few archaeological discoveries of Chinese porcelain in India had been reported, despite Chinese porcelain having a reputation for being of very high quality and therefore highly sought-after. In contrast, large quantities had been found in other Southeast Asian countries, including the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand. Then, in 1950 more than 70 celadon and blue-and-white items were discovered in the Palace of Firuz Shah Tughlaq in Delhi.
The Jurchen tribes, who established the 120 year Chin dynasty in the early 12th century AD, had a significant influence on the destiny of East Asian peoples. Archaeological research indicates that the Northern Jurchen culture of Priamurye had a distinctive character with traditions firmly rooted in the local cultural-historical past. The Jurchens were probably one of the most advanced ethnic communities at the time, having experience of offensive and defensive combat.
Over time, the overland Silk Road and the maritime ‘Spice Road’ both played important roles in the transfer and enrichment of art forms in the regions through they traversed and connected. The development of Buddhist art provides clear evidence of the development of Asian art during this time. Buddhist art started in India and was modified in Central Asia and the Southeast Asian regions.
200 miles north of Karachi lie the remains of the ancient city of Mohenjo-daro, one of the most striking monuments from the dawn of civilisation. Populated from 2500 – 1500 BC, but then abandoned, it was only rediscovered in 1921. However, two serious problems face these magnificent ruins: they are being eroded by the Indus River, and they are being corroded by the salt being brought to the surface as the water table rises dramatically. In fact, since the construction of the Sukkur dam in 1932, the water table has risen by about 13 feet.
