For the past five years, I have been putting forth the argument that a Chinese place name, Sanfoqi, that scholars believe referred to a polity on Sumatra called “Srivijaya” was actually a reference to “Cambodia,” and literally is the term, “Kambuja.”
The most important piece of evidence for the “Sanfoqi = a place on Sumatra” argument is a linkage between three placenames – Sanfoqi, Old Harbor and Baolinbang [or what I translate here as “the Baolin Polity”] – that is made in works by men (Ha Huan and Fei Xin) who participated in the Zheng He voyages in the early fifteenth century.
The accounts attributed to these men claim that Sanfoqi later came to be known as “Old Harbor” and that locals called it “Balinbang.” However, these accounts were produced years after these men visited the region, and the versions that we have access to come from still much later.
By contrast, works like the Ryukyuan collection of documents known as the Precious Documents (Rekidai Hōan 歴代宝案) and the Ming shilu, which I provided translations from in the previous post, date from that time period (the late-fourteenth and early-fifteenth centuries for the Ming shilu and the early fifteenth century for the Precious Documents).
Further, from these works, we can see that Sanfoqi, Old Harbor and the Baolin Polity were not the same place. This completely undermines the statements in the works of Ma Huan and Fei Xin, and that in turn undermines the main piece of evidence that purports to link Sanfoqi with Sumatra.
I present below rough translations that I made (with AI and a quick check) on the passages in the Precious Documents that mention Sanfoqi, Old Harbor and/or the Baolin Polity.
The Precious Documents has been digitized for anyone who wishes to explore more.
明宣德3年9月24日(1428-11-01)
ID number: pdsg-ntu-1088322-00466
琉球國中山王為貢事。照得本國稀少貢物，為此，今遣正使實達魯等，坐駕字號海船壹隻，裝載磁器等物，前往貴國出產地面，收買胡椒等物回國，謹備進貢中國。仍備禮物詣前奉獻，少伸遠意，幸希收納。煩令差人船容令買賣，及早打發，乘趁風迅回國便益。永通往來，以為四海一家。今將奉獻禮物數目開坐移咨施行。須至咨者。
今開： 素段貳拾匹、大青盤貳拾個、小青盤四百個、小青碗貳千個。
宣德三年九月二十四日往舊港
From the King of Chūzan of the Ryukyu Kingdom, regarding tribute matters:
Since our country has few tribute items, we now dispatch the chief envoy Shidalu and others, aboard a vessel named Zi hao, loaded with porcelains and other goods, to proceed to your honorable country’s production areas, in order to purchase pepper and other commodities for transport back to Ryukyu. These are to be respectfully prepared as tribute to present to the Middle Kingdom.
At the same time, we prepare gifts to present before you, as a small token of distant goodwill, which we sincerely hope you will graciously accept. We further beg that you dispatch people and allow our ships to trade freely, so that they may be promptly provided for and take advantage of the seasonal winds to return home swiftly. Thus, may exchanges continue forever, treating the four seas as one family.
The number of gifts is recorded below. We respectfully submit this petition.
Declaring: 20 bolts of plain silk, 20 large blue porcelain dishes, 400 small blue porcelain dishes, 2,000 small blue porcelain bowls/
Sent to Old Harbor, twenty-fourth day of the ninth lunar month, third year of the Xuande era [November 1, 1428].
明宣德3年9月24日(1428-11-01)
ID number: pdsg-ntu-1088322-00517
琉球國中山王為船隻事。宣德三年九月內，據王相機呈稱：有本國頭目實達魯等，告稱欲便駕使海船一隻，裝載磁器等貨，前往舊港買賣。未敢擅便，緣無文憑，誠恐所在官司盤阻不便，告乞施行，准此。王府除外，今給義字七十七號半印勘合執照，給付本人等收執前■。■■經過■津把隘去處，及沿海巡哨■■，驗實即■■■，毋得留難不便。所有執照，須至出給者。
今開:
宣德三年九月二十四日
執照
From the King of Chūzan of the Ryukyu Kingdom, regarding ship matters:
In the ninth month of the 3rd year of the Xuande era [1428], according to a petition from Royal Minister Kaiki, it was reported: headman Shidalu and others of our kingdom requested permission to sail one sea vessel, loaded with porcelains and other goods, to Old Harbor for trade. They did not dare to act on their own, for lacking proper documents they feared obstruction and delay from the local authorities. They therefore begged for authorization, which has been granted.
Apart from the King’s Office, we now issue Warrant No. 77, marked with the half-seal of the yi character certificate, and give it to the persons concerned for their keeping. When passing through ferry crossings, guarded passes, or coastal patrols, they are to be verified accordingly. None shall obstruct or inconvenience them.
This license is formally issued.
Delcaring:
Twenty-fourth day of the ninth lunar month, third year of the Xuande era [November 1, 1428]
License
明宣德3年10月5日(1428-11-11)
ID number: pdsg-ntu-1088322-00558
琉球國王相懷機端肅奉書舊港管事官閣下。自永樂十九年間，准日本國九州官源道鎮送到舊港施主烈智孫，差來那弗答、鄧子昌等二十餘名到國，告乞遞送回國，准此。緣無能諳，大長思係遠人，難以久留，未故擅便。除啟國王，敬蒙即便差令正使闍那結制等，駕使海船一隻，已到暹羅國，仍行乞為轉送。未知到否。今有本國頭目實達魯等，駕小船一隻，裝載磁器等貨，到貴國買賣，仍令尺楮付實達魯等，前到舊港管事官前，告稟回報。今備禮物馳送，少伸遠意，萬望笑留。所有今去人船，煩為寬容買賣，趕趁風迅回國，庶為四海一家，永通往來便益。今將禮物開坐于后，草字不宣。
今開：素段五匹、鎖子甲貳領、袞刀貳柄、腰刀貳柄、摺扇拾把。
宣德三年拾月初五日奉書
From Royal Minister Kaiki of the Ryukyu Kingdom, respectfully addressing the Honorable Administrator of Old Harbor:
In the nineteenth year of the Yongle era [1421], the Kyushu official of the Kingdom of Japan, Minamoto Dōchin, was permitted to deliver Shi Master, Lie Zhisun, of Old Harbor, and to send Nafuda [Nakoda?] Deng Zichang, and more than twenty others to our kingdom with the request that they to be forwarded back to their kingdom. This was approved.
Because no one was proficient [in their language], and considering that they were people from distant lands, it was difficult to detain them for long, and we did not dare to take unauthorized action without cause.
We reported this to the king and respectfully received an immediate order to dispatch the chief envoy Shena Jiezhi and others, piloting one ambassadorial sea ship, which, having arrived in the kingdom of Siam, we continued to request that they be forwarded on. It is unknown whether they have arrived [at their destination] or not.
Now, headmen from our kingdom, including Shidaru and others, have piloted one small ship loaded with porcelain and other goods to your kingdom for trade. We have further instructed them to deliver this letter to be presented before the official in charge of the Old Harbor, in order to report the matter and request a reply.
We have prepared gifts and sent them in haste, as a small expression of our distant regards. We hope you will kindly accept them with a smile.
As for all the people and the ship now traveling there, we ask that you kindly grant leniency for their trade, allowing them to hurry and catch favorable winds for a swift return home. In this way, the four seas may become one family, with eternal communication and mutual convenience and benefit.
The gifts are listed below. This is a hasty missive, with no further declarations.
Declaring: Five bolts of plain silk fabric, two suits of chain mail armor, two gon knives, two waist knives, ten folding fans.
Written on the fifth day of the tenth lunar month, third year of the Xuande era [November 11, 1428].
明宣德5年10月18日(1430-11-03)
ID number: pdsg-ntu-1088322-00562
琉球國王相懷機端肅奉書三佛齊國舊港僧亞刺吳閣下。自宣德四年六月內，蒙貴國遣來財賦察陽等，附搭本國船隻，齎捧箋文禮物到彼，蒙此本國人船，多蒙管行，寬容買賣，承惠貴國奇異罕物，并賜卑爵奇物，速行類進。及茲來使啟見，敬奉王令旨，多感厚意，看得人船，又送禮物，便賞來使衣服，好著管待。就備禮物，速行回謝。遣使駕船護送回國，敬此。除敬遵外，本欲隨即遣船，奈缺船隻，以至延今。特遣正使步馬結制等，管送禮物，領駕人船，護送來使蔡陽泰回國，就備尺楮，前詣拜謝，少伸遠意。萬望收■。煩念四海一家，今去人時裝載磁器等物，煩為寬容買賣，趕趁風信回國。今將禮物開坐于后，草字不宣，伏乞照鑒。
今開：馬貳匹、閃色段拾匹、段五匹、羅三匹。
宣德五年十月十八日王相懷機
From Minister Kaiki of the Ryukyu Kingdom, respectfully addressing Sang Arya Wu of the Kingdom of Sanfoqi’s Old Harbor:
In the sixth month of the fourth year of the Xuande reign [June 1429], we have received your honorable country’s envoys, including Cai Yang and others, who accompanied our kingdom’s ships, bearing letters and gifts to our land. Our ships received much hospitality and were allowed generous trade. We were also presented with your country’s rare and unusual goods, and humble gifts were bestowed upon me as well. These were promptly presented in due form.
Now your envoy has come and reported this matter. By royal command, I respectfully express gratitude for your great kindness. Having seen the ships and received the gifts, suitable garments were rewarded to the envoy, and he was treated with courtesy. Gifts were prepared to be promptly sent back to express our gratitude. We dispatched envoys to escort your people back to your kingdom with ships. Respectfully, we complied.
Unfortunately, although we intended to send ships immediately, we were delayed due to a shortage of vessels until now. We have specially dispatched the chief envoy Buma Jiezhi and others to deliver gifts, lead the ships, and escort your envoy Cai Yangtai back to your kingdom. We have also prepared this letter to offer thanks and express our distant regards. We earnestly hope for your gracious acceptance.
We beg that you will remember that “the four seas are one family.” As our people now travel, they are loading porcelain and other goods. We respectfully ask that you permit generous trade, so that they may catch the seasonal winds and swiftly return home. The list of gifts is provided below. This rough writing cannot fully express my meaning; I beg you to look upon it with indulgence.
Declaring: two horses, ten bolts of shimmering silk brocade, five bolts of plain silk, 3 bolts of fine gauze.
Written by Royal Minister Kaiki of the Ryukyu Kingdom, eighteenth day of the tenth lunar month, fifth year of Xuande [November 3, 1430].
明宣德5年10月18日(1430-11-03)
ID number: pdsg-ntu-1088322-00563
琉球國王相懷機端肅奉書三佛齊國寶安邦本目娘妝前。自宣德肆年陸月內承得封書送到奇物，就付本國船隻前來卑爵啟進，敬奉王令旨，感得遠信，備知書中，合遣人船特去回謝，敬此。敬遵。外，得睹翰墨內壹節，參見前年間貴處人船到彼，本欲差使■送，缺無火長，致送暹羅國，甚是有愧。所差船隻，會問之間，多蒙管待，并送奇物，感謝厚意。今特遣正使達旦尼等，領駕人船，齎送禮物前詣回謝，幸希收納。今去人船，專托顧眄，煩為作成寬容買賣，完日發趁風迅回國，永結四海一家為■。草字不宣，伏乞照鑒。
閃色段參匹、青段貳匹、腰刀貳把。
宣德伍年拾月拾捌日王相懷奉書
From the Royal Minister Kaiki of the Ryukyu Kingdom, respectfully addressing Her Ladyship the Female Overseer of the Kingdom of Sanfoqi’s Bao’an Polity:
In the sixth month of the fourth year of the Xuande reign [1429], we received your sealed letter and exotic goods, which were delivered to our country’s ships and presented with respect, in accordance with Your Majesty’s decree. We are deeply grateful for the distant tidings and fully comprehend the contents of your letter. Accordingly, we have dispatched men and ships specifically to express our gratitude in return. Respectfully, we comply.
Additionally, we noted a passage in your esteemed letter mentioning that, in previous years, people and ships from your honorable place arrived [in our country]. We had intended to dispatch an envoy to escort them, but due to the lack of a capable pilot, they were sent to the Kingdom of Siam, for which we feel great shame. The ships that were dispatched, during the time of reception and inquiries, received much hospitality and were presented with rare goods, for which we are most grateful.
Now, we have specially dispatched the chief envoy Dadani and others, leading men and ships, carrying gifts to present in return as thanks. We humbly request your gracious acceptance. For the people and ships now traveling to your country, we earnestly entrust them to your care and kindly request that you facilitate lenient trade arrangements, allowing them to complete their business and, on a suitable day, catch favorable winds for a swift return home. May this foster eternal unity as one family across the four seas.
This is a hasty missive, with no further declarations. We respectfully request your kind consideration
[Declaring:] Three bolts of shimmering silk fabric, two bolts of blue silk fabric, two waist knives.
Letter submitted by Royal Minister Kaiki on the eighteenth day of the tenth lunar month in the fifth year of the Xuande reign [November 3, 1430].
明宣德6年2月3日(1431-03-16)
ID number: pdsg-ntu-1088322-00564
三佛齊國寶林邦■次本頭娘稽首再拜。即日孟春謹時，伏惟琉球國公卿王相台座譴責，不謂謙仁，貶物答教，佩服厚意，退揆缺然。自宣德五年十二月十一日受到寄來批信，大膽收受，齊全感謝。鈞候興居多福，仰依大夏帡幪之庇，尚稽謄仰鈞庭。此承藻翰，誨諒復少禮鶴俟治報，迨今慊然。昨承教帖，諒蒙恕照，今特貴國本船回還，齎寄禮物前詣回謝，幸希收納。今來人船買賣完備，趕趁風汛前往處所。草字不專，伏乞頓納。
苾布貳匹、長文節智壹塊、頂壹匹、沉香壹拾斤。
宣德六年二月初三日本頭娘再拜奉書
Second Head Lady of the Kingdom of Sanfoqi’s Baolin Polity respectfully bows:
On this auspicious day of early spring, we humbly address the esteemed seat of His Honor the Royal Minister of the Ryukyu Kingdom, Kaiki. Your gracious benevolence, far from reproaching us, has condescended to send gifts in response to our communication, and we deeply cherish your profound kindness, though we reflect on our own shortcomings with inadequacy.
On the eleventh day of the twelfth month in the fifth year of the Xuande reign [December 11, 1430], we received the letter you sent, which we boldly accepted with complete gratitude. We pray for your continued prosperity and well-being, relying on the protective shade of the great Xia [Ming dynasty], and we humbly look up to your esteemed court.
Having received your eloquent missive, we acknowledge our remissness in responding with insufficient courtesy, awaiting an opportunity to repay your kindness, and we remain regretful to this day. In response to your previous instructive letter, we are grateful for your understanding and forgiveness. Now, we take the opportunity of your kingdom’s ship returning to send gifts in return as a gesture of thanks, humbly requesting your gracious acceptance.
The people and ships arriving now have completed their trade and will hasten to catch favorable winds and tides to proceed to their destinations. This is a hasty missive, not fully refined, and we respectfully request your kind acceptance.
[Declaring:] Two bolts of fine cloth, one piece of long-patterned intelligent brocade, one bolt of top-grade fabric, ten catties of agarwood.
Letter submitted with respectful bows by the Head Lady on the third day of the second month in the sixth year of the Xuande reign [March 16, 1431].
明宣德6年2月3日(1431-03-16)
ID number: pdsg-ntu-1088322-00565
三佛齊國寶林邦愚婦俾那智施氏大娘仔百拜上書琉球國王相尊候台前。拜違台誨，倏易歲華。權掌當朝之大事，即日仲春謹時，敬惟公庭清，鈞候納福無量。自宣德五年船隻前來到邦，明稱貴國王庭仁義禮祝，未由參拜均墀，少意奉讀草那賤國希少貴物。今見便船回國，慱禮貢奉，准表鵝毛之意。草字不專，伏乞笑納。
今開奉來慱禮：紅花布被面一合、紅花布頂子一合、青花文佃布二合、象牙二條、淡杯仙酒四埕。
宣德六年二月初三日愚婦俾那智施氏大娘仔百拜奉書
The Ignorant Woman Binazhi [Pinateh] the Big Lady of the Shi Family of the Kingdom of Sanfoqi’s Baolin Polity, offers a hundred bows and submits this letter to the esteemed presence of the Royal Minister of the Ryukyu Kingdom.
Since last paying heed to your instructions, a year has swiftly passed. You preside over the great affairs of the court; at this mid-spring season, I respectfully wish for purity in your court and immeasurable blessings for your noble person.
In the fifth year of Xuande (1430), ships from your country came here, clearly proclaiming the benevolence, righteousness, propriety, and auspiciousness of your royal court. Yet I was not able to appear at your exalted hall to make obeisance, and could only humbly read and receive your words. My poor land is lacking in precious things.
Now, seeing that a convenient ship is returning to your country, I send humble gifts in tribute, to show the sincerity of a goose feather [a common phrase for a light but heartfelt gift]. I beg you to kindly accept this rough letter with indulgence.
Declared Gifts: one set of red-flower cloth quilt covers, one set of red-flower cloth headcloths, two sets of blue-flower patterned cloth, two tusks of ivory, four jars of fine immortal wine.
Respectfully written on the third day of the second month, sixth year of the Xuande era [March 16, 1431], by the Ignorant Woman Binazhi [Pinateh] the Big Lady of the Shi Family, bowing a hundred times.
明宣德6年9月3日(1431-10-08)
ID number: pdsg-ntu-1088322-00471
琉球國中山王為謝貢事。今照宣德五年，據正使南者結制等告稱，蒙差各船使臣等到暹羅國奉獻禮物外，緣各船裝載磁器等物，蒙所在管事頭目多物官買，將磁器逐一搬選抽取，及致遷延日久，又給貨物價錢亦加虧剋。切思海道窵遠，數萬餘里，經歷風波，十分艱險方得到彼，不若如前寬柔撫恤，甚至■剋不便，再三告辭不肯，奉使前來。為此，停止。外，近據差往三佛齊國舊港公幹回來正使步馬結制等告稱，在於舊港遇有暹羅國船隻來人言說，前年間管事頭目蒙國王責之，立事已訖，據告切念貴國交通，亦尚往來之義，行人傳命，用堅和好之望，合行今遣正使郭伯茲每等，齎捧禮物，坐駕船隻，前詣奉獻，少伸芹忱之意，幸希海納。更煩今去人船，四海一家為念，寬免官買，自行兩平收買蘇木等貨回國，應備進貢大明御前。及早為打發，趕趁風迅回國便益。今將奉獻禮物開坐于後，咨請施行。須至咨者。
今開：官段五匹、色段二十匹、腰刀五把、摺紙扇三十把、大青盤二十個、小青盤四百個、小青碗二千個、硫磺三千斤，報二千五百斤正。
右咨
暹羅國
宣德六年九月初三日
From the King of Chūzan of the Ryukyu Kingdom, respectfully regarding tribute matters:
According to what the chief envoy Nanzhe Jiezhi and others reported in the 5th year of the Xuande era [1430], when the envoys aboard the various tribute ships arrived in Siam to present gifts, the ships were also loaded with porcelain and other goods. The local officials and headmen, however, carried out heavy official purchasing: the porcelains were taken one by one, selected and removed, causing long delays; moreover, the payments given for the goods were reduced and deducted.
We reflect that the sea route is very distant, tens of thousands of leagues, and envoys pass through dangerous storms and hardships before reaching there. It would be better, as in former times, if there were leniency and kindness in treating us. But now, with such deductions and inconveniences, it has become truly unworkable. Having made repeated requests to no avail, we have now ceased sending ships.
According to the recent report from Chief Envoy Buma Jiezhi [Ufuma Utchi] and others, who were dispatched on official duties to the Kingdom of Sanfoqi’s Old Harbor and have since returned, at Old Harbor they encountered people who arrived on a ship from the Kingdom of Siam who said that within the previous year, the head in charge of affairs suffered the king’s reprimanding him. An appointment was made, and the matter was concluded.
Therefore, we now dispatch the chief envoy Guobo Zimei and others, bearing gifts, aboard a ship, to present tribute in order to express our humble sincerity. We sincerely hope that you will graciously accept them.
We further beg that for the ships we now send, in the spirit that “the four seas are one family,” you will exempt them from official purchasing, and allow us to buy sappanwood and other goods at fair market prices, so that these may be prepared as tribute to the august court of the Great Ming. Please arrange matters quickly, so that our ships may catch the seasonal winds and return home swiftly.
The list of gifts is recorded below. We respectfully submit this memorial.
Declaring: five bolts of official-grade silk, 20 bolts of colored silk, five waist swords, 30 folding paper fans, 20 large blue porcelain dishes, 400 small blue porcelain dishes, 2,000 small blue porcelain bowls, 3,000 catties of sulfur (of which 2,500 catties are delivered in good quality).
Respectfully memorialized to Siam.
Third day of the ninth month, sixth year of the Xuande era [October 8, 1431].
Confession of Guilt: Right before I published my first article on “Sanfoqi,” a colleague sent me the following work, which contains a translation of this letter:
Takeshi Hamashita, “Ayudhya-China Relation [sic] in the Tribute Trade System through Ryukyu Trade Network,” in Ayudhya and Asia: Proceedings for the International Workshop, ed. Kajit Jittasevi (Bangkok: Printing House of Thammasat University, 1996), 63.
Hamashita, believing that Sanfoqi was Srivijaya/Palembang, wrote the following: “Now, according to Chief Envoy Ufuna Utchi and others, who have recently returned from their official mission to Palembang in the Country of Sanfoqi [Southern Sumatra], they saw a Siamese ship which happened to come to Palembang and heard people say that the King [of Siam] had punished the previous chief and had put a new chief in power.”
The way Hamashita wrote this, led me to see “the chief” of Sanfoqi/Cambodia getting overthrown by the Siamese, which is supposedly what happened in this year of 1431.
The part that is confusing is the term which Hamashita translated as “chief” (guanshi toumu 管事頭目), or what I translated above as “head in charge of affairs.” In these other documents here, we can see that “head” us used to indicate the person in charge of places like the Baolin Polity, which appears to have been a vassal of Sanfoqi. Hence, it would be logical that the leader of Sanfoqi could be referred to as a “head” in reference to Siam, given that Siam was subjugating Cambodia at this time.
However, I can now see more clearly that the “head in charge of affairs” here was a reference to the Siamese custom/port official who had extorted the earlier Ryukyuan ship.
So, publish in haste and repent at leisure, but this still doesn’t affect my overall argument, because the key point is that 1) Old Harbor, the Baolin Polity and Sanfoqi were not the same place, and 2) the Old Harbor here was definitely not the one off the coast of southern Sumatra. And that is what these documents demonstrate.
明正統3年10月4日(1438-10-22)
ID number: pdsg-ntu-1088322-00569
琉球國王相府王相懷端拜奉書三佛齊國舊港管事官閣下。近自卑爵敬奉王旨，敬此。除敬依奉行外，今遣正使阿普尼是等，坐駕安字號海船壹隻，領齎禮物，詣前表送遠信，萬望收受，永結四海一家，相通音好。仍煩早令人船從便買賣，趁風時月回還。及照已先宣德五年本國遣使駕船前至，甚蒙回奉禮意，到國■行類進喜受，敬此，合行拜謝知會。今將送信物件開坐數目于後，草字不專，伏希照亮。
今開：各色段十一匹、各色羅九匹、各色紗五匹。
正統三年十月初四日
From the Royal Minister Kaiki of the Ryukyu Kingdom, respectfully addressing His Excellency the Official in Charge of Affairs of Sanfoqi’s Old Harbor:
Recently, by order of our king, I respectfully send this letter. In addition to respectfully carrying out his command, we now dispatch the chief envoy Apuni and others, aboard the sea vessel An-zi hao, carrying gifts to present this distant message. We sincerely hope you will accept them, so that we may forever join as one family across the four seas, maintaining constant and harmonious relations.
We further beg that you will promptly allow our people and ships to trade freely, so that they may take advantage of the seasonal winds to return home.
As for the earlier occasion in the 5th year of the Xuande era [1430], when our kingdom dispatched envoys and ships to your port, we were greatly honored to receive gifts in return. These were duly presented upon arrival in our kingdom, and joyfully received. We hereby express our gratitude and acknowledgement once more.
Now we send the following gifts, listed below, as a token of our sincerity. This rough writing cannot fully express our intent; we beg you to look upon it with indulgence.
Declaring: eleven bolts of silk of various colors, nine bolts of gauze of various colors, 5 bolts of fine silk (sha) of various colors.
Written on the fourth day of the tenth lunar month, third year of the Zhengtong era [October 22, 1438].
明正統3年10月26日(1438-11-13)
ID number: pdsg-ntu-1088322-00570
琉球國王相府王相懷端肅奉書三佛齊國寶林邦施氏大娘仔妝前。自於宣德六年，甚感珍奇好信及書一封，就付來使船隻回國，已憑喜受收訖。向後累欲遣使屢達貴國，為少大長以致疏廣年深，其多感厚意，銘心不忘。為此，今備微誠奉謝，遣使齎送信物，以表遠意，萬幸笑納，是四海一家，永通心盟。仍望共成柔恤遠來人船，早令從便買賣回國。今將禮物開坐于後，草字不專，萬望心照。
今開: 漆盤中樣貳〔佰〕個、漆棧貳〔佰〕個。
正統三年十月二十六日
From Royal Minister Kaiki of the Ryukyu Kingdom, respectfully addressing Her Ladyship the Big Lady of the Shi Family of the Kingdom of Sanfoqi’s Baolin Polity:
In the 6th year of Xuande [1431], we were most grateful to receive your rare and precious gifts, along with a letter. These were delivered back to our country aboard the returning envoy’s ship, and I joyfully acknowledged and accepted them.
Afterward, we repeatedly wished to dispatch envoys to visit your honorable country, but for lack of ship captains and navigators, the mission was delayed and neglected for many years. Yet your deep kindness has always remained engraved in our hearts, never forgotten.
Therefore, we now prepare a token of our sincerity in return, dispatching envoys to deliver these gifts as a sign of our distant goodwill. We hope that you will kindly accept them. This is in accordance with the covenant that “the four seas are one family,” and may relations remain ever open and strong. We further hope you will continue to show compassion to those who come from afar, allowing our people and ships to trade freely and return swiftly to their country.
The list of gifts is set out below. This rough letter cannot fully express our intent; we beg you to understand our sincerity.
Declaring: 200 medium-sized lacquer trays, 200 lacquered stands.
Written on the twenty-sixth day of the tenth lunar month, third year of the Zhengtong era [November 13, 1438].
明正統5年9月(1440/09/26 – 1440/10/25)
ID number: pdsg-ntu-1088322-00576
琉球國王相府王相懷端肅奉書三佛齊國寶林邦本頭娘妝。前得知先於宣德六年間，甚謝好信，憑書收訖。向後卻少能諳海道火長，以致疏曠多年。今令正使伍實佳勃也齎捧遠書，代面奉謝備送，意幸希收納，是心盟四海一家，永通音好。更煩共成憐恤遠來船，早令買賣回國。今將禮物開坐數于後，草字不專，幸希心照。
今開
正統五年九月日
From Royal Minister Kaiki of the Ryukyu Kingdom, respectfully addressing Her Ladyship the Head Lady of the Kingdom of Sanfoqi’s Baolin Polity:
Formerly, in the 6th year of the Xuande era [1431], we gratefully received your kind letter, which was duly acknowledged according to the writing. Afterward, however, we lacked experienced navigators and ship captains, and thus relations were left unattended for many years.
Now we have dispatched the chief envoy Wushi Jiabo 伍實佳勃 to carry this letter on our behalf, to express thanks in place of a personal visit, and to deliver gifts. We hope that you will kindly accept them. This is in accordance with the covenant that “the four seas are one family,” and may relations remain ever open and harmonious.
We further beg that you will continue to show compassion to those who come from afar, and permit our ships to trade freely and return home quickly.
The list of gifts is recorded below. This rough letter cannot fully express our feelings; we hope you will understand them.
Declaring: [Not specified in the text; space left blank]
Written in the ninth lunar month of the fifth year of the Zhengtong era (1440/09/26 – 1440/10/25).
明正統5年10月4日 (1440-10-29)
ID number: pdsg-ntu-1088322-00577
琉球國王相府王相懷機端肅奉書貴國三佛齊舊港寶林邦施氏大娘妝前。自於宣德六年，甚喜收見珍寶奇，并書壹封，所付本國來便船回國，逐一憑書收訖。向後累欲回謝，婁達貴國，卻少航海火長，以致疏曠多年。其感激之心，不忘朝夕。為此，今備禮物馳送，以表遠意。惟盟心四海一家，萬容酬謝，仍希笑■■■■懷遠■，早令今次人船從■■■■。■■■■禮物于後，草字不專，万望心照。
今開：白段二匹、漆盤中樣二百個、漆棧二百個。
正統五年十月初四日
From the Royal Minister Kaiki of the Ryukyu Kingdom, respectfully addressing Her Ladyship the Big Lady of the Shi Family of Your Honorable Kingdom’s Sanfoqi, Old Harbor, and Baolin Polity:
In the 6th year of the Xuande era [1431], we were overjoyed to receive your precious and rare treasures, along with a letter. These were delivered to our kingdom by a convenient returning ship, and we acknowledged receipt one by one according to the letter.
Afterward, we wished repeatedly to send our thanks and make return visits to your honorable kingdom, but lacked navigators and ship captains for the sea voyage. Thus, many years passed in neglect. Yet our feelings of gratitude have never been forgotten, either morning or evening.
Therefore, we now prepare gifts to be sent swiftly, as a token of distant goodwill. We cherish the covenant of regarding the four seas as one family, and beg you to kindly accept these with your gracious heart. May they ease the bond of distant friendship, and allow our people and ships this time to be quickly received and assisted in their journey.
The list of gifts is set out below. This rough writing cannot fully express our intent, and we trust you will understand it.
Declaring: two bolts of white silk, 200 medium-sized lacquer trays, 200 lacquered stands.
Written on the fourth day of the tenth lunar month, fifth year of the Zhengtong era [October 29, 1440].
