History of Champa and Southeast Asia: Legacies & New Research Directions

Yogyakarta, Melayuonline.com – The history of the kingdom of Champa had become more difficult to trace because this kongdom’s civilization had been systematically dominated by Vietnamese authority until today. This was one of the theses revealed in the monthly forum at Balai Kajian dan Pengembangan Budaya Melayu, yesterday (5/1/2010).

The existence of the kingdom of Champa was uncovered by Mohammed Effendy, the Ph.D candidate in history from University of Hawaii at Manoa, USA. Effendy is a Singaporean historian who had studied Champa since 2000. The research for his dissertation was centered on Champa that had been the victim of domination by Vietnamese authority. Effendy supported his explanation on Champa’s exisctence with comprehensive and multidisciplinary data so that Champa that had been long seen as a vague cultural entity will be able to be presented as a complete culture.

The extinction of Champa’s culture, according to Effendy, due to Champa’s tendency in the past to be an expansionist. “In addition, Cham was declared as an enemy by the Vietnamese, and so it must be destroyed,” Effendy said in Malay.

Effendy’s theses will produce a big implication in the study of the Southeast Asia. Champa, which was mentioned in some of the writings produced by big kingdoms such as Majapahit (in Negarakrtagama) and the Sung Dynasty of China, may be able to explain the missling link in the history of the dissemination of the Malay culture.

Mohamed Effendy bin Abdul Hamid,
the speaker in the discussion on Champa

In his paper, Effendy explained that Champa can be traced back to 700 AD as Linyi kingdom. This kingdom eventually became Champa (Champura). Champura was also a subjet to conquest. In 13th century, this kingdom was attacked by the Mongols. The crucial attack was the Dai Viet invasion in 1471 which was the beginning of cultural genocide on Champa until today.

The correlation between Champa and the Malay world was a subject welcomed warmly by the audiens. They said that the theses were fresh findings.

In the discussion, the Head of BKPBM, Mahyudin Al Mudra, insisted that Champa have to be one of the research focus for BKPBM. “To begin this year, I thank God because we have a new horizon about the Malays in Vietnam. Of course this will strengthen ‘dakwah Melayu’ that BKPBM is dilligently preaching,” Bang Mahyudin said. He also questioned Effendy on the relationship between Champa and Aceh. Bang Mahyudin pointed that Aceh was commonly explained as an abbreviation of Arab, Cina (Chinese), Eropa (Europe), and Hindustan. Effendy’s theses may be will changed the letter “C” in the abbreviation with “Champa”. “This is purely relevant, since there is not much Chinese legacy in Aceh,” Bang Mahyudin said. Bang Mahyudin, who is the Datuk Hikmatullah Cendekia of the Sultanate of Serdang, believed that Effendy’s research will indirectly strengthen the Malay epistemology of BKPBM.

The Head of BKPBM, Mahyudin Al Mudra,
giving his opinion on Champa.

The occasion was serious but warmly interrupted by some fresh jokes.

“Because the expert is here, the historians of Melayuonline.com should learn and gather the data and information about Champa as much as possible,” said An Ismanto, the moderator of the forum who is also the Malay literature editor at Melayuonline.com.

Malay literature editor at Melayuonline.com
and the moderator in the discussion about Champa.

Commenting of the discussion which lasted almost three hours, Effendy said that he was glad. “My friends at BKPBM shows great interest in the research, and I admire this activity,” Effendy said.

Effendy also explained an interesting relationship between Champura kingdom and the Malays. He even proved this relation with multidisiplinary data which would be the new direction for his research. “My research uses multidisciplinary analysis such as history, lingustics, anthropology, philosophy and even musicology,” said Effendy who also graduated from Master program in history at University of Singapore. The closest relation between Champa and the Malays is language. Effendy found many similar words between the Cham and Malay, and even Acehnese. It is beleved that this similarity will show deeper correlation. (Adi Tri Pramono/brt/04/01-2010)

(Translated by An. Ismanto/terj/5/1-2009)

Photo source: BKPBM documentation.

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