Recently, I attended the one-day International Conference on the History of Old Kedah based on Yi Jing’s notes organized by the National Museum and National Archives Department in collaboration with the Malaysian Han Cultural Association.
I must give a big kudos to the organisers mainly the National Unity Ministry, National Museum (Jabatan Muzium Negara), National Archives Department and the Malaysian Han Cultural Association for teaming up to organise this insightful conference.
Special thanks also to the speakers from China and the led researcher from University Sains Malaysia Dr Nasha Rodziadi Khaw and his team for doing a good effort in finding the Bukit Choras site.
The Malaysia Madani government has timely organised this international conference opening doors for further discussion, collaboration in archeo-tourism and more interest, visits from local researchers and international tourist to further discover about Kedah Tua.
Archeo-Tourism, also known as archaeological tourism, is a specialized form of travel that focuses on visiting archaeological sites, ruins, and historical landmarks.
Unlike traditional tourism, which often centers around modern attractions and amenities, Archeo-Tourism immerses travelers in the ancient world, offering a glimpse into the lives of past civilizations.
Malaysia should adopt in promoting this archeo-tourism to rest of the world and it will significantly contribute to the increase of tourism and economic benefits.
Archeo-Tourism offers a variety of unique features that set it apart from other forms of travel:
According to Wikipedia, Yijing (635–713 CE), born Zhang Wenming, was a Tang-era Chinese Buddhist monk famed as a traveller and translator.
His account of his travels are an important source for the history of the medieval kingdoms along the sea route between China and India, especially Srivijaya in Indonesia.
He also gave accounts of the Gupta Period. He is also a student of the Buddhist university at Nālandā (now in Bihar, India), was responsible for the translation of many Buddhist texts from Sanskrit and Pali into Chinese.
The Kingdom of Kedah Tua (Old Kedah) is one of the famous early kingdoms located in the Malay Peninsula. It is also better known as Kataha, Kadaram, Sai, Kalah, Kalah Bar and Kalagram.
According to Yi Ching from China, Old Kedah is also referred to as Cheh-Cha.
The historical records, the Old Kedah kingdom was founded in the 5th century AD.
In the early stages of the establishment of this kingdom, Sungai Mas was used as the main port but was later moved to the Bujang Valley.
Old Kedah was influenced by Buddhism and then followed by Hinduism, this Hindu-Buddhist influence can be proven through the remains of temples located in the Bujang Valley.
The discovery of a Buddha statue, dating back to the eighth or ninth century, in the Bukit Choras archaeological heritage site in Yan, Kedah shows the significance of the area as an important religious site at that time and older than the Angkot Wat in Cambodia and Borobudur in Indonesia.
Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry secretary-general Datuk Roslan Abdul Rahman said this discovery by a research team from the Global Archaeological Research Centre (PPAG), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) is an archaeology tourism asset and attraction for tourists to Kedah.
Datuk Roslan added that the latest discoveries at the site opened up space for a new interpretation of Kedah Tua civilisation’s geostrategic position as an important place in South-east Asia’s maritime trade route.
Promote further archeo-tourism and reap the tourism benefits
Moving forward, I hope the present government, Tourism Malaysia, Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC), National Unity Ministry and other stakeholders can allocate better budget for archeo-tourism promotion, writing and marketing.
Resolution of the Yi Ching International Conference
Meanwhile, the International Conference held in Kuala Lumpur proposed that:
*This Opinion written by Ramani Parkunan who attended the International Conference hoping archeo-tourism will further given prominence in years to come.
Further reading – https://presskl.com/2024/07/11/international-conference-the-history-of-old-kedah-based-on-yi-jings-notes-brings-together-domestic-and-foreign-historians/
