Chitu Country is a branch of Funan. In the South China Sea, it takes more than a hundred days by boat to reach its capital. The land there is mostly red in color, hence the name "Chitu Country." To the east lies Polocir, to the west lies Polosa, to the south lies Helodan, and to the north is the sea, covering several thousand miles. Their king's surname is Qutan, and his name is Lifu Duosai. He is completely unaware of the situation in neighboring countries. Legend has it that his father was a king who later renounced the throne to become a monk, passing the throne to Lifu Duosai, who has ruled for sixteen years. He has three wives, all daughters of neighboring kings.
The king resides in Sangzhi City, with a palace featuring three gates, each spaced about a hundred steps apart. Each gate is decorated with depictions of celestial beings, immortals, and bodhisattvas, ornately adorned with golden flowers, bells, and ribbons. Dozens of women are stationed at the gate, some playing music, others holding golden flowers. Additionally, four women dressed as guardian deities stand by the gate. Outside the gate are armed guards, while inside, attendants wield white feather dusters. White nets drape along both sides of the road, adorned with flowers. The houses in the palace are multi-eaved pavilions, with the king's seat positioned in the north, facing north on a three-tiered couch. He wears a robe in the color of dawn, a crown adorned with golden flowers, and a necklace crafted from various precious jewels. Four women stand beside him, flanked by about a hundred guards on either side.
Behind the king's throne, there is a wooden alcove decorated with gold, silver, fragrant wood, and various shells. A shining golden lamp hangs behind the alcove, with a gold mirror flanking each side of the throne, and in front of each mirror sits a golden jar, with a golden incense burner placed before it. A golden statue of a reclining cow stands in front of the throne, with a canopy supported above it and a golden fan on either side of the canopy. Hundreds of Brahmins are seated facing each other in two rows, one on the east side and the other on the west. Their officials consist of one Satagaro, two Tonnadaiyi, and three Kalimiga, who collectively oversee government affairs, along with one Kularo Emperor responsible for criminal law. Each city has one Nahajia and ten Poti.
Their customs involve ear piercing, hair cutting, and a lack of kneeling etiquette. They like to use fragrant oil on their bodies. They hold a deep reverence for Buddha, particularly valuing Brahminism. Women style their hair in a chignon at the nape of their necks. Both men and women don garments made from vibrant fabrics. Wealthy families are more particular about their attire, but only gold chains granted by the king may be worn.
During weddings, a propitious day is selected. The bride's family begins festivities five days prior to the wedding, singing, dancing, and drinking. On the wedding day, the father presents his daughter to the groom, and they are formally married seven days afterward. Post-marriage, the couple resides separately, with only the youngest son remaining with the father.
When parents or siblings pass away, they shave their heads and don plain clothes, erect a simple bamboo shelter by the water, stack firewood inside, and place the body on top. They offer incense, hang banners, blow horns, beat drums, and ultimately set it ablaze, allowing the ashes to fall into the water. Regardless of whether one is a high-ranking official or a commoner, the treatment after death remains the same. Only the ashes of the king are collected post-cremation, placed in a golden jar, and enshrined in the temple.
The temperature is almost the same all year round there, with plenty of rain and few sunny days. Crops can be planted at any time, but it's especially suitable for rice, millet, white beans, and black sesame. Other agricultural products are comparable to those in Jiaozhi. They make wine from sugarcane, sometimes adding some purple gourd roots, producing a wine that is yellow with a reddish hue and has a very pleasant taste and aroma. Coconut juice can also be fermented into wine.
After Emperor Yang of Sui became emperor, he recruited people who could reach remote areas. In the third year of Daye, Chang Jun, the official in charge of farming, and Wang Junzheng from the Yu clan volunteered to go to Chitu country (now southern Vietnam). The emperor was thrilled and rewarded each of them with a hundred pieces of cloth and a fashionable outfit before they set off. They brought five thousand pieces of cloth as gifts to the king of Chitu country.
In October of that year, Chang Jun and his team set sail from Nanhai County (now Nanhai, Guangdong), sailing day and night for twenty days, benefiting from favorable winds the whole way. They passed Jiaoshi Mountain and docked at Lingjiaboduo Island to the southeast, which faces Linyi and has a temple. Continuing south, they reached Shizishi, where the islands were interconnected. After two or three more days, they spotted the mountains of Langyaxu to the west, then continued south to Jilong Island, ultimately reaching the border of Chitu. The king of Chitu sent Brahmin Jiumoluo to command thirty ships to greet them, blowing horns, beating drums, and giving a warm welcome to the Sui Dynasty envoys, even chaining up Chang Jun and his team's ships with golden chains.
One month later, they arrived at the capital of the Red Soil Country. The king sent his son, Naxie Jia, to invite Chang Jun and his party to an audience. The king first sent a gold plate containing fragrant flowers, mirrors, tweezers, two golden boxes of scented oil, eight golden bottles of perfume, and four white towels for the envoys to wash up. In the evening, Naxie Jia arrived with two elephants and held up peacock umbrellas to welcome the envoys, offering them golden flowers and a gold plate to hold the royal decree. One hundred men and women blew horns and beat drums, while two Brahmins led the way to the palace. Chang Jun and his party presented the royal decree at the palace, where the king and ministers were seated. After the decree was read, the king invited them to sit down and played music from India. After the formalities were completed, they returned to their residence, where the king sent Brahmins to bring food on large grass leaves, each about a yard long. The Brahmins told Chang Jun, "You are envoys from a great country, not our Red Soil Country. Our food is simple, we hope you will appreciate the friendship between our countries and eat this food."
After a few days, the king invited Chang Jun and his party to another banquet. The procession and welcoming ceremony were just as grand as the first meeting. In front of the king were two beds, each with plates made of leaves made of grass. Each plate was about five feet wide and held cakes in yellow, white, purple, and red, as well as over a hundred types of meats including beef, lamb, fish, turtle, pork, and a variety of game meats. The king invited Chang Jun to sit on the bed while his attendants sat on the ground mats, each with a golden goblet filled with wine. Female musicians played in turns, and the king was very generous towards them. After the banquet, the king quickly sent Nayaka to accompany Chang Jun and his party back to their country, presenting them with a Golden Lotus Crown and dragon's brain incense. He also had the Daru leaves, a type of leaf-shaped ornament, cast in gold, engraved with exquisite patterns, and placed in a golden box for the Brahmins to offer incense and flowers, blow horns, and beat drums to send them off on the ship.
As they set sail, they saw groups of green fish leaping on the surface of the water. After drifting at sea for over ten days, they arrived at the southeastern coast of the Linyi Kingdom, sailing along the coastline. The sea was wide, spanning over a thousand steps, with yellow-colored water that smelled fishy and foul, making it impossible to travel a day's distance because of large fish waste. They sailed along the northern coast and eventually arrived at Jiaozhi (modern-day northern Vietnam). In the spring of the sixth year of the Daye era, Chang Jun and Nayaka went together to Hongnong (modern-day Henan Lingbao) to meet the emperor, who was very pleased and rewarded them with two hundred rolls of cloth. Chang Jun was also appointed as the Captain of Justice, while Nayaka and others also received rewards.
The Kingdom of Zhenla, located southwest of Linyi, was originally a vassal of the Kingdom of Funan. It takes sixty days by boat from Jinan to reach there, bordering the Kingdom of Chekuo to the south and the Kingdom of Zhujiang to the west. Their king, of the Chali clan, is named Zhituosen. Starting with his ancestors, the kingdom gradually grew stronger, and by Zhituosen's time, they had fully annexed Funan. After his death, his son Yishena ascended to the throne. Yishena lived in Yishena City, which has over twenty thousand households outside its walls. The city features a grand palace where the king conducts state affairs. There are thirty large cities in total, each with several thousand households, each city has its own military leaders, with official titles similar to those in the Kingdom of Linyi. The king holds court every three days, sitting on a throne adorned with five types of spices and seven treasures, over which a beautiful tent is draped. The poles of the tent are made of precious wood, the walls are decorated with ivory, gold, and silver, in the shape of a small house, with shiny ornaments hanging above, resembling burning red earth. In front of the throne sits a golden incense burner, attended by two guards. The king wears garments made from dawn-colored shells, with ribbons wrapped around his waist, cascading down to his calves, adorned with a shiny golden crown, a pearl necklace, leather shoes, and gold earrings. He typically wears white garments and ivory shoes. If the king is not adorned with jewelry, it signifies that his hair is loose. The ministers' attire is generally similar.
The king has five main ministers, namely Guoluozhi, Gaoxiangping, Pohe Duoling, Shemoling, and Randoulou, as well as many other minor officials. When the ministers attend court, they must bow three times at the steps. When the king calls them to the steps, they must kneel down, cross their arms, and sit in a circle around the king. After the meeting, they kneel and withdraw. There are thousands of guards in armor with weapons stationed on the steps, in the courtyards, and on the porches of the palace. The Kingdom of Champa and the Kingdom of Chenban have marriage ties and often go to war with the Kingdom of Lin Yi and the Kingdom of Tuohuan. The people of Champa always carry weapons when they go out, so they can be ready to use them at a moment's notice in case of war. Their customs state that only the king's legitimate wife's children can inherit the throne. When the king ascended the throne, his brothers were brutally executed; some had their fingers amputated, and others had their noses mutilated, and were then sent away to live elsewhere, forbidden from holding any official positions.
These people are short and deeply tanned. However, there are also women with fair skin. They all tie up their hair and let it hang down by their ears, and have lively, energetic personalities. Their homes and belongings appear to be made of red clay. They use their right hand for tasks, believing the left hand is unclean. Every morning, they wash themselves, clean their teeth using twigs from the yang tree, and then recite prayers. Before eating, they wash themselves, and after eating, they clean their teeth with yang twigs and recite prayers. They mainly eat cheese, sugar, rice, and rice cakes. At mealtime, they mix the meat soup with the cakes and eat with their hands. When it comes to marriage, the groom only needs to provide a set of clothes, then select a day to have a matchmaker come and fetch the bride. Neither the groom nor the bride can leave the house for eight days leading up to the wedding, and must keep a lamp burning day and night. After the wedding, the groom is required to move out and live separately from his parents. If the parents pass away, unmarried children can inherit the remaining property; if they are already married, the property goes to the state. After someone passes away, the children refrain from eating for seven days, shave their heads as a sign of mourning, with monks, nuns, priests, and family and friends in attendance at the funeral, playing music to bid farewell. They cremate the body using wood from five different spices, collect the ashes, place them in gold or silver vessels, and then send them into the river. Sometimes, those who are less fortunate use clay pots to contain the ashes and decorate them. Others opt not to cremate, but choose instead to leave the body in the mountains for wild animals to consume.
This country is mountainous in the north and marshy in the south, with a hot climate and no frost or snow. It is infested with miasma and poisonous insects. The land is suitable for growing rice, with less millet and sorghum. Fruits and vegetables are similar to those in the southern regions of Rinan and Jiuzhen. Some unique trees include the Pona tree, which has no flowers, leaves that resemble persimmon leaves, and fruit that resembles winter melon; the Yanluo tree, with flowers and leaves like a jujube tree and fruit like a plum; the Piye tree, with flowers resembling papaya flowers, leaves resembling apricot leaves, and fruit like guava; the Potianluo tree, with flowers, leaves, and fruit all resembling dates but slightly different; the Gebituo tree, with flowers like apple flowers, leaves like elm leaves but thicker and larger, and fruit like plums, about the size of a small bowl. Most other trees are similar to those in Jiuzhen. In the sea, there is a fish called Jiantong, which has four legs, lacks scales, and has a trunk-like nose that can suck in water and then spray it out in water columns as high as fifty to sixty feet. There is also a fish called the floating whisker fish, shaped like a carp with a parrot-like mouth and eight legs. There are many large fish in the sea, with half of their bodies exposed above the water, appearing like a mountain from afar.
In May and June every year, toxic gases become widespread, so local people sacrifice white pigs, cows, and sheep in the shrine outside the west gate of the city. If this is not done, crops will not yield well, livestock will die in large numbers, and people will suffer from plague. There is a mountain nearby called Lingqia Boposhan, with a shrine on the mountain top guarded by five thousand soldiers year-round. To the east of the city, there is a mountain god called Podoli, and sacrificing to it involves using human flesh. The king selects a day every year to kill people, and conducts sacrifices and prayers at night, guarded by one thousand soldiers. They show great devotion to spirits and deities.
Most locals believe in Buddhism, especially Taoism, with Buddhist and Taoist idols worshipped together in temples. In the twelfth year of the Daye era during the Sui Dynasty, the Poli country sent envoys as tribute, and Emperor Yang of Sui received them with great ceremony, but later, their communications ceased.
The Kingdom of Polil requires one to start from Jiaozhi, take a boat across the sea, and pass through Chitu and Dandan to the south to reach it. Traveling east to west takes four months, while traveling north to south takes forty-five days. The king's surname is Shali Xie, and his name is Hulan Napo. The first level of official titles is called Duhe Xia Na, and the next level is Duhe Shi Na. The people of the Kingdom of Polil are very skilled at throwing a wheel-shaped knife, which is large and mirror-like, featuring a hole in the center, and the blade is as sharp as a sawtooth. When thrown from a distance, it always hits its mark. Other weapons are quite similar to those used in China. Their customs resemble those of Zhenla, and their products resemble those of Linyi.
If someone commits murder or theft, their hand will be cut off; those who commit adultery have their feet shackled and are imprisoned for a year before release. Sacrificial rites must be conducted on the last day of each month, with wine and food placed on plates that are set adrift in flowing water. Every November, they hold a grand sacrificial ceremony. Coral is produced in the sea. There is a bird called the Shali bird, which is said to understand human speech. In the twelfth year of the Sui Dynasty, they sent envoys to pay tribute, but it was later interrupted. At that time, there were two other countries, Dandan and Panpan, in the south, which also paid tribute. Their customs and products were more or less the same.
Historical records say, "The Book of Rites" states: "The south is called barbaric, and some ethnic groups do not eat cooked food." The "Book of Documents" also mentions: "Barbarians deceive the Central Plains." There is also a line in the "Book of Songs": "The foolish barbarians and the people of Jingchu." The southern ethnic minorities are diverse, and their situation is notably complex and chaotic.
After the Qin Dynasty unified the Chu state, the Han Dynasty subdued the Baiyue, and the southern border extended as far south as Rinan Prefecture. Both land and water routes allowed habitation, and these areas were designated as prefectures and counties. As the Wu and Shu states divided, and during the Jin and Song Dynasties, the situation grew increasingly complex. Some regions thrived, while others fell behind. Some were compliant, while others revolted, contributing to a very unstable situation.
After Liu Bang, known as Gaozu, founded the Han Dynasty, he brought peace to regions across the country. After Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty ascended to the throne, his influence spread throughout the country. They were both eager to conquer distant minority groups seeking rare treasures. Therefore, Emperor Yang of Sui sent troops to invade Liuqiu (modern-day Taiwan) and launched a campaign against Linyi (modern-day southern Vietnam), intimidating various ethnic groups and exerting influence far greater than that of the Qin and Han Dynasties. Although they conquered border regions, they were unable to address internal crises within the country. The Zuo Zhuan states, "If it weren't for a sage, once the external is stable, internal issues will arise." This statement holds a lot of truth!
