A Royal homecoming
By Chandani Kirinde
It's taken them 600 years to return to the country of their forefathers
but for the Chinese descendants of a Sri Lankan king on a brief
visit here, it feels like they've come back to their motherland.
Their visit here is the result of a concerted effort both by Chinese
historians and archaeologists as well as their Sri Lankan counterparts
to trace the family after the accidental find of several gravestones
in the Fujian province of China. This find was what first brought
to light the existence of a family in China with connections to
Sri Lankan kings.
Among those
visiting Sri Lanka was Prince Shih Lai Fa and his sister, Princess
Xu Yine who is said to be a 19th generation descendant of Parakramabahu
VI who ruled from Kotte during the early part of the 15th century.
Mr. Fa was accompanied by his wife and three children.
"It's difficult
for me to even speak without getting emotional. I am so happy to
be here," said Ms. Yine. The others too expressed similar sentiments.
"It's like I am back in my motherland after many years. We
are very sad to leave," said Mr. Fa.
According to
historian Professor M. Rohanadeera the gravestones in China first
discovered in 1996, referred to the person, buried there as the
"deceased father from Ceylon...." After the discovery,
Sri Lankan archaeologists and historians were informed of this find
and attempts were made to corroborate the evidence linking the find
to the royal family of that era.
Tracing the
descendants was not an easy task. The Museum of Overseas Communication
History in China which undertook the study of the gravestones placed
an advertisement in a newspaper in the Fujian area asking people
with the "shi" family name to contact them.
Ms.Yine was
the first to contact the museum but was hesitant to come out in
public. But she and her brother were persuaded by the officials
to help them in their investigations and by tracing old records
and documents, a link was established between them and the Sri Lankan
prince who settled there nearly 600 years ago.
According to
Professor Rohanadeera, Ceylon's history books have recorded that
envoys were sent by King Parakramabahu to China. In this instance,
the King is said to have sent his son Ba Lai Na as an envoy to China
in 1459. During the son's absence, the throne was usurped by the
grandson and this resulted in the Prince staying on in the Fujian
province. He had decided to marry a local girl and was given the
family name of Shi by the King Tian Shan of the Ming Dynasty who
ruled over China during that period. However, there is some dispute
among historians as to whether it was Parakramabahu VI of Kotte
or Dedigama Parakramabahu who sent his son as an envoy to China
in 1459.
Several historians
including Dr. S. Paranavithana have written that it was Parakramabahu
VI of Jayawardhanapura who sent envoys to China starting from around
1416 although Professor Rohanadeera is of the opinion it was another
Parakramabahu who ruled consequently from Dedigama during the same
period who sent his son to China in 1459.
Dr. Rohanadeera
said it is known history that the Ming Dynasty in China was seriously
involved in Sri Lankan politics during the early part of the 15th
century. A Chinese general, Cheng Ho, who first visited Ceylon in
1405 had been insulted by the Sinhalese King, Veera Alakeswara who
ruled during the time and had returned to his country vowing to
avenge the insult. He had returned in 1408 and taken the King, Queen
and many others as prisoners to China. The Chinese Emperor had pardoned
them but said the crown must be taken away from the captured king
and chose one "Yehi-panai-na" to govern Sri Lanka.
Dr. Rohanadeera
argues that there were two contemporary King Parakramabahus ruling
the country during the first half of the 15th century and with the
new Chinese evidence available, it is more likely that it was Dedigama
Parakramabahu who sent his son as an envoy to China in 1459.
For the Chinese
descendants of the Royal family, being accepted in a country which
they are visiting for the first time is a gift in itself. "
Can I take some sand from the beach here when I go," Ms.Yine
asks her Lankan interpreter.
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