Fa-Hien is a familiar name for anyone who has studied Indian history. For his name figures prominently whenever the discussion turns to foreign travellers to India and their writings. But few would be familiar with the name Zheng Ho, a legendary trader, who lies buried in Kozhikode.
Ji Louoyan, a researcher from the Palace Museum of China, says that there is evidence in Chinese historical texts about Zheng Ho, who came to Kerala and was very fond of the place and was buried in Kozhikode.
Mr. Louoyan, who was part of the Chinese delegation led by Institute of Archaeology director Li Ji that concluded its visit to the State capital on Friday, said there was a strong belief that trade in ceramics between Kerala coast and China flourished after Zheng Ho’s arrival.
He had also written about life in Kerala, Mr. Louoyan said.
The team visited the Kerala Council for Historical Research (KCHR) here to examine the large number of Chinese coins and ceramic pottery recovered from the seabed of Kollam in a salvage operation recently.
The Palace Museum and KCHR have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to study the ancient links between the Kerala coast and China. The Museum has been closely associating with KCHR over the past two years.
Coins and pottery
“There is information about the chronology of ancient Chinese coins and pottery in the Chinese archaeological records,” said Dr. Li Ji.
Chinese ceramics excavated from Pattanam and Chinese settlements in Prakkulam were other pieces of evidence that show the importance of Kerala, he added.
The team gifted a X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometer (XRF), a U.S.-made sophisticated portable device that detects the mineral profile, chronology, provenance, technology and typology of objects in 80 seconds by emitting X-rays. The device would help to classify over four lakh fragments of pottery from Kollam currently with the KCHR, said its director P.J Cherian.
“This research initiative would help us to know ourselves—the imagination, skills and technology we had and have lost now. The culture of Kerala has been shaped over years in part through these foreign trade connections,” Dr.Cherian said.
