NANJING’S RELICS OF CHINA-BRUNEI FRIENDSHIP

By Sun Chen

On April 6, 2006, Princess Masna (front) attends the opening ceremony of the China-Brunei Friendship Hall in Nanjing, China, as part of celebrations of the 15th anniversary of China-Brunei diplomatic relations.

Situated along the lower reaches of the Yangtze River in eastern China,Nanjing is the capital of Jiangsu Province and one of the Four Great Ancient Capitals of China.The city has also witnessed timehonored friendly exchanges between China and Brunei.

Hundreds of years ago, the King of Boni died of illness and was buried in Nanjing, capital of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644),during his visit to China. Since China and Brunei established diplomatic relations in 1991,the Tomb of the King of Boni has played an important role in facilitating personnel exchanges between Nanjing and Brunei,etching a new chapter in the development of China-Brunei friendship.

Since 1991, the Tomb of the King of Boni has played an important role in facilitating personnel exchanges between Nanjing and Brunei, etching a new chapter in the development of China-Brunei friendship.

Tomb of the King of Boni

On April 6, 2006, Princess Masna Bolkiah of Brunei, the sister of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and the ambassador-at-large at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Brunei, arrived in the city of Nanjing with her husband and a 13-member entourage. Accompanied by thefirst Chinese Ambassador to Brunei Liu Xinsheng, they paid homage to the Tomb of the King of Boni, located in the city’s Yuhuatai District, and unveiled the China-Brunei Friendship Hall as part of celebrations of the 15th anniversary of Sino-Brunei diplomatic relations.

At 9 a.m. on that breezy spring day, Princess Masna and her husband arrived at the tomb embraced by lush green hills in the southern suburbs of Nanjing. The princess wore a sea-blue silk dress and a blue printed silk headscarf with floral prints. Why did she come from so far to pay tribute to the Tomb of the King of Boni?

The historical relations between China and Brunei reached a peak during the Ming Dynasty. Under the reign of Emperor Yongle, Chinese official Zheng He was commissioned to make visits to Boni (present-day Brunei) during his expeditionary voyages. In return, the King of Boni traveled to China by sea in the sixth year of the Yongle reign(1408) along with more than 150 people including his wife, sons and accompanying officials.They were warmly received by Emperor Yongle in Nanjing.Unfortunately, the King fell ill after staying in China for over a month and died in Nanjing when he was only 28 years old.In his will, he showed desire “to be buried in China.” Emperor Yongle buried the King of Boni accordingly, with an official imperial ceremony.

On April 6, 2006,Princess Masna (left)unveils China-Brunei Friendship Hall in Nanjing, China, as part of celebrations of the 15th anniversary of China-Brunei diplomatic relations.

The tomb was forgotten for several hundred years until it was rediscovered in May 1958. A series of subsequent renovations helped restore the burial ground to its former glory.Known to locals as “Huihui Fen”(Tomb of a Muslim), the Tomb of the King of Boni is one of only two preserved graves of foreign emperors in China.

The trail leading to the tomb is lined with lush green trees on both sides and wild white flowers dotting the hillside. A pavilion with a tortoise-shell stele memorializing the King of Boni rests at the corner of the mountain trail. An inscription on the tablet documents the King’s visit to China, his death and the imperial funeral rites he received from Emperor Yongle in detail. After being exposed to the elements for about 600 years, the stone slab is covered with cracks, and the markings hard to recognize. Princess Masna stared at the stele and gently stroked the stone tortoise,lingering at the pavilion for quite some time.

After leaving the pavilion,they walked along Spirit Way,which is paved with stones and guarded by several pairs of stone sculptures on both sides. The stone sculptures of horses, oxen,tigers, goats and generals befit a king or an emperor. The tomb is located at the end of the Spirit Way. Princess Masna slowed before reaching the burial mound. In front of it is the Tombstone of the King of Boni.The upper part of the gravestone is engraved with two dragons, a symbol of an emperor in China.

Facing the tombstone,Princess Masna and her entourage all bowed their heads,extended their arms and raised their palms, whispering prayers in Malay. This is how people of Brunei mourn the dead.

“My ancestors braved difficulties to explore another civilization in remote land and were warmly received by the ancient Chinese people,”Princess Masna sighed. “The tomb is a testament to the friendship between Brunei and China.”

China-Brunei Friendship Hall

Another purpose of Princess Masna’s visit to Nanjing was to attend the opening ceremony of the China-Brunei Friendship Hall, which is a hundred paces from the Tomb of the King of Boni. Surrounded by springs and palm trees and the sound of folk songs of Brunei, the exhibition hall is highlighted by exotic features. At the ceremony, Princess Masnafirst congratulated the opening of the China-Brunei Friendship Hall.She then reviewed the longstanding friendship between the two sides, noting that the city of Nanjing has witnessed historical interactions and that the 600-year-old Tomb of the King of Boni in Nanjing is almost as old as Brunei itself.She also acknowledged the great efforts Nanjing has made to preserve the tomb and build the Brunei Style Park in the same area.

Both the tomb and the exhibition hall are key features of the park, and the hall is divided into three sections themed on different topics. Thefirst recounts the long history of Sino-Brunei friendship since ancient times. The two countries started to trade with each other as early as China’s Western Han (206 BC-AD 24)period. Their exchange became frequent during the Liang Dynasty (502-557), grew even closer during the Tang (618-907),Song (960-1279) and Yuan (1271-1368) dynasties, and peaked in the Ming Dynasty. The visit to China made by the King of Boni in 1408 signified a milestone in the history of China-Brunei friendly exchanges.

The second section traces the development of bilateral relations in modern times. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in September 1991,China-Brunei friendship has continued to flourish as the countries have strengthened mutual political trust, achieved fruitful cooperation results and made frequent people-topeople exchanges. The two sides have also maintained close consultation and coordination on international and regional affairs, setting an example of how two countries should treat each other as equals and cooperate with absolute sincerity.

The third section showcases Brunei’s colorful cultures and customs. Islam is the official religion of Brunei and its people strictly abide by Sharia law. The majority of Brunei’s population is Malay, who are known for their hospitality and village traditions. With picturesque landscapes, abundant natural resources and a stable society,the country is also called the Abode of Peace.

A total of 28 exhibits in the hall donated by the Brunei Museum help better display the folk customs of the country.At the opening ceremony,Princess Masna presented two valuable gifts from Brunei.One was a special type of brocade that can only be worn on important occasions such as royal ceremonies, national celebrations and weddings.The other was a set of silver instruments including chimes and gongs.

1. The China-Brunei Friendship Hall.

2. On April 6, 2006,Princess Masna(third left) pays homage to the Tomb of the King of Boni in Nanjing.

3. The gravestone of the Tomb of the King of Boni.

4. The Spirit Way to the Tomb of the King of Boni.

Brunei Style Park

In 2001, the Tomb of the King of Boni was listed as one of China’s Key Cultural Relic Units under State Protection. A total of nearly 10 million yuan (US$1.44 million) was invested in thefirst phase of a restoration project for the tomb involving the pavilion and the tablet, burial mound and Spirit Way. Brunei Style Park was built in the second phase.

Developed around the burial ground with a total investment of 23 million yuan (US$3.32 million), the park covers an area of more than 7,600 square meters and encompasses a Brunei Water Garden, an art exhibition area, a conference hall and a halal restaurant.Now the park has become a recreational destination for both sightseeing and relaxation.

From a distance, the elaborate layout adds elegance to the park.Its main entrance features a design combining elements of two different cultures. Chinese plums and deodar cedars, the city flower and tree of Nanjing,grow there, and plant bed is shaped in a crescent, a symbol of Islam. Visitors to the park can enjoy varied scenery throughout the year including azaleas,Chinese flowering apples and orchids in spring, sweet olives and chrysanthemums in the fall, and wintersweets and fruit trees (loquats and persimmons)in winter. In summer the park is dominated by different species of green plants.

On October 23, 2008, Princess Masna made her second visit to Nanjing for the opening of Brunei Style Park. This time she brought three oil paintings as a gift to the park. “These works by award-wining Bruneian artist Marsidi bin Omar were transported to China after flying over half of the Pacific Ocean,and I hope Chinese people will gain a better understanding of my country through these paintings,” Princess Masna declared. “Thefirst portrays the Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque—mosques can be seen everywhere in Brunei. The second depicts the streets of Brunei, which have only a few pedestrians and cars, enabling residents to enjoy a relaxed lifestyle. The last one shows the unspoiled jungle of Ulu Temburong National Park. With these three paintings, I’d like to express my heartfelt thanks to the people of Nanjing.”

For Princess Masna, the Brunei Water Garden was the highlight of her trip to Nanjing this time. When she was invited to the opening ceremony of the China-Brunei Friendship Hall two years before, she was pleased to see the renovated Tomb of King of Boni and its surroundings as well as the architecture and interior furnishings of the hall designed with strong Bruneian style. At the same time, she noticed the lack of water landscaping throughout the entire scenic spot. So she suggested building a water garden in the park and donated US$26,000 for construction of the garden because villages on the water are a highlight of the Bruneian way of life. With an area of nearly 1,000 square meters, the garden is quiet and beautiful amid lush green plants. Princess Masna enjoyed the scenery very much, noting that the garden is an ideal choice for local residents to spend leisure time.

“The opening of Brunei Style Park is a milestone in the development of Brunei-China relations,” said Princess Masna in her speech at the inauguration ceremony. She believes the scenic spot will play a positive role in promoting mutual understanding between people of the two countries.