Ｆriendship all way long
In the Little Bodhisattva Hotel, Agudengba chatted with
Chu Sanxing, the friend of the owner Amon, about the influence of Buddhism on
Chinese civilization. Chu Sanxing, who was rich in knowledge, talked about his
views on the integration of Buddhism into Chinese culture.
Agudengba told Chu Sanxing what happened when Zheng He sailed
to the West and arrived in Bangladesh.
Agudengba said: From the 14th to the 17th century, it was
the Ming Dynasty in China, and the exchanges between China and Bangladesh
reached a new climax. In China at that time, there were numerous documents recording
this nearly 300-year history of friendly exchanges. This is also the last peak
in the history of ancient exchanges between China and Bangladesh. In 1404 AD,
the second year after Zhu Di ascended the throne, King Mahasiddin of Bangladesh
sent an envoy to visit China. Since 1409, envoys have visited the Ming court
every year, and some delegations have even reached more than two hundred
people. Zhu Di also sent envoys to pay a return visit. When Aiya Siding died in
1412, Zhu Di sent Hou Xian as a special envoy to Bangladesh to express his
condolences. The depth of exchanges at that time was no longer limited to
courtesy exchanges. Yongle Emperor Zhu Di was even invited to send envoys to
help Bangladesh mediate relations with its neighbors.
Agudenba said:
When Zheng He and Hou Xian visited Meng, there were three
very dedicated people accompanying them, namely Ma Huan, Fei Xin and Gong Zhen.
Ma Huan and Gong Zhen were Zheng He's Arabic translators and attendants
respectively, while Fei Xin translated for Zheng He and Hou Xian. These three
people recorded their experiences during the voyages to the West from their own
unique perspectives, forming three extremely valuable books.
When Zheng He's fleet headed for Bangladesh, it sailed
from the Sumatra country and traveled for 20 days. It first docked at
Chittagong Port, then entered the port in a small boat and traveled more than
500 miles to the present-day Dhaka area. From there, after another twenty or
thirty stops, we arrived at Meng Wang Palace.
The palace is high and wide, with brass-colored columns
and carved flowers and animals. There are long corridors on the left and right,
with more than a thousand armored horse teams listed inside, and giant sweats
outside, wearing armor, holding swords, bows and arrows, showing a very
majestic appearance. On the left and right sides of Danqi, there are more than
a hundred peacock feather umbrellas, and more than a hundred elephant teams are
placed in front of the hall. The king is adorned with a crown of eight
treasures, a Ji is sitting on a high throne in the palace, and a sword is
placed across his knees. After the Ming Dynasty envoys handed over the Ming
Emperor's letter, King Meng "set up a carpet in the palace and gave the
envoys a banquet. He did not drink alcohol, but drank rose dew and fragrant
honey water. He gave the envoys a gold helmet, a gold waistband, a gold vase,
and a gold basin. Anyone who uses silver will receive a gift." Such a
grand and grand welcome ceremony demonstrated the close and friendly relations
between China and Bangladesh at that time.
Agudengba said to Chu Sanxing:
Ma Huan, Fei Xin and Gong Zhen also recorded the folk
customs of Bangladesh at that time. The folk customs of Bangladesh were pure
and kind, and the Mandarin language was all based on Banggeli. Some men wear
white cloth around their heads and long white cloth gowns, while others wear
wide handkerchiefs of various colors. Women wear short shirts and colorful
brocade. When it comes to eating and drinking, men and women have different
attitudes. If the husband dies, the wife will no longer marry, and if the wife
loses the husband, the wife will no longer marry. If there is no one to rely
on, the family in one village takes turns raising it, and does not allow other
villages to ask for food, which shows the nobleness of loyalty.
Bangladesh is a densely populated country with abundant
fields and fertile fields. Men and women are diligent in farming and weaving.
Rich families build ships and go to various countries. There are many operators
and many servants working abroad. There are many people who are skilled in
medicine and divination of yin and yang. There are also those who make a living
from dancing and music.
At that time, there were many shops on the streets of
Bangladeshi cities, with many stores selling goods together. There are various
kinds of fine cloth, and there is also a kind of white paper made of tree bark,
which is as smooth and delicate as deerskin. Local specialties include fine red
rice, millet, wheat, sesame, various beans and millet, ginger, mustard, onion,
garlic, melon, eggplant, and vegetables. Fruits include jackfruit, banana
seeds, pomegranate, sugar cane, amole, etc., cattle, and horses. There are also
many animals, sheep, ducks, ducks, sea fish and so on.
From Faxian and Xuanzang to Ma Huan, Fei Xin and Gong
Zhen, through their pens, a magnificent long scroll unfolds before us.
Chu Sanxing said:
During China's Yuan Dynasty, human navigation technology
had reached new heights. At that time, China's navigation technology was the
most advanced. It could build the largest ships in the world and was proficient
in using precise navigation charts and compasses. Its long-distance voyage
trade entered a prosperous period in history. At that time, the Bangladesh region
was gradually forming a relatively independent empire, with a prosperous
economy, and the shipbuilding and navigation industries were also quite
developed. Sonargaon, Bagerhat and Chittagong were all important shipbuilding
centers and ports. The development of maritime transportation has further
narrowed the distance between the two ethnic groups of China and Bangladesh.
Envoys from both sides exchanged intensive visits, and Bangladesh brought gifts
such as Bengal tigers, elephants, and Jalok wooden boats to China. The name
Bangladesh also appeared frequently in books published in China at that time.
The most exquisite description of Bengal is undoubtedly the great traveler Wang
Dayuan. He twice visited the South Ocean and the Indian Ocean with Chinese merchant
ships in 1330 and 1337. Wang Dayuan said in his book "History of Island
Barbarians" that his overall impression of Bangladesh at that time was
that "the people were safe and contented" and "the country was
wealthy and popular".
For more than a thousand years, the two nations of China
and Bangladesh have maintained friendly exchanges and their friendship is
endless. At that time, the Bengal region should be one of the places with the
most developed economy, the most prosperous culture, and the simplest folk
customs in the Indian subcontinent, which was beyond the reach of many other
places. However, after the 17th century, China and Bangladesh continued to have
contacts, but with a decreasing trend. After the colonists invaded Bangladesh,
relations between the two countries were almost severed.
Agudengba smiled and said to Chu Sanxing:
In 1414, something happened that shocked both the Chinese
government and the public. After Saiveddin, the son of Ayasidin of Bangladesh,
succeeded to the throne, he sent an envoy to China to express his gratitude and
gave Emperor Yongle a rare thing - "Kilin". The so-called
"unicorn" is actually a giraffe from East Africa. According to
records, this is the first time giraffes have been introduced to China.
"Qilin" is an auspicious beast in ancient Chinese legends, and the
giraffe's appearance is somewhat similar to "Qilin". For example, its
tail is like a cow, its hooves are like a horse, it has horns on its head, and
its whole body seems to be covered with scales and fur. In five colors. Legend
has it that only when saints appear and the world is at peace, the
"Qilin" will appear, which means that the "Qilin" is a
symbol of a prosperous age. The arrival of "Kilin" in the Ming
Dynasty excited the government and the public. All ministers were busy
congratulating the emperor. They wrote 16 volumes of hymns for this purpose.
Minister Shen Du even painted a picture of "Bangge Laguo" "Gong
Qilin Picture". Although the original painting has been lost, a copy of it
from the Qing Dynasty still exists in the National Museum of China, becoming an
important historical witness of the friendly exchanges between China and
Bangladesh.
The communication between Agudengba and Chu Sanxing was
very friendly and harmonious. They had a common understanding, deepened their
understanding and goodwill, and developed many commonalities. Chu Sanxing said:
China-Bangladesh friendship is as long-standing as the Brahmaputra and
Brahmaputra rivers, and has been deeply rooted in the hearts of the two peoples.
Dawa and Xiang Qima listened to the conversation between
Agudengba and Chu Xingxing and were very inspired. Dawa danced the Bangladeshi
Rajpat dance, and Xiang Chima sang "Auld Lang Syne":
everyone needs friendship
friendship all way long
embark on the journey of life
Unforgettable friendship
sincerely encourage each other
Stay together through thick and thin
Hold hands of passion
Don't let friendship slip away
The country needs friends
War brings disaster to the country and the
people
Towards world harmony
Countries regardless of size
Different nationalities and skin colors
Language and religion
frank and peaceful coexistence
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