By Xu Wanzhi

Yang Xinhua, now in his 60s, once worked at Nanjing Cultural Relics Bureau as a specialist in cultural heritage protection and management. Over the years,he has remained devoted to his profession by conducting survey and registration of the city’s cultural heritage. In his spare time, he has authored and published several books.

His work on the Tomb of the King of Boni left him with an intimate connection to Brunei as a special envoy of cultural exchange between the two countries.

The Tomb of the King of Boni,located at the southern foot of Tortoise Mountain to the south of the ancient city of Nanjing,capital of Jiangsu Province,testifies to friendly exchange between China and Brunei during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). After more than 600 years,the tomb was nearly lost to history, and very little evidence of its existence remained. Today,the site has been excavated and developed into a tourist attraction in commemoration of the historic connection between China and Brunei.records, in August 1408 (the sixth year of Ming Emperor Yongle’s reign), the King of Boni(Sultan Abdul Majid Hasan, who ascended the throne in 1402)arrived in Nanjing, the capital of the Ming Dynasty, with an entourage of 150 including his wife, sister-in-law and children,for a friendly visit. He fell ill and died there in October of the same year at the age of only 28.In his last will and testament,he expressed desire “to be buried in China.” Emperor Yongle suspended court for

Tomb of the King of Boni

Yang Xinhua,specialist in cultural heritage protection and former deputy director of Nanjing Cultural Relics Bureau, is now director of the China-Brunei Historical and Cultural Research Center.

According to historical three days and buried him with an imperial ceremony,conferring the posthumous title “Gongshun (respectful and submissive) King” to him and setting up an ancestral temple for people to pay respect.

The tomb was lost under dust and mud over time. In 1958, it was rediscovered, and the shattered tomb tablet was excavated. Inscriptions on the tablet provided a valuable source for historical research of the Ming Dynasty.

In May 1984, Yang Xinhua participated in a cultural heritage survey of Nanjing’s Yuhuatai District as part of the second national general survey of its kind. The district covered a large area with very few cultural heritage protection units. Yang joined his colleagues in the surveying by bike across the district. “We traveled all over the place with our notebooks, some water and a few pancakes in our backpacks,” recalled Yang.

After the tomb was rediscovered, it was briefly renovated. However, for dozens of years it was hardly protected. Using the general survey, Yang and his colleagues decided to put the tomb under full protection.

Then, diplomatic relations were not yet established between China and Brunei.There was very little information on Brunei available to the general public in China, which added to the difficulties in researching and protecting the historical site.

The Tomb of the King of Boni, located at the southern foot of Tortoise Mountain to the south of the ancient city of Nanjing, testifies to friendly exchange between China and Brunei during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).

“I didn’t know much about Brunei,” admitted Yang.“But now I am inextricably linked to it.” He collected 20short newspaper articles on Brunei. He went to the library and found a book on Brunei published by the Soviet Union as well as some books on the history of the Ming Dynasty.Based on his research, Yang compiled and published the book Tracing the Origins of the Tomb of the King of Boni. “The book is basically a collection of historical records related to Brunei,” illustrated Yang. “I hoped to get more information about Brunei after publication of the book.”

Statues on both sides of the Spirit Way to the Tomb of the King of Boni.

The book’s impact was greater than Yang had expected.When diplomatic relations were established between China and Brunei on September 30, 1991, Liu Xinsheng was appointed the first Chinese ambassador to Brunei. Before Liu accepted the post, he traveled to Nanjing to see Yang Xinhua. Yang presented his book to Ambassador Liu. “It was my first textbook to learn more about Brunei,” admitted the ambassador.

Historic Tomb

With the establishment of diplomatic relations, the bilateral exchange between China and Brunei increased.Many Bruneians added Nanjing to their travel wish list for a visit to the tomb. However,some anti-China forces spread rumors about the tomb including calling it fake and alleging that the King of Boni died from poisoning.

“In 1994, Bihan Jamil,director of the Center of History for Brunei, visited Nanjing,”Yang Xinhua recalled. “Because he was a royal relative, Jamil’s attitude was very important.”He asked for rubbings of the tomb tablet inscription for further study. Yang and his colleagues worked on the rubbings during the National Day holiday and had them ready before Jamil’s departure.

Yang’s efforts paid off. At a 1995 symposium on Ming Dynasty explorer Zheng He’s voyages to the Western Seas,Jamil published the results of his study, which refuted the rumors and confirmed the historic status of the Tomb of the King of Boni. Soon afterwards, Yang joined a task force of the Nanjing Cultural Relics Bureau charged with escorting a replica of the stele to Brunei.

Brunei attaches great importance to history,if the rich resources in their libraries and museums are any indication.

Experiencing Brunei

Already an old friend of Brunei, Yang eventually traveled to the country. “The Bruneian people are very friendly,” Yang noted. “We stayed in a hotel in Bandar Seri Begawan. When I couldn’t find hot water for some instant noodles, the attendant ordered room service for me free of charge.”

Tomb of the King of Boni.

Also on the trip, Yang got to meet Rao Shangdong,Ph.D., from Universiti Brunei Darussalam with whom he had been corresponding for many years. They traveled together to the Brunei River to visit the Song Stele of China at the Edinburgh Bridge and took pictures with it. “On our way to the site, we sang theme songs from Chinese movies that we both knew,” Yang revealed.Yang was also informed that Third Sister Liu [a Chinese musical] was very popular in Brunei thanks to its beautiful music.

In 2004, Yang visited Brunei for the second time. On behalf of the Nanjing Cultural Relics Bureau, he signed a cooperation agreement with the Brunei National Heritage Bureau on reciprocal exchange of archives, books, documents,maps and other relevant information, the protection and restoration of cultural relics, and the exchanges of replicas of historic relics.

“At the time, they were widening the river and discovered many porcelain fragments on the banks of Brunei River tributaries,”explained Yang. “Our experts believed they were the fragments of Song Dynasty porcelain, more evidence of historical friendly exchanges between our countries.” Yang was committed to preserving and reviving the friendship between the two peoples.“I brought some Nanjing brocaded scarves as souvenirs for the friends there. They loved them!”

“Once again I was moved by the friendship of the Bruneian people,” Yang added.“When we visited the Royal Regalia Museum, the curator personally showed us around the museum and asked us to sign a visitors’ book that was usually reserved for heads of state. We were honored and deeply moved.”

Yang remains very proud of his work on the Tomb of the King of Boni. The relations between China and Brunei have developed to higher levels.Yang believes that cultural exchange is essential. “Brunei attaches great importance to history, if the rich resources in their libraries and museums are any indication,” said Yang,who plans on donating some of his books to the Museum of Brunei. “Exchange of this kind connects us in many ways.”