Chi Tu Raktamaritika | |||||||||||
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2nd century BC–7th century | |||||||||||
Capital | Sing-ha/ Singgora/ Songkhla | ||||||||||
Common languages | Old Malay, Kelantan Malay | ||||||||||
Religion | Buddhism | ||||||||||
Government | Monarchy | ||||||||||
Li-fo-duo-se | |||||||||||
History | |||||||||||
• Coronation of the first king | 2nd century BC | ||||||||||
• Conquered by Srivijaya | 7th century | ||||||||||
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Today part of | Malaysia Thailand |
Chi Tu (also spelled Chihtu, Chitu or Ch-ih-t'u; Sanskrit: Raktamaritika or Raktamrittika; Chinese: 赤土國; pinyin: Chì-tǔ-guó; lit. 'Red Earth Country'; Malay language: Tanah Merah) was an ancient kingdom mentioned in the history of China. The Sui dynasty annals describe an advanced kingdom called Chi Tu in 607, when Chang Chun was sent as an ambassador there. The location of Chi Tu is disputed; proposals for its location include areas in the states of Kelantan or Pahang in Malaysia, or in Songkhla and Pattani Province of southern Thailand. The best evidence to support the Kelantan theory is that, when the envoys left Chi Tu, they took 10 days to sail to Champa, this indicates the kingdom was located somewhere 'red earth' around the main river of Kelantan. The inscribed Buddhagupta Stone found in Kedah mentioned a Raktamrttika, meaning "red earth land".