Chi Tu

Chi Tu
Raktamaritika
2nd century–7th century
Location of Chi Tu as indicated in the map of Transpeninsula route-ways.
Capital		Sing-ha/ Singgora/ Songkhla
Languages		Old Malay, Kelantan Malay
Religion		Buddhism
Government		Monarchy
History
•	Coronation	2nd century
•	Conquered by Srivijaya	7th century
Succeeded by Srivijaya Tambralinga Pan Pan
Today part of		Malaysia  Thailand

Chi Tu (other alternative spellings include Chihtu, Chitu or Ch-ih-t'u; Sanskrit: Raktamaritika or Raktamrittika; Chinese: 赤土国, pinyin: Chì-tǔ-guó; Malay language: Tanah Merah) is an ancient kingdom mentioned in the history of China. The Sui Dynasty (581–618) annals describe an advanced kingdom called Chi Tu in 607, when Chang Chun was sent as an ambassador there. The location of Chi Tu was disputed to be around Kelantan or Pahang state in Malay Peninsula, or in Songkhla and Pattani Province of southern Thailand. The best evidence to support the Kelantan theory was when the envoys left Chi Tu, the sail took 10 days to reach 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".

The Chi Tu kingdom is believed to have existed from 100 BC to the 7th century. The royal family's name is Chu-dan (means Gautama Buddha) and the king is Li-fo-duo-se. According to Chinese records, Chi Tu was built by kit mow (Mon-Khmer) peoples who sailed from the coast of Funan (southern Indochina). Centuries later, the local inhabitants, replaced Funan peoples. "... Chi Tu is a derivation nation of Funan, located in within the southern sea, sailing hundred days to reach, the majority terrain was red, thus named Red Earth Kingdom (Chi means red, Tu means earth). East bordering Po-Lo-La, West bordering Po-Lo-So, South bordering Ho Lo Tan, thousands of square miles in land area. The king has three wives and the kingdom embraced Buddhism ...".