gems, ancient gemology, early gemology, ancient mineralogy, early trade, India, Han-Shu, Malay Peninsula, Sumatra

Fu-nan is the earliest Indianized state mentioned by the Chinese in the region now known as Cambodia. According to the History of the Souei and the New History of the T’ang, Fu-nan gradually lost its independence as it was annexed by its former vassal state, Tchen-la, under the rule of Bhavavarman and Citrasena Mahendravarman. The earliest recorded date for Bhavavarman’s reign over Fu-nan territory is 598 A.D., leading George Cœdès to conclude that the conquest likely began in the latter half of the sixth century A.D. Regardless of the precise timeline, Fu-nan’s decline occurred before the rise of Srivijaya in the seventh century. This study focuses on examining the role Fu-nan played in Sino-Indian maritime trade during the period preceding Srivijaya’s ascendancy.