Malacca Song Dynasty 10th - 13th century Celadon Bowl & Dish Plate

Malacca Song Dynasty 10th - 13th century Celadon dish plate, discovered at reclaimation developments projects adjacent seafront Straits of Malacca in early 1970s. Celadon production had a long history at Longquan and related sites, but it was not until the Five Dynasties (907 - 960) and Northern Song (960 - 1127) period that production of scale truly began. In the Northen Song period the Dayao kiln site alone produced wares at twenty - three separate kilns. This being said the era of greatest ceramic production.

The Song Dynasty was a ruling dynasty in China between 960 - 1279 CE; it succeeded the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period, and was followed by the Yuan Dynasty. It was the first government in world history to issue banknotes or paper money, and the first Chinese polity to establish a permanent standing navy. The Song Dynasty is divided into two distinct periods: the Northern Song and Southern Song. During the Northern Song 960 - 1127 and the Southern Song 1127 - 1279 refers to the period after the Song lost control pf northern China to the Jin Dynasty.

Southeast Asia has been inhabited since prehistoric times. The communities in the region evolved to form complex cultures with varying degrees of influence from India and China. The ancient kingdoms can be grouped into two distinct categories. The first is agrarian kingdoms. Agrarian kingdoms had agriculture as the main economic activity. Most agrarian states were located in mainland Southeast Asia. The second type is maritime states. Maritime states were dependent on sea trade. Srivijaya and Malacca were maritime states.

Srivijaya had established suzerainty over large areas of Sumatra, western Java and much of the Malay Peninsula. Dominating the Malacca and Sunda straits, Srivijaya controlled both the spice route traffic and local trade, charging a toll on passing ships. Serving as an entrepot for Chinese, Malay, and Indian markets, the port of Palembang, accessible from the cost by way of a river, accumulated great wealth. Envoys traveled to and from China frequently.