Siam (Xianluo)

(Travellers | Cities | Routes | Trade Goods | Themes)

by Sally K Church

The kingdom of Hsien [Xian] and Lo [Luo], or Thailand, was until recently known to Europeans as Siam. It was called by the Chinese ‘Hsien Lo-hu’ (contracted to ‘Hsien Lo’) after the Hsien (Syam) people of Sukhot’ai became united with the people of Lo-hu (Lavo, Lopburi) in 1389. During the time of Zheng He's early 15th century maritime expeditions to the "Western Oceans", it was a powerful and important kingdom which had extended its control over most of the Malay peninsula, including Tumasik (Old Singapore).

- adapted from J. V. G. Mills, Ma Huan, p. 102, n. 5.