Rosewater

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by Sally K. Church

Rosewater is a preparation consisting of water and oil of roses. It is used to scent clothing and as a perfume.

Several Chinese sources, including the Xin Wudai shi 新五代史 (New History of the Five Dynasties), chapter 74, mention that an envoy named Pu Gesan 蒲謌散 was sent to China by the king of Zhancheng 占城 (Champa), whose name was Yin De Man 因德漫, in the fifth year (959 CE) of the Xiande 显德 reign period (954-960 CE) of the Later Zhou dynasty. They say that he presented 15 bottles of rosewater, among other goods, to the emperor as tribute. Rosewater was originally a product of the Middle East, according to these sources. The Arab maritime trade seems to have reached Champa in the 10th century, introducing Islamic cultural and religious influences to the region, hence the statement in the Xin Wudai shi that "the customs of [Champa] are similar to those of the Arabs" (su yu Dashi tong 俗与大食同). Influences from India were also very strong in Champa.

The event is also recorded by Zhang Mi 张泌 of the Southern Tang in his "Record of the Adorned Tower" (Zhuang lou ji 妆楼记), and in chapter 972 of the Cefu yuangui 册府元龟 in the Five Dynasties period. The Song huiyao jigao 宋会要辑稿 also mentions it, and the Song shi 宋史 records many instances of rosewater being presented as tribute, including from Sri Vijaya (Sanfoqi 三佛齐) on the island of Sumatra (whose products mostly came from the Arab world at the time). Islamic glass bottles were originally used to hold rosewater and these have been discovered at Liao and Song sites.

Zhao Rugua mentions the 959 tribute gift in his chapter on rosewater in the Zhufan zhi 諸蕃志 (Treatise on Foreign Countries), saying that "it was made from the dew of flowers in the country of the Ta-shï [Arabs]".