The Ties that Bind – the Saga of the Sultan of Sulu in China (Kaisa Para Sa Kaunlaran, 2017, 109 pp.) uses references and resources from China and the Philippines – including valuable photographs – to document the historic visit of the Sultan of Sulu to pay tribute to the imperial court of Ming Emperor Yong Le in 1417. The booklet is published in commemoration of this most significant event which highlights the enduring friendship between the Philippines and China.
For 600 years, spanning two dynasties and a Republic, China took care of the royal tomb of the Sultan of Sulu in Dezhou, Shandong Province on China’s east coast, where the Sultan died while on his way back to Sulu. It is the only tomb of a foreign monarch in China with a village of descendants still surrounding it, taking care of it and keeping faith with their Islam religion and practices.
The booklet likewise contains a chapter on the return visit of the descendants of the Sultan in Beiying Village, Dezhou ,Shandoing, in 2005, after 588 years.
The author, Teresita Ang See, also did extensive research to reconcile the references to dates on lunar and western calendars which initially caused some confusion. She was also able to identify some of the names mentioned in the Chinese records.
The Ties that Bind – the Saga of the Sultan of Sulu in China is available at Kaisa Para Sa Kaunlaran office, with telephone number 526-6796 and 527-6083, for P150 per copy . Email [email protected] for more information.