The kingdom of Gantuoli干陁利國

The kingdom of Gantuoli (干陁利國) lies on an island in the Southern Sea. Its customs are much the same as those of Linyi and Funan. It produces banbu cloth, jibei cotton and areca nuts, and its areca nuts are especially fine, the best of all the kingdoms. In the time of Emperor Xiaowu of Song its king Shipoluonaliantuo sent his chief secretary Liutuo to present vessels of gold and silver and precious ware.

In the first year of Tianjian its king Qutan Xiubatuoluo, on the eighth day of the fourth month, dreamed that he saw a monk, who said to him: "China now has a holy lord. Ten years hence the Buddha's law will greatly rise. If you send an envoy with tribute and pay reverence, your land will be rich and glad and your trade will grow a hundredfold. If you do not believe me, your borders will not be at peace of themselves." At first Xiubatuoluo could not believe it. Then he dreamed of the monk again, and the monk said: "If you cannot believe me, I will go with you and let you see." And in the dream he came to China and had audience with the Son of Heaven. When he woke he marveled at it in his heart. Tuoluo had always been skilled in painting, so he painted the likeness of Gaozu as he had seen it in the dream, adorned it with colors, and sent envoys together with painters to bear a memorial and offer a jade dish and other things. When the envoys arrived they copied the likeness of Gaozu and took it back to their own kingdom, and when it was set beside the first painting the two matched. So they put it in a jeweled case and paid it reverence day by day. Afterward Batuoluo died and his son Piyebamo ascended the throne. In the seventeenth year he sent his chief secretary Piyuanbamo to bear a memorial, which said: "To His Majesty the ever-victorious Son of Heaven. The buddhas, the world-honored ones, always delight in ease and peace. With the six spiritual powers and the three clear knowledges they are honored in the world, and they are called the Thus Come One. From the relics left by the Worthy of Offerings, the Rightly Awakened, stupas and images have been made, and they adorn the land like Mount Sumeru. Towns and villages lie spread in order and fill the land, and the walls and halls are like the palace of the Trayastrimsha heaven. The four kinds of troops are complete, and they subdue foe and enemy. The land is at peace and glad, without troubles of any kind. The people are harmonious and good, they receive the teaching of the true law, and no blessing fails to reach them. It is as though one dwelt in the Snow Mountains, where the snow water flows down, of eight flavors, clear and pure, and a hundred streams brim over and wind and turn and go down obediently to the great sea, so that all living beings receive its use.

Among all the lands it is the most excellent and the first, and it is called Zhendan. The Son of Heaven of Yangdu (揚都) in Great Liang (大梁) shelters the four seas with his benevolence, and his virtue accords with the mind of Heaven. Though he is a man he is Heaven, born down here to guard the world. He is the treasure store of merit, the great compassion that saves the world. He is our honored elder, and his dignity is complete. Therefore with utmost sincerity I bow in reverence at the feet of the Son of Heaven and bow my head to ask after him. I offer golden lotuses and fragrant medicines of many kinds, and I pray that he will receive them." In the first year of Putong he again sent an envoy to offer local products.