Collected Illustrations of the Three Realms, Volume 32

The Kingdom of Champa

original: "Zhancheng Guo"; an ancient coastal kingdom located in what is now central and southern Vietnam. It was a significant maritime power known for its Hindu-influenced culture and its regular diplomatic and trade missions to the Chinese court.

Champa, Elephant, Champa, elephant, ethnography

[Illustration: A woodcut depicts a man from the Kingdom of Champa riding a large elephant. The man is shirtless, reflecting the warmer southern climate, and is seated directly on the animal's back while holding a long goad or hook used for steering. The elephant is shown with prominent curved tusks. In the Chinese historical imagination, Champa was famous for its elephant training, and these animals were often sent as prestigious tribute gifts to the Emperor.]