Austronesian migration to the East China Sea Islands

Austronesian people **migrated to the East China Sea Islands** from Batanes between 2000 BC and 1500 BC. The term "East China Sea Islands" refers collectively to Formosa (though the Donghai only settled the eastern coast), the Orange Islands, Kyushu, and Quelpart.

## History

Austronesian people began migrating to the East China Sea Islands in 2000 BC from the Batanes. During the migration, they traded with indigenous peoples on Formosa, especially around the southwestern coast, who introduced ramie fiber and methods of weaving.

## Culture

### Boats

Austronesian people are known for their innovate boat designs, and the Donghai peoples are no exception. The original boat used was called the *avang*, also known as the *pontin*; it was 14 to 18 meters long and is 5 meters high, has two sails made of *Pandanus* leaves (see below), and was propelled by fifteen pairs of rowers. Later, the *rakwang* (from *raku a avang*, literally "big *avang*") was developed, which was 20 to 24 meters long, had three sails, and was powered by twenty pairs of rowers.

Smaller boats include the *valua*, which was an 8 to 12 meter long boat with 6 to 10 pairs of rowers, one sail, and a rudder, used for shorter inter-island travel, and the *suxuan*, a small boat used for torch-fishing. The *suxuan* would become the generic term for a boat in most Donghai languages.

While it is unclear if these boats were used by the Donghai peoples in their initial migration or were borrowed later on during the growth of the Maritime Jade Road, there is no doubt that these boats did exist and were used, and in some cases are still being used.

### Pottery

As defined by Peter Bellwood and Eusebio Dizon, Phase 1 of the Batanes pottery tradition is defined by red-slipped, cord-marked, and circle-stamped pottery. All of these were discovered in the East China Sea Islands, most dating between 2000 BC and 1000 BC. "Vanga" pots epitomize this tradition, being found throughout the East China Sea Islands.

## Clothing and Textiles

Donghai peoples are known to use ramie in their traditional textiles. Linguistic evidence, coupled with the fact that Batanic peoples did not use ramie, clearly show that these technologies were introduced by the Kavalan people who live in northeastern Formosa. Barkcloth was also used as textiles as it was (and is) abundant in the area, though its use was not as common as ramie and the terminology also came from the Kavalan.

## Imported flora and fauna

Quelpartian legends retold in the *Chronicles of the Kings* note that Donghai people brought hemp, ramie, noni, and pandan to the Orange Islands and Quelpart. It also notes that bananas, specifically the Tangtang banana, were brought to Quelpart as well but could not grow in the colder climate.

## The Maritime Jade Road

*Main article: Maritime Jade Road*
Donghai peoples maintained trade routes with Taiwan and the Philippines as part of the greater Maritime Jade Road.

## References

1. ↑ Traditional Boats in Batanes. Retrieved on January 18, 2022.
2. ↑ Bellwood, Peter; Dizon, Eusebio (2013). 4000 Years of Migration and Cultural Exchange. Terra Australis. Retrieved on January 15, 2022.