Bunga mas

A golden tree, part of the bunga mas for the Thai court

The bunga mas dan perak (lit. "golden and silver flowers"), often abbreviated to bunga mas (Jawi: بوڠا مس‎ "golden flowers"), was a tribute sent every three years to the king of Siam from its vassal states in the Malay Peninsula, in particular, Terengganu, Kelantan, Kedah, Pattani, Nong Chik, Yala and Rangae.^[1] The tribute consisted of two small trees made of gold and silver, plus costly gifts of weapons, goods and slaves. ^[2]

There are several supposed origins of and reasons for the establishment of the tradition:

• 17th-century Kedah rulers considered it to be a token of friendship.
• According to a Kedah legend, a bunga mas was sent as a toy for a Thai prince.
• Thai kings maintained it was a recognition of their suzerainty.^[2]

The practice ended in 1909, with the establishment of the British rule in most of the northern Malay states.^[2]

See also

• Malaysia–Thailand relations

References

1. Cyril Skinner (1983). A Malay Mission to Bangkok during the reign of Rama II, Journal of the Malaysian Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society,
2. Leonard Y. Andaya, Barbara Watson Andaya (1984). A History of Malaysia, ISBN 0312381212, pp.65-68