← Explore on the interactive map

Champa Rice

Type Object Region Southeast Asia Time c. 700

An early-maturing rice variety from Champa (central-southern Vietnam), reportedly introduced to China's Jiangnan around the 8th century via maritime …

Timeline

  1. 700–750Champa coastal plains · ChampaThe Champa kingdom bred early-maturing rice varieties with a growing season of about a hundred days under a tropical monsoon climate, suited to local rain-heat conditions and irrigated agriculture, laying the groundwork for later spread abroad.
  2. c. 710–780Guangzhou · LingnanAccording to the New Book of Tang, Cefu Yuangui and other records, Champa rice seeds entered the Tang through Lingnan ports along maritime trade and tribute routes, first trial-planted in Fujian and Guangdong, then spreading northward.
  3. 760–800Suzhou · JiangnanChampa rice was promoted in the Jiangnan region of the lower Yangtze; its early maturity let farmers sow it after the late rice harvest or achieve double-cropping rotation, raising per-area yields and laying the varietal foundation for the Song-era agricultural leap in Jiangnan.

Sources