Temasek

Temasek was an early name for a settlement where modern Singapore is today. The name appears in old Malay and Javanese literature, as well as in Yuan and Ming Chinese documents, written as 單馬錫 (Dānmǎxī) or 淡馬錫 (Dànmǎxī). People in those times knew the place by two main spots: Long Ya Men and Ban Zu.

Today, the name Temasek is still important in Singapore. You can see it used in many places, like national honours, schools, and big companies. It reminds people of the area's long history and special meaning.

Name

The name Temasek comes from the Malay word tasik, which means "lake" or "sea". It might have meant "place surrounded by the sea" or "Sea Town". Some think it could also refer to a king of Srivijaya. The name appears as Tumasik in an old book called the Nagarakretagama, written in 1365, and is mentioned in other old stories from Malay Annals and Pararaton.

Famous travelers like Wang Dayuan, who visited around 1330, wrote about a place called Danmaxi, which is thought to be Temasek. Another traveler, Marco Polo, may have also mentioned a place called Chiamassie, which could be Temasik. In the 1300s, the name Temasek was replaced by Singapura, meaning "Lion City", after a legend about a lion seen by Sang Nila Utama. The name Temasek was used for a long time but mostly stopped being used in maps from 1500 to 1800. Today, it is used for some important places and awards in the Republic of Singapore.

History

The early history of Singapore is mixed with stories and legends, but we can learn from old writings by travelers and discoveries made by scientists who study the past. By the 1300s, there was a busy city where Singapore is today. It had big dirt walls and a deep water path around it, and many buildings had stone and brick bases. People found old pieces of pottery, coins, jewelry, and other things that show the city was a place where people from many lands traded goods.

From the 600s to the 1000s, the island was part of a big group called the Srivijaya empire, which was based in Sumatra. By the 1300s, Temasek was a strong city and a place for trading. Chinese visitors came to a place called Long Ya Men, near what we now call Keppel Harbour, to get gifts and trade. Another place called Ban Zu was also there. A Chinese traveler named Wang Dayuan visited around 1330 and wrote about these two places. He described Long Ya Men as having two hills that looked like dragon teeth, with water between them. He also talked about the people and what they traded, like special wood and metal.

Later, other groups like the Majapahit and Ayutthaya Kingdom had influence over Temasek. The city was attacked by people from Siam but managed to defend itself. Eventually, a leader named Parameswara came to Temasek and later moved on to start a new city called Malacca. After that, Temasek was influenced by Malacca and later by the Sultanate of Johor. The city was destroyed by Portuguese people in 1613, and for many years, it was not very well known until a British official named Stamford Raffles arrived in the early 1800s.

Singapore's national honours

Singapore has two important national honours. The Bintang Temasek is given for acts of great courage and skill, or for showing strong dedication to duty in very dangerous situations. The Darjah Utama Temasek is awarded for outstanding and exceptional contributions to the country.

Many places and institutions in Singapore carry the name Temasek, including:

• Temasek Holdings
• Temasek Junior College
• Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory
• Temasek Laboratories
• Temasek Polytechnic
• Temasek Primary School
• Temasek Secondary School
• Temasek Tower