Did you know how the name "Brunei" constantly evolved throughout history?

This thread is in reference on Rozan Yunos's latest book; "Brunei The Origins", published & printed by Qasrun Nafis Publishing House

"Brunei" to a native Brunei Malay speaker should actually be spelt as 'Brunai' or 'Berunai'.

So, how the word "Brunei" pronounced as "Brunay" but spelt as "Brunei"?

But, should we look into the old historical document first.

The oldest records would have to be the Chinese records which used Poli, Poni, Boni, Foni, & even Polo.

The differences of the names are said to be caused by the changes of the Chinese dynasties, each preferring its own way of spelling.

Yao Silian wrote in his book; "Liang Shu" (The Liang History) about Poli (Brunei old name) & published in the early Tang Dynasty around 1,400 years ago (618 AD). This indicates Brunei as the ancient nation & suggested already existed way earlier the Tang Dynasty.

The word 'Poli' already been used all the way back to Yuanhui Reign as Shen Yue (441 AD - 513 AD) wrote 'Poli' to record its representative offering the native products, dating on the Bingshen Day (2 May 473 AD).

Wang Yinglin wrote a country named "Foni" stopped its contact with China but during Yuangfeng Reign (27 March 1082), "Foni" paid tribute to China again.

Another records, in the year of 1397 several countries have stopped sending gifts to China but resumed the tradition including a country called "Bruni"

During Song Dynasty, Zhao Rukuo used the word "Boni" & Zha Jizuo wrote "The Polo Kingdom" instead of 'Poli', 'Boni' or 'Foni' (1638 AD) during Chongzhen Reign of the Ming Dynasty.

In Nagarakertagama list of Majapahit's tributaries, Brunei was described as 'Buruneng'.

Brunei was renamed as 'Vijayapura' when captured by the Royal Family of Funan which in turn the Chinese referred to as 'Fo-Shih-Pu-Lo".

According to the local historians & elders agreed with the word 'Brunei' came out from Brunei's legendary epic poem, "Syaer Awang Semaun", a group of 14 brothers led by Pateh Berbai & 90 Dayaks & shouted, "Baru nah!" when they discovered Brunei.

'Baru nah' translated as 'now we found it'. Later on, 'baru nah' slowly evolved to 'Brunei'.

Below are the Syaer Awang Semaun in English translations.

“In fact, studies have been made of the Chinese character ‘Po’ & ‘Fo’ & it would appear that whenever ‘Po’ & ‘Fo’ was used, the sound expressed could be ‘Bu’ which is as close an approximation as it is possible in the Chinese language to the original ‘Burni’”.

In 15th & 16th centuries, most of Dutch & Spanish document spelt Brunei as ‘Borney’ or ‘Borneo’; 1610 AD, a Portuguese reporter used ‘Borneu’ or ‘Borneo’ & during 1524 AD, he used ‘Burney’.

One time, Sultan of Brunei has once used the spelling of ‘Burney’ when he wrote a letter for the Governor Tello of Manila.

Maximilian of Transylvania wrote on his book as ‘Island of Porne’.

Antonia Pigafetta used “Burney’ & ‘Burne’. Itinerario do Luduvica Varthema published in Venetia in 1550 spelt Brunei as ‘Bornei’.

On 6 January 1514, Captain-General of Malacca wrote to Dom Afonso de Albuquerque in Goa used ‘Burney’ & he also used ‘Burneo’ when he wrote a letter to King Amnoel I.

18th & 19th century, ‘Bruni’ was largely used in written documents. Frank Maryatt used ‘Bruni’ for his book, “Borneo & the Indian Archipelago’, 1848. London Illustrated News (the 1850s-1880s) used from ‘Brune’ to ‘Bruni’ to finally ‘Brunei’.

J.R. Hipkins wrote in 1971 suggests that Brunei came from the Sanskrit word ‘Bhurni’ meaning ‘land’ or ‘country’.

“J.H. Moor in 1871 noted that the Sanskrit word ‘Varunai’ meant ‘seaborne’ which referred to Bruneians who were seafarers, mariners & lived on the water in Kampong Ayer even till today”.

In the 19th-20th century, British anglicized the word ‘Brunei’ written in Jawi to ‘Brunei’ & McArthur used ‘Brunei’ for his entire report. Hence, the British were most likely finalized the word ‘Brunei’ to be spelt as Brunei.

This can be seen as Yura Halim (now Pengiran Setia Negara Pengiran Haji Mohd Yusof) also used ‘Brunei’ & Sultan Omar ‘Ali wrote the foreword signed as ‘Sultan Brunei’.

Finally, in the 1960s, Brunei used the spelling ‘Brunei’ but pronounced as ‘Brunai’.

All infos are referred from this Rozan Yunos latest book; "Brunei The Origins". I was so lucky I randomly meet my favs author & tell I is his fans & he gave me his book with his autograph

I was so happy because you know, your favs author give personally his new book