Tribute sent to the king of Siam by vassal states in the Malay Peninsula
A golden tree, part of the bunga mas sent by one of the northern Malay states to the Siamese court, collection of Muzium Negara, Kuala Lumpur
The bunga emas dan perak (lit. "golden and silver flowers", Thai: ต้นไม้เงินต้นไม้ทอง RTGS: ton mai ngoen ton mai thong), often abbreviated to bunga mas (Jawi: بوڠا مس "golden flowers"), was a form of tribute sent every three years to the king of Ayutthaya (Siam) from its vassal states in the Malay Peninsula, in particular, Terengganu, Kelantan, Kedah, Pattani, Nong Chik, Yala, Rangae,[1]Kubang Pasu and Setul.[2] The tribute consisted of two small trees made of gold and silver, along with costly gifts of weapons, goods and slaves.[3]
According to a Kedahan source, the first time a bunga mas was sent, it was sent as a toy for a new-born Siamese prince who was the grandson of Sultan of Kedah himself since his kin, a princess was married to the Siamese king. The rulers of Kedah in the 17th-century considered it to be a token of friendship. However Siamese kings since instead maintained that it was a recognition of their suzerainty.[3]
Before Lord Nguyễn Ánh of the Nguyễn clan was crowned Emperor of Vietnam, he had offered bunga mas to the Siamese king six times to gain military support for his campaign against the Tây Sơn dynasty.[4][5][6][7][8][9]
