Temase

Temase, sometimes rendered as Temasek in later sources, is the historical name used in Malay and Chinese records for the ancient port settlement on the island of Singapore. The exact origin of the name is uncertain, but it is generally understood to refer to an early coastal town or trading hub by the sea, reflecting the island’s position in maritime networks.

History and significance

Temase is first documented in 13th- and 14th-century sources as a regional entrepôt connected to broader Malay and Indian Ocean trade. It is described in Malay chronicles and Chinese records as a thriving port that served merchants from various parts of Southeast Asia and beyond. In the traditional account, around 1299 Parameswara, a prince from Palembang, supposedly fled Temase and founded a new settlement on nearby Singapore, which he renamed Singapura, meaning Lion City. After the establishment of Singapura, Temase gradually declined as the island’s political and economic center.

Geography and site

The precise boundaries of Temase are not clearly defined, and its core area is a matter of scholarly debate. Most reconstructions associate Temase with parts of present-day central and southern Singapore, including the vicinity of the Singapore River and neighboring coastal zones. Archaeological evidence from the region shows late medieval activity, but the exact extent and urban character of Temase remain unsettled.

Legacy

The name Temase persists in historical reference to Singapore’s pre-modern port history and continues to appear in modern contexts through names and institutions that draw on the island’s early maritime heritage. The modern state-owned investment company Temasek Holdings, founded in 1974, derives its name from this historical term, linking contemporary Singapore to its early port origins.