Port Marriage: Sojourners and Their Contractual Wives in Precolonial Maritime Asia

Abstract: This article explores the historical experiences of women in precolonial maritime Asia through conceptualizing port marriage, a popular practice that refers to a temporary and contractual union between male sojourners (mainly sailors and merchants) and Indigenous women in the discussed region. It first examines Ibn Battuta’s experiences of entering into and dissolving four marriages in the Maldives and then analyzes Chinese and European historical sources originating from various parts of maritime Asia to demonstrate the extensive and enduring practice of port marriage. It argues that port marriage was characterized by elements such as two-sided voluntary unions, contractual agreements, loyalty, and reciprocal advantages. Nevertheless, Chinese literati critically evaluated this maritime practice to showcase the masculinity of Chinese men and the magnificence of Chinese civilization. The study of port marriage breaks maritime boundaries, brings women into maritime history, and sheds new insights on the cultural dynamics of maritime Asia.