Linked below is a facinating article describing the voyages of
Admiral Zheng He, a Chinese explorer who sailed
the seas between 1405 and 1435.
Admiral Zheng He's exploits were well documented in Chinese
historical records and were written about in a book entitled
" The Marvellous Visions of the Star Raft"
which appeared in China around 1418.
Recently a copy of a map that was made in 1763 of another map
dating back to 1418 was discovered and will be on display in
Beijing and London starting next week.
The descriptions inscribed on the map parallel those of the ancient book.
Here are some excerpts from the map describing the peoples encountered
from each part of the world.
Eskimos of Alaska -
" The people living in this area are similar to Qidan and Mongols, who feed on fish"
North American Indians -
" The Skin of the race in this area is black-red, and feathers are wrapped around their heads and waists. They are anthropohagous people"
Inca Empire and Paracas in Ancient Peru, South America -
" There are cities there built with huge stones, and called as "The Stone Cities", and the people there believes in the religion called as 'Balaka'. Human being is used as sacrificial victim, and people pay obeisance to fire".
Aborigine of Australia -
" The skin of the Aborigine is also black. All them are naked and wearing bone articles around their waists. Those people also have anthropophagous habitude."
North Africa -
"There is a huge city here built with stones, the dimension of stones
can be compared to those used by tomb of Qin Dynasty Emperor."
South Africa -
" The skin of the people here is like black lacquer.
Their teeth are white. Their lips are red and their hairs are curled."
Asian & Europe -
" The shape of people eyes are round and within deeper eyeholes. Their heads are wrapped with scarf. Their clothes are loose and their trousers are long. Women here must wear veils when going out, otherwise will be punished."
Gavin Menzies, a retired British submarine commander and author wrote a book in 2003 entitled "1421: The Year China Discovered the World"
Menzies argues that a huge fleet of Chinese explorers
circumnavigated and charted the world before the first European voyages.
It's not difficult for me to believe that the Ancient Chinese explored
the world and returned home without taking advantage of the
lands and people. Exploration without Exploitation.
It's the exact opposite cultural view of western explorers
who invaded, conquered and exploited the lands and people the came into contact with.
This is definitely an interesting read and worth pondering when completed.
