An important waypoint on passage of navigation history: Zheng He’s sailing to west ocean

• Autorzy: Ding J. , Shi Ch. , Weintrit A.
• Języki publikacji: EN

Abstrakty

EN

Zheng He, a famous Chinese mariner, explorer, diplomat and fleet admiral of Ming Dynasty, sailed from China to many places throughout South Pacific, Indian Ocean, Bay of Bengal, Arabian Sea, Pesian Gulf, Red Sea and distant Africa in seven epical voyages from 1405 to 1433, some 80 years before Colubus’s voyages to America on Santa Maria. This magnificent feat in the history of navigation was later considered as a sheer waste of energy and money, and a “failure policy”. The scale of Zheng He’s navigation far exceeds that of Columbus’s “Great Discovery” which followed, but the former had less effect on the progress of the world history. In this paper, we recall Zheng He’s great adventure, as an important waypoint on the passage of navigation history. An introduction to the historical condition of that age and Zheng He’s family background is presented. The fleets, the passages, as well the experiences are illustrated. The shipbuilding technology and science of navigation of China in the ancient period are also demonstrated. And finally we discuss the historical significance, spirit and impact of Zheng He’s sailing. The great voyages are the magnificent landmarks not only in China’s political and diplomatic history but also in navigational annals of the world.

Słowa kluczowe

EN

history of navigation; Admiral Zheng He; Zheng He’s sailing; chinese history; chinese technology; celestial fixing; navigational equipment

• Wydawca: Faculty of Navigation, Gdynia Maritime University
• Czasopismo: TransNav : International Journal on Marine Navigation and Safety of Sea Transportation
• Rocznik: 2007
• Tom: Vol. 1, no. 3
• Strony: 285--294
• Opis fizyczny: Bibliogr. 13 poz., rys.

Twórcy

autor

Ding J.

• Shanghai Maritime University, Shanghai, China

autor

Shi Ch.

• Shanghai Maritime University, Shanghai, China

autor

Weintrit A.

• Gdynia Maritime University, Gdynia, Poland

Bibliografia

• 1. Chen, Xiaodong 2005. A Comparison between Zheng He’s Expedition and Westerners’ Pioneering New Routes. International Academic Forum in Memory of the 600th Anniversary of Zheng He’s Expedition ‘Carry on Civilization, Open to the World, for Peace and Development’. Nanjing, China. 4-7 July.
• 2. Information Office of Fujian Province 2005. Zheng He’s Voyages Down the Western Seas. Beijing: China Intercontinental Press.
• 3. Lin, Zhencao 2003. A Re-examination of the Expedition to the West by Zheng He. Journal of Guizhou University (Social Science) 21 (1): 98-105.
• 4. Ma, Hongxia et al 2006. Rational Think for the Different Result of Navigation between China and the West, Journal of Henan Normal University 33 (2): 135-138.
• 5. Ma, Lizhang 2002. Pilgrimage – One of the Major Motivations of Zheng He’s Expedition. The Second Internal Conference about the Study on Zheng He ‘Zheng He Belongs to the Whole World’. Kunming, China. 9-13 December.
• 6. Menzies, Gavin 2003. 1421 The Year China Discovered the World. London: Bantam Books.
• 7. Qian, Zhikun 2005. Discussion on the Main Objectives of Zheng He’s Expeditions. Jiangxi Social Science 2005 (2): 90-94.
• 8. Walner, Ann 2005. Zheng He in American Classroom: Some Approaches. Symposium on Memory of the 600 th Anniversary of Zheng He’s Expedition ‘Zheng He’s Expedition and the world civilization’. Beijing, China. 11-12 July.
• 9. Wang, Guiyan 2005. Historical Details of Zheng He’s Expeditions and Their Contributions in Maritime History. International Academic Forum in Memory of the 600th Anniversary of Zheng He’s Expedition ‘Carry on Civilization, Open to the World, for Peace and Development’. Nanjing, China. 4-7 July.
• 10. Xin, Yuan-ou 2003. The Great Significance and Historical Course of Zheng He’s Expeditions. Shanghai Shipbuilding 2003 (2): 58-64.
• 11 .Yang, Quanbin and Jin, Yongxing 2005. Contributions of Zheng He’s Expedition to Development of the World Nautical Technology. International Academic Forum in Memory of the 600th Anniversary of Zheng He’s Expedition ‘Carry on Civilization, Open to the World, for Peace and Development’. Nanjing, China. 4-7 July.
• 12. Zhao, Chengchun 2005. On Scientific Navigation of Zhenghe’s Expedition. International Academic Forum in Memory of the 600 th Anniversary of Zheng He’s Expedition ‘Carry on Civilization, Open to the World, for Peace and Development’.Nanjing, China. 4-7 July.
• 13. Zhou, Simin 2006. Discussion on Zheng He’s voyages to the Western sea from the view of Confucianism. Journal of Jilin Teachers Institute of Engineering and Technology (Social Sciences Edition) 22 (10): 28-30.