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China's voyages a Castle/Pirates related topic

Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2005 4:46 am
by JPinoy
*= Edit

I've heard of this book a couple of years ago, but never really gave it much thought until I started thinking of making a Bao Chuan (treasure ship) in Lego. So I started doing more research and then I hit upon the website http://www.1421.tv/news.asp

I decided to have a look and even bought the book "1421 When China Discovered America", with the most compelling evidence I've heard were of those maps that European explorers later on had *used* to get to those particular places and claim to have "discovered" them.

*There's also a followup book called, "When China Discovered the World"... basically, they supposed to have went around the world.

I always wondered about who was it that charted and mapped "undiscovered" places long before they were apparently "discovered". Ever since I was still in my preteens learning about Europe's voyages of discovery and reading things like that.

*Its also interesting to note that Admiral Zheng He's nickname was "3 Jewels" or "Sin Bao" in Chinese. Funny how similar that name is to Sinbad, a legendary muslim sailor & explorer who went on voyages and adventures around the world.

Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2005 5:03 am
by eNiGMa
Whoa, that is interesting. I'll have to go further into that site. Thanks for sharing!

Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2005 5:32 am
by TwoTonic Knight
Spain: Spain! Columbus!

Italy: No! Italy! Columbus!

China: Chinese!

Russia: Russians! Mr. Chekov is right: We did it first!

Iceland: Vikings!

Amerinds: Native Americans!

Amerigo Vespucci: Native whats?

Chinese: Yeah, but they were ethnic Chinese!

Mongolia: No, they were Mongolians!

Lunatic Fringe: Egyptians!

Skully: Aliens!

Mulder: No, wait, maybe it was the bounty hunter aliens...

And the winner is: Micronesians?

Ethnocentrism lives! 8)

But I'm looking forward to the ship!


Edit in: The OTHER lunatic fringe has been added in for the benefit of Nathan (see below). :wink:

Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2005 6:49 am
by Asterios
how can you find something that isn't lost.

Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2005 2:55 pm
by Lord_Of_The_LEGO
TwoTonic Knight wrote:Spain: Spain! Columbus!

Italy: No! Italy! Columbus!

China: Chinese!

Russia: Russians! Mr. Chekov is right: We did it first!

Iceland: Vikings!

Amerinds: Native Americans!

Amerigo Vespucci: Native whats?

Chinese: Yeah, but they were ethnic Chinese!

Mongolia: No, they were Mongolians!

Lunatic Fringe: Egyptians!
:lol: :lol:

Hehehe, that made me laugh! Though really, I think the winners are: Aliens! :twisted: 8)

Posted: Sat Jul 09, 2005 4:46 am
by JPinoy
TwoTonic Knight wrote: Ethnocentrism lives! 8)
Yeah, but the author of the book is NOT of Chinese or even East Asian heritage.

Posted: Sat Jul 09, 2005 8:01 am
by The Hordesman
I think humans were first. Nationalities are for sissies. :P Just because our cultures and appearance differs it doesnt make a any difference- poor are poor and rich are rich ;)

Will be fun to see. Emperor Chang face on Sin Bao? :wink:

Posted: Sun Jul 10, 2005 12:28 am
by eNiGMa
The Hordesman wrote:I think humans were first. Nationalities are for sissies. :P Just because our cultures and appearance differs it doesnt make a any difference- poor are poor and rich are rich ;)
I couldn't agree more!

Posted: Sun Jul 10, 2005 3:53 am
by Dragonlord Esq.
The Hordesman wrote:I think humans were first. Nationalities are for sissies. :P Just because our cultures and appearance differs it doesnt make a any difference- poor are poor and rich are rich ;)

Will be fun to see. Emperor Chang face on Sin Bao? :wink:
Humans weren't the first species in the Americas. :wink:

Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2005 1:16 am
by JPinoy
But we were the first sentient culture creating beings to do so. :P

Unless your an alien disguised as a human living amongst us.... :lol:

Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2005 1:32 am
by ottoatm
I haven't read this book, but I have to confess I'm a little skeptical about the idea. Much of what I read concerning China's exploration history (in western or eastern books) don't illustrate them as swashbuckling explorers. Still, it's a cool idea, and very possible - there's a lot of people in the country. :)

Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2005 3:36 am
by Dragonlord Esq.
ottoatm wrote:Much of what I read concerning China's exploration history (in western or eastern books) don't illustrate them as swashbuckling explorers. Still, it's a cool idea, and very possible - there's a lot of people in the country. :)
I'm skeptical as well, but there was a lot of seafaring and exploring during the Ming dynasty, so it's possible.

Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2005 4:44 am
by TwoTonic Knight
Gee, everybody edits out the most important part of my silly post ("I'm looking forward to the ship!").

Anyway, yes, Sin Bao is suspected as being the inspiration (in part) of Sindbad (using Burton's spelling).

Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2005 7:17 am
by JPinoy
ottoatm wrote:I haven't read this book, but I have to confess I'm a little skeptical about the idea. Much of what I read concerning China's exploration history (in western or eastern books) don't illustrate them as swashbuckling explorers. Still, it's a cool idea, and very possible - there's a lot of people in the country. :)
If you mean swashbuckling as in going around conquering people.... thats not what China's sea voyages were for. And they're society had no need for things like slavery or colonization. All the explorations and voyages did was mainly show off China's vast army and gigantic ships. They then demanded tribute and recognition of China as the ultimate kingdom/empire on earth from the "barbarian cultures" that the Chinese fleets encountered.\

Besides, there's even a mention that the Chinese based their voyage routes on older maps. Maybe it was the Kahilawayans!!! :P

Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2005 3:55 pm
by TwoTonic Knight
JPinoy wrote:If you mean swashbuckling as in going around conquering people.... thats not what China's sea voyages were for....they then demanded tribute and recognition of China as the ultimate kingdom/empire on earth from the "barbarian cultures" that the Chinese fleets encountered.


Ahhhhh, it was mere extortion.
Besides, there's even a mention that the Chinese based their voyage routes on older maps. Maybe it was the Kahilawayans!!! :P
See below. 8)