Marco Polo ¨C ZHENG He Academy
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Backgrounder |
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Marco Polo - ZHENG He
Sources of Materials:
1.http://english.xm.gov.cn/xiamen%20facts/Magic%20Xiamen/t20040921_24100.htm,
(2006-1-16). ¡¡
(1254-1324) is probably the most famous Westerner traveled on the Silk Road. He excelled all the other travelers in his determination, his writing, and his influence. His journey through Asia lasted 24 years. He reached further than any of his predecessors, beyond Mongolia to China. He became a confidant of Kublai Khan (1214-1294). He traveled the whole of China and returned to tell the tale, which became the greatest travelogue. In May 1275 the Polos arrived to the original capital of Kublai Khan at Shang-tu (then the summer residence), subsequently his winter palace at his capital, Cambaluc (Beijing). By then it had been 3 and half years since they left Venice and they had traveled total of 5600 miles on the journey. Marco, a gifted linguist and master of four languages, became a favorite with the khan and was appointed to high posts in his administration. He served at the Khan's court and was sent on a number of special missions in China, Burma and India. Many places which Marco saw were not seen again by Europeans until last century. Marco went on great length to describe Kublia's capital, ceremonies, hunting and public assistance, and they were all to be found on a much smaller scale in Europe. Marco Polo fell in love with the capital, which later became part of Beijing, then called Cambaluc or Khanbalig, meant 'city of the Khan.' This new city, built because astrologers predicted rebellion in the old one, was described as the most magnificent city in the world. The idea of paper substituting gold and silver was a total surprise even to the merchantile Polos. Marco attributed the success of paper money to Kublai stature as a ruler. "With these pieces of paper they can buy anything and pay for anything. And I can tell you that the papers that reckon as ten bezants do not weight one." Marco's expressions of wonder at "stones that burn like logs" show us how ignorant even a man of a leading Mediterranean sea power could be in the 13th century. Coal was by no means unknown in Europe but was new to Marco: " Marco Polo
traveled in great deal in China. He was amazed with
China's enormous power, great wealth, and complex social
structure. China under the Yuan (The Mongol Empire)
dynasty was a huge empire whose internal economy dwarfed
that of Europe. He reported that Iron manufacture was
around 125,000 tons a year (a level not reached in
Europe before the 18th century) and salt production was
on a prodigious scale: 30,000 tons a year in one
province alone. A canal-based transportation system
linked China's huge cities and markets in a vast
internal communication network in which paper money and
credit facilities were highly developed. The citizens
could purchase paperback books with paper money, eat
rice from fine porcelain bowls and wear silk garments,
lived in prosperous city that no European town could
match. The Polos stayed in Khan's court for 17 years, acquiring great wealth in jewels and gold. They were anxious to be on the move since they feared that if Kublai - now in his late seventies - were to die, they might not be able to get their considerable fortune out of the country. The Kublai Khan reluctantly agreed to let them return after they escorted a Mongol princess Kokachin to marry to a Persian prince, Arghun. Marco did not provide full account of his long journey home. The sea journey took 2 years during which 600 passengers and crewed died. Marco did not give much clue as to what went wrong on the trip, but there are some theories. Some think they may have died from scurvy, cholera or by drowning; others suggest the losses were caused by the hostile natives and pirate attacks. This dreadful sea voyage passed through the South China Sea to Sumatra and the Indian Ocean, and finally docked at Hormuz. There they learned that Arghun had died two years previously so the princess married to his son, prince Ghazan, instead. In Persia they also learned of the death of Kublai Khan. However his protection outlived him, for it was only by showing his golden tablet of authority that they were able to travel safely through the bandit-ridden interior. Marco admitted that the passports of golden tablets were powerful. From Trebizond on the Black Sea coast they went by sea, by way of Constantinople, to Venice, arriving home in the winter of 1295. Fiction or not, his Travels has captured readers through the centuries. Manuscript editions of his work ran into the hundreds within a century after his death. The book was recognized as the most important account of the world outside Europe that was available at the time. Today there are more than 80 manuscript copies in various versions and several languages around the world. Adopted from: http://www.silk-road.com/artl/marcopolo.shtml, 18 January 2006.
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(1371-1433) In the early days of the Ming Dynasty, that is, early in the 15th century, China was, in economic progress, an advanced country in the world. At the orders of the then emperor, Cheng Zu, whose name was Zhu Di, a vast fleet set sail in July, 1405 from Liujia Harbour near Suzhou on a distant voyage. The purpose was to establish relations with foreign countries, to expand trade contacts and to look for treasures to satisfy the desire of the sovereign for luxuries. The man who was given charge of the fleet was ZHENG He, a eunuch also known as San Bao. Under his command was a vast fleet of 62 ships manned by more than 27, 800 men, including sailors, clerks, interpreters, officers and soldiers, artisans, medical men and meteorologists. On board the ships were large quantities of cargo that could be broken down into over 40 different categories, including silk goods, porcelain, gold and silver ware, copper utensils, iron implements, cotton goods, mercury, umbrellas and straw mats. The fleet sailed a-long the coast of Fujian, down south to Zhancheng and, after crossing the South China Sea, reached such places as Java and Sri Lanka. On the way back, it sailed along the west coast of India and triumphantly returned to the home port in 1407. Emperor Cheng Zu was very pleased with ZHENG He's extraordinary feats as an envoy in making visits to various foreign countries. Between 1405 and
1433, ZHENG He had, over a period of 28 years, eight
times been ordered to act as envoy to countries lying to
the west of China. Each time he had under his command a
big fleet and a staff of more than 20,000 men. His
fleets had sailed in the South China Sea and the Indian
Ocean. They had gone further south to Java in today's
Indonesia. Sailing then in a northwest direction, they
had visited Yemen, Iran and the Holy City of Islam Mecca
and further west to today's Somalia in East Africa. In
all, he had made calls at more than 30 countries and
territories. All this had taken place about half a
century before the famous European sailor Columbus's
voyage to America. For this reason, Zhen He's
expeditions could rightfully be called "an unprecedented
feat in the history of navigation of mankind. " On each voyage ZHENG He was acting as the envoy and commercial representative of the Ming court. No matter what country he visited, he called on the ruler of the land, presenting to him valuable gifts in token of China's sincere desire to develop friendly relations and inviting the host sovereign to send emissaries to China. Wherever he was, he made a careful study of the customs and habits of local residents. Showing them due respect, he bartered or dealt with them through consultation and negotiation on the basis of equality and mutual benefit. In this way, he obtained large quantities of pearls and precious stones, coral, ivory and dyestuffs for the Chinese emperor. He also brought back several kinds of rare and precious animals such as giraffe, lion, ostrich and leopard. In ancient India, Chinese sailors made a good impression on the local people by observing local trading customs and practices such as clapping hands to clinch a deal in full view of others and never going back on it. When he visited Sri Lanka on his third voyage, ZHENG He offered a quantity of gold and silver Buddhist ceremonial vessels and silk-knit religious pennants to local temples on whose ground steles were set up to mark the occasion of his visit. Wherever he went, he was warmly received. At Zhancheng, the king of the land, in full royal regalia, came in person on elephantback with 500 cavalrymen to meet him at the wharf and then take him back to the palace. On the way they were greeted by local inhabitants who blew trumpets made of coconut shells and performed national dances at a solemn and joyous ceremony. Even today, people in Somalia and Tanzania look upon Ming China unearthed today as a symbol of the traditional friendship between their own country and China. In Thailand today, there are places named after ZHENG He's childhood name Sanbao (three treasures) such as Sanbao Harbour and Sanbao Pagoda. Malacca of Malaysia is known also as the City of Sanbao. At Java in Indonesia, there is the Sanbao Temple. In Calicut (Kozhikode today) of India, there is an inscribed tablet set up in ZHENG He's memory. In China itself, ZHENG He's voyages are now household tales. The countries ZHENG He had visited later sent their emissaries and trade representatives to China from time to time. In 1419 when ZHENG He was sailing back on his fifth voyage, 17 countries sent their envoys to China, including Philippines and Malaysia. While in China, these foreign emissaries were shown great hospitality by Emperor Cheng Zu of Ming. The voyages by ZHENG He strengthened the friendly relations between China and other countries in Asia and Africa and gave an impetus to cultural and economic exchange between them. On his first
voyage overseas, the largest ship in the fleet had a
length of 440 Chinese feet and a width of 180. Manned by
more then 200 sailors and able to accommodate 1, 000
passengers, it was equipped with nine masts which flew
12 big sails. This was probably the largest sea-going
vessel of the day. Oth Adopted from: http://www.chinavoc.com/history/ming/zh.htm., 18 January 2006. ¡¡
Xiamen
Natural Geography
Xiamen is
situated on the southeast coast of Fujian Province, and
planted smack in the mouth of the Jiulong£¨Nine
Dragons£©River,
so in ancient times she was called Xia Men£¨Amoi£©,
or "lower gate (to the sea)." Inevitably, Xiamen became
a haven for pirates and merchants (roughly the same
occupation). Eventually the name was amended to the
present Xia Men
£¨ÏÃÃÅ£©,
or "Mansion Gate," which also means "Gate to China". It
lies at 118¡ã 04' 04'' east longitude and 24¡ã26' 46''
north latitude. It is 695 nautical miles south of
Sanghai, 287 nautical miles north of Hong Kong, 162
nautical miles from Taipei. At the
The topography of Xiamen is characterized by a gradual descent from the south to the north, with the northwestern part being relatively flat and the southern part mountainous and hilly. The Xiamen Harbor, which is a harbor of the strait type, has a coastal line that zigzags to 234 kilometers. It is a natural haven with deep water that is ice-free all the year round. The best overall weather in China, combined with one of the world¡¯s best natural deep-water harbors, has helped rank Xiamen¡¯s 81 berth port in China¡¯s top ten.
Climate Xiamen has a subtropical climate. It is generally mild and temperate. It has an average annual temperature of approximately 21¡ãC. Winter in Xiamen is not shivery while summer is free from extreme heat. The city has an average annual rainfall of about 1200mm, mainly concentrated on the months from May to August. Scenic Spots and Historical Sites
Marco Polo¡¯s mystical, magical port of Zaytun£¨Quanzhou£©. Quanzhou £¨which Marco Polo called Zaitan£©is a 70 mile drive north of Xiamen. Over 1,000 years ago, Xiamen was part of Quanzhou, the starting point of the Maritime Silk Road, and prospered. Over 1,000 years before Christ, the West valued Chinese silk more highly than gold. One ship started from Zaitan could carry as much silk as 700 cantankerous camels on the Silk Road of the Desert. Marco Polo, who sailed for home from Quanzhou, claimed it rivaled Alexandria Egypt as the planet¡¯s largest and busiest port. Special Economic Zone In Oct 1980, Xiamen was empowered by the State Council of P.R.C. to establish special economic zone, which is one of the first group of SEZs approved by the State. In March 1988, Xiamen was approved by the State Council as a city under independent state planning and was granted provincial-level authority in economic administration. From May 1989 to 1993, the State Council granted its approvals for Xiamen to establish Taiwanese Investment Zones respectively in Haicang, Xinglin and Jimei Districts. In March 1994, Xiamen was empowered with local legislative power by the National People's Congress of P.R.C. As one of the few municipalities enjoying independent status in state economic planning, Xiamen enjoys provincial level autonomy and local legislative power in economic administration. Culture
Xiamen
has combined the long-standing traditional Minnan
(Southern Fujian) culture with mod Transportation and Communication As one of the most advanced cities in China, Xiamen has developed fast and convenient means of transportation and communication. Its railway and highway systems, together with the international airport, connect Xiamen with other major cities at home and abroad. In terms of communication, the 2.5 G b/s wide-band internet, the GSM and CDMA mobile telephone networks and the all-digital program-controlled telephone network bring the city in close touch with other cities, regions and countries around the world.
Xiamen University ¡ªThe Most Beautiful Campus in China
Campuses
In the
past few years, the university has greatly improved its
teaching and research facility and its public service
system. At present, the university has 3 campuses, which
cover a total area of about 8,000 mu. (One mu
equals to 1/15 hectare.) Xiamen campus, located in the
southern part of Xiamen Island, has an area of 2,500 mu.
Zhangzhou campus has an area of 2,568 mu; and Jimei
campus has an area of 2,800 mu. Situated at the foot of
the green mountains, facing the blue sea and encircling
Xiamen bay, the three campuses
Achievement Over the past eighty-five years, as the result of painstaking efforts by several generations of faculty and graduates inspired by the school motto: Pursue Excellence; Strive for Perfection, Xiamen University has accumulated rich experience in offering its educational programs. The university presents its features as ¡°a university in the Special Economic Zone, on the coast near Taiwan, and with close ties with overseas Chinese." Following its fine tradition of "loving the motherland and the university", it has enjoyed a fine reputation both at home and abroad. Since its founding 85 years ago, over 140,000 students have graduated from the university, and over 50 academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE) have studied or worked at Xiamen University. Academics With its 18 schools containing 45 departments and a group of research institutes, Xiamen University, has become a comprehensive university providing a fairly complete range of programs of education in humanities, social science, natural science, engineering and technology, management, art education, medical science and law. Recently, the university has offered 70 undergraduate programs, 165 graduate programs, of which 6 are professional masters programs, and 100 Ph.D. programs, in addition to post-doctoral research centers set up in 12 first-class disciplines. At present, many subjects in the university have been proved to be excellent. 13 subjects have been assessed and awarded as ¡°The National Key Disciplines¡±, and 65 subjects have been awarded as ¡°The Provincial Key Disciplines¡±. In addition, 5 subjects (Chemistry, Biology, Life Science & Technology, Economics and History) have been designated as ¡°National Educational Centers for Talents¡±; eight more subjects were constructed as the state key disciplines in the "211 Project¡± during the period of the ninth five-year plan; and eleven other subjects are under construction as the state key disciplines in the "211 Project¡± during the period of the recently finished tenth five-year plan of the country. Faculty
Xiamen
University has over 4,900 staff, including 2,061
full-time faculty and professional researchers.
Seventeen of them are academicians of CAS and CAE (8
academicians of CAS, 1 academician of CAE, and 8 adjunct
academicians). Moreover, 7 faculty members of Xiamen
University are seated in the State Council's Academic
Degree Appraisal Committee. Among the full-time teachers
and researchers, there
Inter-university Cooperative Xiamen University has established inter-university cooperative ties with 89 institutions of higher education outside China Mainland. Responding to the challenge of higher educational globalization, Xiamen University has worked to speed up the level of cooperation with globally recognized outstanding universities. It is one of the original members of the "Global U7 Consortium". The "Global U7 Consortium" comprises Xiamen University and six other universities, including the University of Washington, the University of Rhode Island, Inha University, the University of Haifa, Le Havre University, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology. By establishing academic ties with 24 universities and colleges, 63 research institutes and 34 media outlets in Chinese Taiwan, Xiamen University has become one of the universities in China Mainland most actively engaged in educational, scientific, and cultural exchanges with Chinese Taiwan.
Xiamen University
Law School
In June 1926, the University established the Section of Law, under which there were three Departments, i.e., the Law Department, the Politics Department and the Economics Department. In February 1930, all the Sections of the University were converted to Colleges, and the Section of Law was consequently renamed as Law School. Having experienced several adjustments, the present Law School is organized on the basis of the original Law Department.
Xiamen University
Center for Oceans Policy and Law (XMU-COPL)
Established on 15 January 2002, XMU-COPL is now affiliated with the University¡¯s Law School and the Ocean and Coastal Development Institute (CODI). The Center offers consultation services irregularly to governmental agencies, NGOs, and commercial corporations on various subjects. Center members have a wide range of expertise and professional capabilities on ocean related subjects, e.g., marine zoning, maritime boundary delimitation, fishery business management, marine scientific research, shipping and navigation dispute settlement, marine environmental protection, integrated coastal zone management, under-water civil engineering, and cultural relics preservation ¡etc. The Center offers the following services to both public and private sectors in the region: Analyzing and interpreting international and domestic law of the sea rules; Planning of ocean research and development strategies; Writing policy papers for ocean and coastal management; Designing marine environmental protection constructions; Drafting pertaining treaties or contracts; Drafting pertaining legislations; Legal services for pertaining litigations or arbitrations; and Training programs on the above subjects.
In the
past four years, with cooperation with more than fifteen
ocean-oriented institu At present, the Center has its LL.D. and LL.M. degree programs in the field of International Law of the Sea. More than this, it has been publishing the first and the only oceans law journal in China, the China Oceans Law Review. The Director of the Center, Prof. Kuen-chen Fu serves as the chief-editor of this commonly acknowledged academic periodical.
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er vessels might not be of the
same size but on an average each one was able to carry
aboard four to five hundred passengers. Many of the
navigational problems encountered were solved in a
rational, scientific way. For instance, the way fresh
water was collected and stored, the stability of the
hull and its buoyancy, the making of sea charts and the
use of navigational apparatuses like the compass. This
accounted for the fact that in spite of terrible storms,
this fleet of friendship had ploughed the waves day and
night in full sail. It is generally believed that ZHENG
He had the largest, most advanced fleet in the world in
the 15th century. On each of his 8 voyages, ZHENG He
kept a detailed logbook and made many nautical charts
which were later collected in what was called ZHENG He's
Nautical Charts, which was the first of its kind in the
world. From this we can say that China in those days
probably led the world in the technology of
ship-building and the science of navigation
Xiamen,
on the southeastern coast of China, to the west of
Taiwan Strait, is a well-known, scenic port city
commonly known as the "Garden on the Sea" and the
"Glittering Pearl on the Sea". Dubbed "China's coziest
city", Xiamen has a pleasant climate, picturesque views
and clean and tidy environment. In 2002, Xiamen received
the Gold Medal at the "International Nations in Bloom"
For
its irresistible beauty Xiamen is described as Garden on
the Sea whose attractiveness is comparable to the famous
Hawaii. It is also called Egret Island for it provides
the habitat for white egrets. Xiamen has numerous parks,
hills, waters, temples and gardens that comprise a most
adorable picture. Its unique folk customs, celebrities
well known at home and abroad and the many historical
sites are magnetic to visitors. Among the most popular
tourist destinations are Gulangyu Island, Wanshi Botanic
Garden, thousand-year-old Nanputuo Temple, Jimei Schools
built by Mr. Tan Ka Kee (a famous overseas Chinese in
Southeast Asia in the first half of the 20th century),
Ciji Palace, Huli Hill Fort where the world's oldest
shore cannon is displayed and the hometown of Mr. Su
Song (a scientist living in the Song Dynasty) 
ern
western culture. Its friendly citizens and delightful
environment make Xiamen one of the best cities in the
world, whether for working, living or studying. The
blend of eastern and western culture you encounter as
you wander through the city is of endless fascination.
tes from home and abroad, the
Center has already finished many projects, and have
sponsored or co-sponsored eleven important seminars or
conferences in the field of international law and
policy-making.