Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-hc48f Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-23T17:00:04.340Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

A Brief History of Ancient Chinese Sailing Directions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 October 2009

Sun Guang-Qi
Sun Guang-Qi
Affiliation:
(Dalian Maritime University,China)
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

This paper, based on documentary records, attempts a brief, systematic investigation of the main characteristics of ancient Chinese sailing directions in terms of content and form as well as development. The evolution of Chinese sailing directions can be divided historically into the following periods and categories:

1. Non-written records.

2. Primitive written forms.

3. From non-quantitative description to quantitative description.

4. Quantitative description with charts,

5 . Charts aided by written descriptions.

In the course of his examination of these categories, the author analyses the most important sailing directions in Chinese history, and concludes that, Zheng He Hang Hai Tu (Zheng He's Nautical Charts) compiled in the first half of the fifteenth century, are not only the first illustrative sailing directions which do not rely on written directions but appear to be the first nautical chart collection for ocean-going sailing in history.

Finally, the author points out that, although western sailing directions have contributed greatly to navigational science and technology, the Chinese contribution to the development of sailing directions, deserves greater recognition.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Navigation , Volume 42 , Issue 1 , January 1989 , pp. 11 - 30
Copyright
Copyright © The Royal Institute of Navigation 1989

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

1Cotter, C. H. (1980). A brief history of sailing directions. This Journal,33, 418.Google Scholar
2Zhejing Hemudu Yi zhi Dierqi Fajue De Zhuyao Shouhuo〈逸 濫 丹 爐 數 櫓 北 梨 — 肋 炙 濾 聆 秊 累 沈 煉> Main Results of .Second , Excavation 1 to the Hemudu FerryRemains of Zhejiang Province. Wen Wu〈立 麟> (Cultural Relic), No. 5.1980. Beijing:China.+Main+Results+of+.Second+,+Excavation+1+to+the+Hemudu+FerryRemains+of+Zhejiang+Province.+Wen+Wu〈立+麟>+(Cultural+Relic),+No.+5.1980.+Beijing:China.>Google Scholar
3Guangqi, Sun 〈沈 契 來〉 Zhongguo Gudai Hanghai Shi 〈呂 兩 賈 力 肋 漏 陵〉 (History of Chinese AncientNavigation). 1986. Dalian Marine College: China.Google Scholar
4Shujing, Huang 復 數 稜. Tai Hai Shi Cha Lu 〈珞 浪 陵 樂〉 (Records of a Fleet on a Mission toTaihai), Vol. 1.Google Scholar
5Zi, Meng, Liang Hui Wang Xia 〈兩 肋 屢 來 車 不〉 (The Second Half of the Section on the LiangHui Emperor).Google Scholar
6Shan Hai Hing, Hai Nei Bei Jing 〈笠 獵1 隆 獵 念 離 不〉 (Of Mountains and Seas, Section on Northern Seas), Yu Kou . 凞 濾 兩 Collated, 1980. Shanghai.Google Scholar
7Sima Qian 離 離 兩 Shi Ji 〈凞 復〉 (Historical Records), Feng Chan Shu 〈濾 漣 掠〉 (Section on Sacrifice to Mount Tai).Google Scholar
8Gu, Ban 蓮 滑 .Han Shu, Di Li Zhi Xia 〈珞 拉 落 樂 裸 不〉) (History of the Han Dynasty – the Second Half Section on Geography).Google Scholar
9 See 1.Google Scholar
10Chen Shou 爐 珞. San guo Zhi-Wei Shu, Wo Ren Zhuan 〈邏 聾 露 欄 駱 龜 懶 蠟〉 (History of theGoogle Scholar
11Silian, Yao 㝡 㝢 Liang Shu 〈㡔 㞖〉 (History of the Liang State), Vol. 54. Zhu Yi Zhuan 〈㤶 㤄 㢈〉 section on the Barbarians.Google Scholar
12Tai, Kang 㡴 㤐. Wu Shi Wai Guo Zhuan 〈㤄 㤑 㦄 㤁〉 (Accounts of Foreign Countries Contemporary with the Wu Kingdom), included in Tai Ping Yu Lan〈㤁 㡨〉 (the Taiping-Reign-Period Imperial Encyclopaedia), Vol. 359.Google Scholar
13Ying, Zhu 㝤. Fu Nan Yi Wu Zhi 〈㠡 㝥 㝹 㡶 㠃〉 (Strange Things in Cambodia), included in Tai Ping Yu Lan 〈㝔 㝖 㝒 㠂〉, Vol. 359.Google Scholar
14Dan, Jia 㞂㞃. Huang Hua Si Da Ji 〈㞅 㡠 㡹 㠰 㥱〉 (The Widespreading of the Imperial Gorgeousness), included in Xin Tang Shu, Di Li Zhi (㡹㢀㢁o 㡶㡹㢖〉 (A New History of the Tang Dynasty - Section on Geography).Google Scholar
15See 14.Google Scholar
16Jian, Xu 㢈㡙. Chu Xue Ji 〈㡸㢀㡦㢇〉 (Notes for Beginners), Vol. 6. Hai 〈㤐〉 (Sea).Google Scholar
17Gu, Dong 㡹㡦 Bi Li Za Cun 〈㡧㡷㡦㢁〉(Miscellaneous Information From Seas), Vol. 2 ; Du Hai Fang Chen 〈㤐㤑㢂㢄〉 (Bearings and Distances in Navigation).Google Scholar
18The first documentary record of the application of the compass in the world's history is included in Ping Zhou Ke Tan 〈㢖㞓㡥㡦〉 (Appropriate accounts of Pingzhou), Vol. 2, compiled by Zhu Yu, 㝤㝠 in 1119, in the Song Dynasty. It goes like this: ‘The navigators, with knowledge of geography, tell direction by means of observing stars in the night, the Sun during the day and the compass when it's cloudy.’Google Scholar
19Needham, J. (1971). Science and Civilization in China, Vol. 4, Chap. 29. London: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
20Jing, Xu ݔݓ . Xuan He Feng Shi Gao Li Tu Jing 〈❙杠杤杘㝱㝘㝙〉 (Illustrated Book of the Xuanhe - Reign Envoy to Korea), Vol. 34.Google Scholar
21Dayuan, Wang拉六淪; Dao Yi Zhi Lue〈逸栗老駱〉 (A Synoptical Account of the Barbarians on Islands), the entry ‘JianShan’〈炙拉〉Google Scholar
22拉六淪; Dao Yi Zhi Lue〈逸栗老駱〉 the entry ‘Long Ya Pu Ti ’〈兀吏磻璉〉Google Scholar
23拉六淪; Dao Yi Zhi Lue〈逸栗老駱〉 the entry ‘Kun lun’ 〈念良〉.Google Scholar
24 See Note 20.Google Scholar
25Hai Dao Jing〈藺蘒隆〉(Book of Sea Routes).Google Scholar
26Daguan, Zhou 掠令玲 Zhen La Feng Tu Ji 〈廉簾復郎參〉 (Local Conditions and Customs ofCambodia).Google Scholar
27See 21, the entry ‘Penghu’ 〈鹿領〉.Google Scholar
28See Note 20.Google Scholar
29See Note 21, the entry ‘Ji Shui Wan’〈兀 不 憐〉.Google Scholar
30See Note 21, the entry ‘Liu Shan’〈拉蠟〉.Google Scholar
31See Note 20.Google Scholar
32See Note 20.Google Scholar
33Zimu, Wu 豈 更 吏. Meng Liang Lu 鍊菱樂 (The Past Seems a Dream), the entry ‘Jiang Hai Chuan Jian’ 暈驪鍊 (Vessels in River and Sea).Google Scholar
34 Charignon notes, Feng Chenjun 﨑豈紐 translation of Marco Polo Xing Ji 驪煉紐泥菱牢 (The Travel Notes of Marco Polo) Chap. 164. Shanghai, 1936.Google Scholar
35See Note 33.Google Scholar
36Jing Shi Da Dian 綾漣菱隣 (The National Encyclopaedia), Section on Hai Yun 蠟泌 (Sea Transportation), see the entry of ‘Yun’ 﨤 (Transportation) in Yong Le Da Dian 鍊漣拏劣 (The Yong Le-Reign-Period Encyclopaedia), vol. 15950.Google Scholar
37Tao, Li 率蠟. Xu Zi Zhi TongJian Chang Bian 璘率鱗劣鍊蠟異 (The Great Continuation of The General References of Administration), Vol. 54.Google Scholar
38See Note 20.Google Scholar
39Zhaowen, Ke 裡蠟罹. Xin Yuan Shu 笠濫暴 (A New History of the Yuan Dynasty), Vol. 234.Google Scholar
40Yuanyi, Mao 寧酪柳. The preface to Zhen He Hang Hai Tu 麟鱗理暈蠟 (Zhen He's Nautical Charts).Google Scholar
41See Note 19.Google Scholar
42See Note 1.Google Scholar
43Xingzhen, Huang 菱省 蘭. Xi Yang Chao Gong Dian Lu 〈索祥掠 契 﨏﨏〉 (Records of the Tributary Countries of the Western Ocean).Google Scholar
44Xie, Zhang 﨓 﨎 Dong Xi Yang Kao 〈茶 吏 淋 硫F9F5;〉 (Studies on the Ocean East and West).Google Scholar
45Xingzeng, Huang 栗 寧 寧 Xi Yang Chao Gong Dian Lu 〈寧 煉 僚 寮 茶 念〉 (Records of the Tributary Countries of the Western Ocean) the entry ‘Samutra’ 念 了 領 例, No. 12.Google Scholar
46Xingzeng, Huang 栗 寧 寧 Xi Yang Chao Gong Dian Lu 〈寧 煉 僚 寮 茶 念〉 (Records of the Tributary Countries of the Western Ocean) the entry The entry ‘Zhan’ Chen Guo’ 例 契 鶴, No. 1.Google Scholar
47Zhen栗, Gong 燎. Xi Yang Fan Guo Zhi 〈吏 猪 暴 囹 囹〉 (Accounts of the Western Countries) the entry ‘Liu Shan Guo'〈濾 立見〉.Google Scholar
48Zhen栗, Gong 燎. Xi Yang Fan Guo Zhi 〈吏 猪 暴 囹 囹〉 (Accounts of the Western Countries) the entry The entry of ‘Zhan Chen Guo'〈什 麟 囹.Google Scholar
49Zhen栗, Gong 燎. Xi Yang Fan Guo Zhi 〈吏 猪 暴 囹 囹〉 (Accounts of the Western Countries) the entry The entry ‘Java' 〈什 輪〉.Google Scholar
50Zhen栗, Gong 燎. Xi Yang Fan Guo Zhi 〈吏 猪 暴 囹 囹〉 (Accounts of the Western Countries) the entry The Author's Preface 〈見 痢〉.Google Scholar