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30.10.2003 – 04.11.2003
Gavin Menzies
Mixed views on Menzies’ theories
Sub Head: ‘Interesting’ but critics not fully convinced
Byline: CLARENCE CHUA
PETALING JAYA: Theories proposed by historian Gavin
Menzies that the Chinese discovered America and circumnavigated
the globe a century before Ferdinand Magellan has attracted mixed
reaction as he wrapped up a series of lectures in Malaysia last Monday.
The best-selling author of 1421: The Year China Discovered the World
sparked a flurry of debate among historians worldwide last year when he
suggested that a mammoth Chinese fleet, under the legendary Admiral Zheng
He, had sailed to the Americas more than 70 years before Christopher
Columbus.
A year later, Menzies caused further controversy when he produced
ancient maps and DNA evidence to prove the presence of Chinese sailors in
the Pacific islands, 350 years before the arrival of Captain James Cook.
“I find the evidence extremely interesting, particularly the way in
which new DNA analysis techniques are throwing further light to the
genetic origins of people all over the world,” said Southdene Sdn Bhd
managing director Henry Barlow, who turned up for the lecture.
In his lectures, Menzies claimed that many Indian tribes, Spanish
gypsies and Pacific Islanders had Chinese DNA from Ming sailors while
Korean and Mongolian DNA followed Chinese ships to some communities in
northern Europe.
But critics argued the year 1421 was insignificant as other
civilisations like the Vikings had travelled to Greenland centuries
before the Chinese, while it was the arrival of Columbus that led to the
colonisation of the Americas.
“I accept his evidence that there are Chinese contacts outside China.
There is no doubt about it, especially along the trade routes within the
Indian Ocean, probably extending to Guinea and beyond, to Australia.
“My only doubt is the year 1421. There is no connection between the
evidence presented and 1421. The Chinese had travelled to many places
before 1421 so I think the link was overstated,” said mariner Capt
(Retired) Philip Rivers, who travelled from Cameron Highlands to listen
to Menzies' lecture.
In reply, Menzies contended that in 1421 China was the most powerful
country and the presence of massive Chinese junks around the world would
thwart any European expansion plans.
To some, however, the book’s greatest significance was not about the
Chinese sailing around the world but the challenge posed to conventional
history.
“The world at large believes it was the Portuguese who discovered most
of the other areas. Now he is suggesting that current history may be
wrong,” said Institute of Strategic and International Studies assistant
director-general Dr Stephen Leong.
Yet others feel the topic was purely academic.
When asked about the importance of the Chinese voyages and its abrupt
withdrawal from the global stage after the death of Emperor Zhu Di, one
participant replied: “I am not convinced and it’s insignificant.”
Despite the hullabaloo over his theories, the ultimate winner was
still Menzies, as his book was propelled to number five in the MPH top 10
non-fiction list this week.
For details on his discovery, visit www.1421.tv
Menzies begins lecture tour
Byline: CLARENCE CHUA
MALACCA: Best-selling author Gavin Menzies,
who is here for a series of lectures, will begin his visit today by
visiting the guan cang or official base said to be used by 15th century
Chinese explorer Admiral Zheng He.
Local historian Dr Tan Ta Sen, who is also International Zheng He
Society president, said the ancient site was situated on the left side
near the mouth of the Malacca River, opposite the Stadhuys building.
Dr Tan claimed that three abandoned mansions at the site were the
residence of two former Kapitan China of Malacca.
His conclusion was based on the exact location of the mansions as
depicted in the Mao Kun map in the Wu Pei Chi, the Chinese sailing
manual, he said yesterday.
Within the mansions, he said, was a well with a locking system used
only by high officials in China.
The well was made of granite, a natural mineral not unique to Malacca,
while the lining of the well was different from those constructed during
the Portuguese, Dutch and British eras.
Ming Dynasty shards and coins were also found in the well.
According to records, the guan cang had high city walls and
watchtowers. Within the walls were warehouses and granaries to store
goods between monsoons, Southwest in July and Northeast in January.
It was burned down before Zheng He’s seventh and final voyage, after
which the Ming emperors stopped China’s expeditions.
However, Prof Geoff Wade, a visiting research fellow at the Asian
Research Institute, National University of Singapore, believes that the
guan cang was instead located on the north side of the Malacca River.
The only evidence left on the location of the base, he said, was found
in the Mao Kun map, which indicated that it was “some way from the sea,
not at the mouth,” as claimed by Dr Tan.
“I had a look at the well. There is no evidence that it was either
Ming or had any special significance, or was used by anyone special. It
might have been, but I have seen no evidence. “It would be good if the
state or national government could carry out a range of excavations
throughout Malacca city and the state,” he said.
Menzies is scheduled to speak in Kuala Lumpur tomorrow and Penang on
Monday.
The author, who wrote the book entitled 1421: The Year China Discovered
the World, argues that the Chinese reached America before Christopher
Columbus. He will present new evidence to support his controversial
theory that fleets from the Ming Dynasty had circumnavigated the world in
the early 15th century, a hundred years before Ferdinand Magellan did.
Menzies’ lecture tour is organised by The Star together with the Asian
Center for Media Studies.
The talks are also organised with the co-operation of the Malacca
Museum Corporation and the Royal Asiatic Society Malaysian Branch.
Due to overwhelming response, Menzies will be giving an additional
lecture at Menara Star on Sunday and The Star will contact successful
registrants for the talk.
Malacca most important port for
Zheng He
Byline: CLARENCE HUA
MALACCA: Malacca was the most important port for 15th century Chinese
explorer Admiral Zheng He, who used it to launch his colossal fleet to
discover the world, said author Gavin Menzies.
The best-selling writer of 1421: The Year China Discovered the World
said the abundance of food and natural resources was ideal for Chinese
ships to replenish their supplies.
“Malacca was a key port after China, no question about it.
“This place is absolutely fundamental because every single voyage was
from Malacca.
“It was from here that the discovery of the Americas, Australia and
New Zealand took place.
“Secondly, it was a hub for Far East trade. Malacca was the most
important port in South-East Asia.
“Thirdly, it was a centre of intercontinental trade. There is a
saying; ‘He who controls Malacca has his hands on the throat of Venice.’
“Venice was the centre of European trade with the east,” he said after
a visit to several historical sites here yesterday.
However, Menzies said that the rise of Malacca as a trading port was
also due to Zheng He’s ties with the Sultanate.
He said Malacca was under constant military threats, especially from
Siam (Thailand) and Java, and the Chinese presence liberated Malacca as
it quashed all designs of invasion from its neighbours.
He said the world should know about Malacca and its importance during
Zheng He’s 600th anniversary celebrations in 2005.
Menzies is in the country on a series of lecture tours organised by
The Star with the Asian Center for Media Studies, Malacca Museum
Corporation and the Royal Asiatic Society Malaysian Branch.
He gave a lecture here yesterday.
Menzies is scheduled to speak in Kuala Lumpur today, Petaling Jaya on
Sunday and Penang on Monday.
Author: Many agree in principle
Byline: CHOONG KWEE KIM AND SIOW YUEN CHING
PENANG: The majority of historians agree with the theory that the
Chinese were circumnavigating the globe more than a century before the
Europeans, author Gavin Menzies claimed.
Menzies, who wrote 1421: The Year China Discovered The World, said some
85% of historians who read his book agreed that he was right although his
biggest critics were mostly elderly Chinese historians.
His book was sent to 270 historians for them to review and pose
suggestions on what had to be changed.
“I am indebted to them and used their research but I might have drawn
different conclusions from theirs. About 85% of the historians agree in
principle, but not all the details, that I am right,” he said at a talk
in Penang yesterday.
Menzies’ lecture tour is organised by The Star together with the Asian
Center for Media Studies, Malacca Museum Corporation and the Royal
Asiatic Society Malaysian Branch.
During an earlier talk in Nanjing, China, last December, he said Prof
Bi Quan Zhong spoke and shared a similar conclusion that China discovered
the New World, and that the professor was about to publish his research
in a book.
“The Chinese professor’s speech was a defining moment for me and
Chinese scholars because here is a distinguished professor, and not some
cranky submarine captain, who had come to the conclusion that China had
got to the New World before the Europeans did,” he said.
Menzies said within the first month that his book was published in the
United States, some 170,000 people visited his website and came up with
riveting new evidence supporting his theory.
“These people came from 127 countries and 99% believed it was true and
they had the evidence that they could show to support it.”
Among the evidence that was presented was the languages, artefacts,
canals, mining operations, plants and animals of Chinese origin, such as
Chinese cats and Chinese chickens, being found in the New World.
Earlier, Menzies paid a brief visit to the Sam Poh Footprint Temple in
Batu Maung here which has an impression on the ground believed to be the
legendary footprint of Admiral Zheng He.
Menzies said it was likely that the Admiral landed in Penang, which
was also shown on the Wu Pei Chih chart.
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