Cindy Vallar's Blog - Posts Tagged "china"

Pirate Queen: A Story of Zheng Yi Sao by Helaine Becker

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Dreams and reality are very different, and fate cares little for a person’s hopes. When pirates attack a village, they take the usual plunder, as well as girls. So it is that one of these finds herself desired by the pirate captain. But she refuses to marry Zheng Yi unless he gives her an equal share. Her boldness pleases him and they wed, but six years later he dies. Since fate has dealt her a path she didn’t expect, she assumes control of the pirates with the help of a lieutenant named Zhang Bao. Together they forge a pirate confederation that is invincible.

This first-person narrative recounts the story of the most successful pirate, a woman whose name is unknown, but is known as Zheng Yi Sao (“wife of Zheng Yi”). Although this is a picture book, it is geared toward young pirates who can read. Yet it is also a tale that will engage adult pirates as well. Becker does a commendable job keeping the narrative g-rated, historically accurate, and on an even keel. The combination of subtle text and expressive pictures weaves a convincing tale filled with emotion and conveys a sense of place that transports readers back to China at the turn of the nineteenth century. For readers who wish to know more about the real Zheng Yi Sao, Becker summarizes what we know of her and includes resources where additional information can be found. Pirate Queen is a wonderful introduction to a successful pirate who never forgot she was a woman and who forged a second life once she retired from the sea.




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Admiral Albert Hastings Markham: A Victorian Tale of Triumph, Tragedy and Exploration by Frank Jastrzembski

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


His career in the Royal Navy spanned five decades, nearly as long as his monarch, Queen Victoria, sat on the British throne. During his lifetime, he fought pirates and rebels, explored the Arctic and America’s Western frontier, studied flora and fauna wherever his journeys took him, and penned numerous accounts of his adventures and explorations. He entered the navy as a raw recruit and retired as an admiral. Yet, today, few know of him. (Not surprising given that the last biography of his life was published nearly a hundred years ago.) His name was Albert Hastings Markham.

Markham thrived on adventure, and those experiences showed him to be a man of courage and self-discipline. He possessed both moral fiber and a strong Christian ethic. He combined all of these to follow a career path that was initially chosen for him by his father, who felt that at least one of his sons should serve his country as so many of his ancestors had.

His bold undertakings began with his assignment to the China Station, where he participated in numerous engagements to suppress piracy and rebels during the Taiping Rebellion and the Second Opium War. He also spent time in Australian waters, aiding the navy’s attempts to stop blackbirders – men who kidnapped and sold Polynesians into slavery. In preparation for a potential voyage of exploration, Markham took a leave of absence to serve aboard a whaling ship. The experience and knowledge that he acquired made him one of the chosen few who once again took up Britain’s attempts to reach the North Pole in 1875, an activity that had abruptly stopped after the loss of the Franklin Expedition thirty years earlier. In fact, Markham reached the most northern latitude of any explorer – a record that stood for two decades – in spite of suffering from snow blindness and scurvy. He also journeyed to the American West to visit his family, who had moved there, and his inquisitiveness spurred him to visit with the Kiowa, Comanche, and Wichita tribes and to hunt buffalo.

During his career, he commanded the navy’s Training Squadron, where he impacted the lives of many young men, including Robert Falcon Scott, who would one day explore Antarctica. He did have critics and a few thought him a strict disciplinarian, but he also cared for those who served under him. The one incident that left a profound mark on him was the tragic loss of more than 300 men when the flagship of the Mediterranean Fleet, HMS Victoria, sank.

This book is comprised of eight chapters that follow Markham’s life and career. Each begins with a quotation, either from his own writings or from someone whose life he touched. Forty-one illustrations, contained in a center section, provide glimpses into his life and the world in which he lived, as well as artifacts pertaining to him. Also included is a collection of maps relevant to his numerous assignments around the word. Two appendices accompany the narrative: A Complete List of the Officers and Men of the British Arctic Expedition of 1875-76, and Albert Hastings Markham’s Books and Articles. A bibliography and an index round out the narrative.

Jastrzembski loves history and specializes in writing about nineteenth-century heroes and wars that few readers know about. He breathes new life into Admiral Markham in an account that is both entertaining and informative. The inclusion of Markham’s own words further enhances the experience and provides a closer glimpse into this man. Anyone with an interest in naval history, especially that of the Victorian Era, will find this a rewarding and highly readable volume.




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The Dragon's Breath by James Boschert

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Still hunted by his beloved’s brother, Master of the Assassini, and a sultan thwarted from marrying Rav’an, Talon takes her and his newly-met son, Rostam, to Oman. There lives a man Talon once saved from an executioner’s sword, one who may be able to help the fugitives resettle in a new land. Accompanying them on this journey is Reza, Talon’s brother-in-arms and fellow fugitive from the Assassini, as well as another woman rescued from the sultan’s harem.

The day Talon arrives in Oman, Allam al Mardini celebrates his victory against an arch rival. His camel, Jasmine, has won the most prestigious race of the year. He welcomes Talon into his home, even though five months have passed since they were imprisoned together. He knows well that although Talon claims to be a merchant, his friend is far more than that. Talon soon discovers that he and Allam’s family have similar interests – merchant ships and a good game of Chogan. Talon is invited to play, but one of their opponents is the man bested in the camel race. After a failed attempt to inflict a fatal injury and a second loss to Allam’s family, Nejem al Khulood vows vengeance – a pledge that necessitates Talon’s and Reza’s intervention after Jasmine disappears.

Knowing of Talon’s interest in his family’s ships and journeys, Allam intercedes with his brothers and father and they provide their new friend with guidance in purchasing a new vessel and in journeying to Africa, Al Hind, and China. But such voyages are rarely without perils, as Talon, Reza, and their families soon discover. A sick woman in their first port of call soon leads to mobs trying to flee rumors of plague. When illness sweeps through the brothers’ ships, Talon must continue onward into unknown waters. The sighting of three sails announces the arrival of pirates too numerous to defeat in hand-to-hand combat; surprise is Talon’s only option, yet it offers a slim chance of survival.

In the midst of a vicious storm a foundering ship, showing signs of a fire and no crew, demands a daring rescue to save the four people still aboard. The gamble pays off in unexpected ways, since one of those saved is Lord Meng Hsü who was returning home from a mission to India on behalf of Guangzhou’s governor. Talon is intrigued by his guest and his country, but as tantalizing as a visit to China might seem, it must wait for another day . . . until a cruel and dictatorial ruler on an island off the Malay peninsula attempts to maneuver Talon into selling his cargo at a loss. But China is a land of strange customs and political maneuverings, where death is but a whisper away.

The Dragon’s Breath is the sixth entry in the Book of Talon series, and it is rife with roller-coaster adventure, exotic locales, and breathtaking jeopardy. Boschert spins a compelling tale with subplots intricately interwoven to create the finest silken tapestry. His knowledge and research of the various cultures transport readers back to the twelfth century, where the intoxicating allure and inevitable reality place readers in the midst of ambition, intrigue, jealousy, espionage, greed, betrayal, and survival. Talon and Reza come close to meeting their match when they tangle with eastern pirates, as well as a new and formidable group of assassins, the Ninja. There is even a quest to find a dragon, which matches the serpentine curves of that legendary creature and inserts a bit of levity into a story where it’s difficult to determine just who can be trusted. Whether new to Talon and his journeys or a longtime fan, readers will find The Dragon’s Breath rewarding, spellbinding, and an excursion not to be missed.



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The Flower Boat Girl: A novel based on a true story by Larry Feign

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Zheng Yi Sao or “wife of Zheng” – this is how history remembers this 19th-century woman. But who was she? How did she go from lowly prostitute to leader of a pirate confederation? These are questions that Larry Feign answers in his retelling of her story.

The first seven years of Shek Yang’s life are unremarkable. She is the daughter of a boat couple, a family that lives and works on the water. Her mother raises her to be a good daughter, one who will eventually marry and raise a family of her own. Her father teaches her the ways of the sea, since he has no sons. But life changes when her mother dies in childbirth. Her father incurs debts that necessitate the selling of Yang into slavery and she becomes a flower boat girl. Her beauty and skills at pleasuring men bring her sufficient sums to buy her freedom. Her shame continues into adulthood, for she knows no other trade and has vowed long ago never to marry or to have children.

In the sixth year of Emperor Ka-hing’s reign, seedy junks with tiger eyes upend Yang’s world. Boat people and villagers flee for the safety of the temple, but those who live on land look down upon Yang, slamming the door before she can enter. Taken by the pirates, she knows exactly what will become of her. She will be sold back into slavery because there is no one to pay her ransom. Death seems a better option, but she refuses to succumb without a fight. Her defiance disrespects Cheng Yat, leader of the pirates. Rather than putting her to death, he takes her as his own and she becomes his possession to do with as he wishes.

Yang hates the sea, but it is now the world in which she must survive. Boredom is a constant companion. As Cheng’s wife, some pirates show small overtures of acceptance. Others see her merely as a usurper. She finally decides she must do something to occupy her days. The powerful and essential, but neglected, guns rouse her curiosity and she convinces the master gunner to teach her all he knows even though these weapons are the domain only of men. During a battle, one of the assailants attacks the master gunner. Yang slays the attacker. The act gains her more acceptance among her fellow pirates, but forever alters her soul. She is now a pirate, a killer, and there is no going back.

As the days pass, she also observes that Cheng is being cheated and that there must be better ways to make money than constantly hunting for prey. His fleet of five junks preys upon the same vessels all the other pirates seek. Grand ideas and dreams of forming a pirate empire begin to emerge, but implementing them will require time and the wisdom to convince Cheng that her way is the right way – a reality that leads to contention. Sometimes, the consequence of a wish granted is the payment of a dear and often unforeseen price.

Opening the cover of this book is like stepping into a vivid painting of a bygone era. Through visual imagery and melodic prose, Feign transports us back to the first decade of 19th-century China. He masterfully depicts the world of Asian piracy, in a way that is both familiar and foreign. Many pirates populate this tale, but each has distinctive qualities that make the character stand out in different ways. By book’s end, we feel as if we know the real Yang. We may not always like her, but we admire and respect her for what she’s able to achieve in spite of her past and the twists that fate dealt her.

Those readers familiar with the real Zheng Yi Sao or Cheng I Sao will not recognize the names Feign uses. Rather than use those names which come from Mandarin, he employs Cantonese versions since that was the language of the people who dwelt on the south coast of China. He also includes a character list, glossary, and map for readers.

The story unfolds from Shek Yang’s perspective, detailing her life from childhood to the day in which she becomes the leader of the pirate confederation. Feign artfully weaves festivals, a typhoon, war, superstitions, Chinese customs, ambushes, fireboats, and the pirates’ struggle with the navy into this tale. Perhaps the strangest custom involves Yang’s pregnancy. The most gut-wrenching scene is the one depicting Cheng’s disappearance. For history buffs, there is the Tay-Son Rebellion in Vietnam and the pirate captivity of John Turner. The Flower Boat Girl provides compelling answers to the mysteries surrounding Yang and Cheng. This haunting, yet eye-opening tale is as “Beautiful as a butterfly, fierce as a tiger.” (Loc 344 of 6794, Chapter 2)




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Sailing across the Seas: Fujian and the West by Weiwei Wu

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


China has been involved in maritime trade since the 1st century BC. Trading overseas took on greater importance during the Tang Dynasty (AD 618 to 907) and their vessels sailed on what came to be known as the Maritime Silk Road (MSR). Sailing Across the Seas utilizes photographs, artifacts, and architecture with brief textual explanations to review the people, advancements, and cultural exchanges that played significant roles in maritime trade. The hope is that by studying the past, we can bring new life to the 21st-century Maritime Silk Road.

This title is one in a series (Illustrated Fujian and the Maritime Silk Road edited by Xie Bizhen) and it focuses on a region in southeast China that has played a central role in overseas trade. One of the most important ports was Quanzhou, which was both the embarkation and debarkation locus of the MSR. From the second half of the 10th century through the 13th, Fujian shipbuilders utilized the latest advances in their vocation to build the best vessels and their seamen implemented the latest technology in navigation. The MSR upon which they sailed permitted cultural exchanges with other countries, be they as near as Japan or Korea or as far away as Africa, Europe, and America. For example, Zheng He made seven such voyages while Europeans sent missionaries who wrote about life in China and introduced Western religion and ways to the Chinese.

The book is divided into six sections. The first covers early voyages, which includes one that predates Marco Polo’s travels, and Christianity’s spread. The second part explores colonists, merchants, and trade commodities, while the next section discusses the conflicts and battles that impacted trade and China. The fourth part focuses on disputes arising from religions, both Western intrusions and the spread of Neo-Confucianism in the West. Tea and coolies are the principal focus of the fifth section. The final section examines people, especially those involved in interactions between East and West and Fujians who helped to spread their knowledge to other countries.

Sailing Across the Seas is beautifully illustrated and packs a wealth of introductory information. At times, the text doesn’t read as smoothly as it could if written by a native English speaker, but there is sufficient information provided for readers to get the point. One helpful feature that is missing are dates; at present, one must look up a dynasty name or a specific fact to determine when events happened. A bibliography is provided and even though there is no index, paging through the book and reviewing the table of contents makes it easy to find specific information. Wu does a commendable job providing opposing viewpoints, and it’s refreshing to view China and Fujian from a perspective not usually encountered in Western maritime literature.


(This review first appeared at Pirates and Privateers: http://www.cindyvallar.com/adultpirat...)



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Across the Sea: Fujian and Southeast Asia by Yuan Zhang

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


The Silk Road was a land route that established trade between China and Europe. Imperial China also traded with eleven countries in Southeast Asia via the sea, with Fujian being the principal Chinese point of contact with foreigners. These routes were part of the Maritime Silk Road, and this volume of the Illustrated Fujian and the Maritime Silk Road series examines trade within this network of countries.

During the Tang Dynasty (618-907 CE), Governor Wang Shenzhi lays the groundwork for Fujian to play a central role in overseas trade, but the earliest trading ventures between China and Southeast Asia date back to the Han Dynasty (206 BCE – 220 CE). The port of Fuzhou will play such a key role that it becomes one of three where trade with foreigners is permitted by imperial decree. Admiral Zheng He will begin his seven treasure expeditions from Fujian beginning in the 15th century.

Trade is not one-sided; instead, Chinese go to other countries and mariners of those regions come to China. Copper, iron, and ceramics are traded for currency, jewelry, and spices. Zhao Rushi writes about these cultural exchanges in A Description of Barbarian Nations, Records of Foreign People, just as medieval travelers Marco Polo and Ibn Battuta write of the port of Quanzhou. Gunarata, a monk from Funan (Cambodia), becomes the first to visit Fujian to translate Buddhist scriptures and preach. Over time, emigrants leave China to establish communities in Southeast Asian countries, bringing with them their artisanship, their literature, and their art, as well as techniques for planting sugarcane and building with brick.

There are times when the emperor decrees sea bans against maritime trade with foreigners, which give rise to pirate merchants who engage in smuggling and plundering. One of the most powerful is Zheng Zhilong and later, his son Zheng Chenggong.

There are a few drawbacks to this book. One is the price, but the information provided is unique and rarely found in other English volumes. Consistency in measurements (kilometers versus miles) and the inclusion of dynastic dates would help to better orient readers unfamiliar with Chinese history.

Even so, this series is an engaging combination of narrative and illustration that depicts the history of the Maritime Silk Road and Fujian’s participation. Each volume can be purchased separately, and Across the Sea includes portraits, sample pages of historical documents, architecture, boats and ships, archaeological artifacts, agricultural products, temples, and statues. I am particularly intrigued by artwork showing native costumes, such as those of Bantam and Chinese merchants. Equally fascinating is the information about tea and the history of its exportation, as well as religious beliefs of Chinese who venture overseas. Anyone seeking an introduction to the Maritime Silk Road, and Fujian’s roles in Imperial Chinese maritime history, is richly rewarded in this book.

(Review originally posted at Pirates and Privateers: http://www.cindyvallar.com/adult-expl...)



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By the Wind: Fujian and Northeast Asia by Jinhong Zhang

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Sometimes, it helps to comprehend the past in order to improve the future. This is the premise behind the Illustrated Fujian and the Maritime Silk Road series edited by Xie Bizhen. By the Wind examines one aspect of this history – the maritime trade between the province of Fujian, China, and Korea and Japan, ties that date back to the early years of the Han Dynasty (206 BCE to 220 CE). The mountainous terrain of Fujian makes the sea a natural point of egress and ingress, which is why Fujianese merchants venture near and far aboard ships.

The earliest exchanges between Fujian and Northeast Asia document the sea routes that lead to thriving ports and renowned shipbuilding, especially during the Tang Dynasty (7th to beginning of 10th centuries). During the 900s, Fuzhou and Quanzhou become the principal ports involved in foreign trade. Among the goods purchased by those living on the Korean Peninsula are ivory, lacquerware, musical instruments, porcelain, tea, and wine. The Japanese favor books, copper coins, medicine, silk, spices, and stationery. Fujian merchants import folding fans, mercury, sulfur, swords, and timber from Japan, while Korean ginseng, horses, and weapons are in demand.

Commercial goods are not the only items that travel to and from Fujian and its trading partners. Buddhist monks sail back and forth, recording religious, cultural, and legal observations. Scriptures are translated and temples are built. Jianzhen sails to Japan six times. Duhou Xingshi, author of the four-volume The Five-cloud Collection, spends thirty-four years there. These monks show the Japanese how to prepare tea, which in turn becomes key components in their rituals. Ideas, customs, and printing techniques are among the other exchanges that occur.

There are periods when maritime trade experiences disruptions. Unrest in 14th-century Japan leads warriors and peasants to invade and plunder the coastal regions of Korea and Fujian, which significantly impacts Fujian socially and economically. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, some Chinese emperors mandate bans on trade with foreigners, which gives rise to smuggling in Fujian.

The book does have a few weaknesses. For example, there is a lack of consistency in capitalization. Assumptions are sometimes made regarding the familiarity of readers with Chinese history and culture. The mention of dynasties without actual dates is one example of this. Another is the reference to tea frying, something I had never heard of even though I enjoy drinking tea.

The strength of this volume is the wealth of information on Fujian during the Imperial period of Chinese history. Although it isn’t presented in great detail, what is shared serves as a good introduction on a variety of topics related to maritime trade, much of which is unfamiliar to English readers. Equally compelling are the illustrations, which allow readers to glimpse the rich history and culture without being able to explore either firsthand. I particularly enjoy the array of ships and close-ups of ship models that allow me to visually study the differences between vessels from Fujian, Northeast Asia, and Europe. I also like the ancient nautical charts, such as Nautical Charts of the Imperial Envoys to Ryukyu drawn by Zhe Henian and the double-page spread of a dragon dance in front a temple devoted to Mazu, the Chinese goddess of the sea.

As with the other titles in the series, By the Wind is a stimulating and immersive overview of Fujian’s role in the Maritime Silk Road, specifically as it regards China’s commercial and cultural exchanges with Korea and Japan.

(Review originally posted at Pirates and Privateers: http://www.cindyvallar.com/adult-expl...)



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Fujian in the Sea: Fujian and the Maritime Silk Road by Shuoxuan Chen

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


During the 1st century BCE, Chinese sailors venture from Guangdong to India. They don’t seek to establish trade relations between the two countries. They seek luxurious treasures and an elixir of immortality for the emperor. Economic development will not become of prime importance until the Bureau of Foreign Shipping is established, and Fujian is well-situated geographically to play a key role in overseas trade and the transportation of envoys and passengers between China and foreign countries.

The mountainous terrain of Fujian insures that the seven tribes living there favor the sea as their primary means of livelihood and sustainability. The forests provide shipwrights with the resources needed to establish flourishing shipyards where the best and most technologically advanced vessels of the day are built. With water covering half of the province, waterways provide the main source of transportation from one location to another, connecting major rivers like Min, Jin, Jiulong, Ting, and Mulan to the sea. In time, corruption, strife, and unrest within Imperial China cause members of the Eight Families of Fujian (Chen, He, Hu, Huang, Lin, Qiu, Zhan, and Zheng) to venture beyond the shores of China, and the Maritime Silk Road is key to this trade and emigration.

Just as people leave China, so do foreigners visit the country via Fujian, allowing for the exchange of culture and information. New crops – corn, peanuts, sweet potatoes, and tobacco – are introduced in China, while the manufacture of lacquerware and porcelain, the production of paper, and the smelting of iron are just some of the processes shared with other countries. Europeans such as Catholic priests Matteo Ricci and Giulio Aleni share their religious beliefs during their visits to China. The Chinese introduce the compass and gunpowder to Arabs, who teach astronomy, math, and medicine to the Fujianese. What both sides come to realize is that they possess similarities and differences, which lead to both greater understanding and controversy.

Fujian in the Seais part of the Illustrated Fujian and the Maritime Silk Road series edited by Xie Bizhen. It presents a fair portrait of Fujian’s maritime history and participation in maritime trade, although there are a few occasions where only the Chinese view is presented. What makes both this title and the series unique and of value to maritime and Chinese history collections is that they present glimpses into China and especially Fujian that Western readers rarely see. The inclusion of photographs, artifacts, pages from historical documents, and ancestral halls with the narrative unify the information presented to showcase the important role the Fujianese have played throughout China’s maritime history. It emphasizes that there is more to commerce and the Maritime Silk Road than just trade goods.

(Review originally appeared at Pirates and Privateers: http://www.cindyvallar.com/adult-expl...)



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A Return to Duty by William C. Hammond

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Separated when their ship wrecks, followed by desperate struggles to survive, Richard and Anne Cutler reunite in New South Wales in the fall of 1845. The reasons that originally brought them to this part of the world have been successfully concluded without them. The British Royal Navy will work with the United States Navy to suppress piracy in Asian waters with Imperial China’s approval. Now, the Cutlers return home to family and friends, and to decide what course their lives will take after their ordeals.

Richard secures leave from the Navy, while he and Anne work on a joint writing venture that will share their story with American readers. He also steps into the role of director of Cutler & Sons, after his predecessor was lost at sea while in the Far East. In his new role, he agrees with the older members of the family that under no circumstances will Cutler ships import opium into the United States. Some younger family members don’t agree with this since the importation is legal.

Before he decides whether to resign his commission and take full control of the family business, Richard needs to return to the Far East and confer with their agents there. He will also work with the American and Royal Navies in their attempt to stop the pirates from seizing merchant ships and to rescue their captives, many of whom are American sailors. His journey reunites him with two of his men from the shipwreck, both of whom played crucial roles in their survival after the disaster. One is Lieutenant Jonathan “Jonty” Montgomery, who now serves aboard Columbia. He’s become smitten with Daisy Cutler, whose father is the director of the Asian segment of the company. An encounter with pirates leads to a severe injury, but Jonty is determined not to let it end his naval career. He’s just as certain that he and Daisy will marry one day.

The other survivor is Jack Brengle, Richard’s former executive officer and now a captain in his own right. He commands the steamship that will take Richard to the Far East. First, though, the pair must track down Richard’s niece, Lucy Seymour, who has mysteriously disappeared. It’s possible that her disappearance is connected to Harlan Sturgis, who was romancing Richard’s mother until she realized all he wanted was information about the company to use to his advantage.

A Return to Duty is the eighth offering in the Cutler Family Chronicles. It centers around the lucrative trade of the highly addictive opium that resulted in war between China and Great Britain, and the brutal and persistent marauding of Chinese pirates on foreign shipping. The characters are expertly drawn and they pull you into the story with a full gamut of emotions. Hammond deftly weaves his research into his tale without ever allowing you to notice that he’s done so. Instead, he breathes life into a world that no longer exists and yet seems real enough to touch. He masterfully crafts unsettling action involving sharks, fire ships, bomb vessels, and boarders in a gut-wrenching climax that is tempered with love and reunion.

(Review originally appeared at Pirates and Privateers: http://www.cindyvallar.com/WHammond.h...)



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Echoes across the Sea: Fujian, Persia, and the Arab World by Yuling Ding

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Trade between East and West was facilitated by Chinese, Persian, and Arab merchants, comprising key components of the Maritime Silk Road. This volume of the Illustrated Fujian and the Maritime Silk Road series examines the interactions and connections by sea between this region of the world and Fujian, China, which first started during the Tang Dynasty of Imperial China (AD 618-907). (Earlier exchanges took place via land as far back as the Han Dynasty.)

Described as being of “eight mountains, one river, and one field,” Fujian played a key role in maritime trade because most people were forced to venture asea to make their livings and to survive. (2) The first chapter explores this maritime tradition and includes photographs of early artifacts, such as boat coffins and the remains of a Han canoe. Fuzhou became renowned for shipbuilding, while Quanzhou served as a key port that welcomed foreign travelers to China. During the Song Dynasty (960-1279), ships sailed to and from this city and fifty-eight other countries. One section of the chapter is devoted to the various types of vessels that the Fujianese utilized, such as the niaochuan, a boat with a bow resembling a bird’s beak and eyes painted on either side. The photographs and other artwork clearly demonstrate the differences between these crafts. The work and quality of Fujianese shipwrights made them ideal for the building of naval ships and for those that sailed to faraway shores, such as Admiral Zheng He’s fleet, a model of which is included in this chapter.

The second chapter focuses on the mosques erected in Fujian by Muslim immigrants. They serve as evidence of the close cultural ties between China and the Middle East. One of the earliest is Qingjing Mosque, built in 1009 and the only one that still exists to showcase Central Asian medieval architecture. Many photographs take readers to the most historically important mosques. While places of worship are the focus of the second chapter, the third examines Islamic tombstones. Their inscriptions provide insights into the lives of those who journeyed to and lived in Fujian. Two disciples of Muhammad from the 7th century are buried in Quanzhou.

Chapter four looks at Muslim families who settled in Quanzhou, including the Pu (known for perfume), the Ding (including Ding Gongchen, an expert in military firearms who authored a number of studies on the subject), and the Guo (sea traders and fishermen). These families’ architecture best shows the intertwining of Islamic and Chinese cultures.

The fifth chapter delves into trade commodities and tributes. Persian and Arab merchants bring with them incense, such as frankincense (used ritualistically and to aid medicinally). Pepper, or black gold, is a spice used to flavor food or help cure ailments. The Chinese export cinnamon, musk, and rhubarb. Among the plants introduced to China are jasmine, henna, narcissus, and aloe. Tribute items include ivory, tortoiseshell, and pearls. Another important aspect of culture exchange pertains to etiquette and customs of daily life, such as murals, festivals, Arabic calligraphy, and the hijab that women wear. Also covered is the production and trading of Fujianese porcelain, whose importance is evidenced in the 2007 discovery of the Nanhai One shipwreck.

A key feature of this book is the inclusion of dates, rather than simply identifying dynasties or centuries. The artwork of ships is amazing, although some lack translations of the Chinese that appears with the illustrations, such as on that of the Xiamen Ship. (I believe these identify ship parts, but that is only an educated guess.) Also of importance is that this volume includes more narrative than in other books in the series and the English translation is seamless. The authors felt it important enough to include details about when boats sail and how long trips take – tidbits that are rarely included in many works, but which are of interest to some readers. This title also includes one of the most extensive lists of references. Echoes Across the Sea is a fascinating window into China’s maritime world and how cultural exchanges with other countries affected its own evolution and history.


(This review originally appeared at Pirates and Privateers: http://www.cindyvallar.com/Ding-Lin.html)



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