Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Non-Fiction 2019 | Page 32

Meanwhile, examination of Liu’s “1763 map” by experts confirmed that the vermin on the bamboo paper
and the de-pigmentation of the ink did indeed date from over a hundred years ago. Unfortunately, this in
no way bolsters the case that the “1763 map” was based on a “1418 map”. Besides taking the word of the
copyist, how else can we verify Menzies’ 1421 theory?
If we were to analyse all the facts objectively from scratch, we should first ask: did Zheng He even have the
capability to sail to America? The answer is yes, he definitely did. His flagship and other largest vessels
dwarfed European ships of that century. It was 4 to 5 times bigger than Columbus’ flagship - the “Santa
Maria”. Zheng He’s treasure ships were 400 feet long and 160 feet wide, carrying nine masts and twelve
sails. With a double hull designed for stability and storage, they towered at several stories high, complete
with lavish staterooms and opulent balconies.
In addition to having advanced vessels at their disposal, Zheng He’s team would have been skilled in
numerous navigational techniques which would have allowed him to discover America. By the beginning of
the Ming Dynasty, China’s naval technology was already far superior than any other nation’s. Not only
could they rely on magnetic compasses, an invention dated some three hundred years prior, but they would
also have been able to navigate by studying the positions of the stars. Since the 13th Century, the Chinese
had printed manuals of star charts and compass bearings that allowed them to navigate in the middle of the
night when the sky was clear.
Advanced navigational technology aside, favourable trade winds and currents in certain seasons could have
easily carried Zheng He to the Americas. According to Menzies, “if you just go out in a plastic bathtub, the
currents will just carry you there”. Perhaps the currents did indeed carry Zheng He and his 400 feet long
treasure ships with fancy balconies to America.
Having established that America was within Zheng He’s reach, we should examine all the historical sources
available. Unfortunately, many written records were destroyed as the political tide turned. Prompted by the
depletion of treasury resulting from Emperor Yongle’s extravagant spending on expeditions, infrastructure
and defense, coupled with losses from natural disasters, the traditional Confucian court advisers who
advocated frugality gained favour at the expense of the pro-expansionist Eunuch factions. Not only did this
bring an abrupt end to China’s golden era of exploration, but most of the records of Zheng’s monumental
expeditions, possibly including any evidence of excursion into the Americas, were also confiscated and
destroyed.
The only written records of Zheng’s expeditions still remaining today are the engraving from a stone pillar
that was discovered in Fujian province and three written accounts by some of Zheng’s crew members. The
pillar was inscribed with descriptions of the voyages and a list of places they had visited such as Java,
Sumatra, Vietnam, India, Yemen, Somalia among others but America was not one of them. Similarly, the
first-hand accounts of the crew members described in detail the customs and cultures of the foreign
countries they had visited as well as the souvenirs that were brought back to China, such as indigenous
animals of Africa like lions and giraffes; spices from India and many more. However, there was no mention
of America at all. If Zheng He had indeed reached America, why would any written record of America be
missing when there are such detailed records of others?
Even if the written records of Zheng’s trip to America had been destroyed, one would expect certain
folklore describing Zheng’s encounters with Native Americans should have survived in China, just like the
Vikings had folklore recounting their interaction with Native Americans. While Menzies cited some
indigenous folklore in America, such as how the Incan tribes of American were reportedly governed by
Chinese admirals, he never managed to verify these. What was strange was that despite the absence of any
written account of America, there was a Chinese commentary on the “1418 map” describing people with
“black-red skin” and “feathers wrapped around their heads and waists” which clearly matched the
appearance of Native Americans. This accurate description of the natives stands out as even more suspicious
amidst a complete lack of other written evidence and could only further support the case that Liu’s map was
indeed based on 17th Century Jesuit maps.
If Zheng He and his crew had really landed in America, we would expect some evidence of their settlement,
physical or otherwise. Indeed, in places such as Malacca and Java, many towns, caves and temples were
named after Zheng He. According to Menzies and his supporters, eight different sites in America have
uncovered Chinese coins and ornaments with purportedly Chinese beads. Artefacts of pre-Columbian