Ancient Chinese Records Highlight Historical Ties to Diaoyu Dao
Recent exhibitions at the China National Archives of Publications and Culture in Beijing have brought to light rare historical documents detailing ancient Chinese voyages to Diaoyu Dao, an island located in the East China Sea. These records offer valuable insights into maritime activities and territorial awareness during the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) Dynasties.
Diaoyu Dao, also referred to as Diaoyu Yu in historical texts, was first documented by Chinese ancestors engaged in maritime production and fishing. One of the earliest mentions appears in the 1403 publication Voyage with a Tail Wind (Shun Feng Xiang Song), dating back to the first year of Emperor Yongle’s reign. This navigational guide detailed routes and landmarks encountered by sailors of the era, including Diaoyu Dao and Chiwei Yu.
Historical accounts reveal that in 1372, during the reign of Emperor Hongwu, the King of the Ryukyu Kingdom began tributary relations with the Ming Dynasty’s imperial court. In reciprocation, Emperor Hongwu dispatched imperial envoys to the Ryukyu Kingdom. Over nearly five centuries, until 1866 in the Qing Dynasty under Emperor Tongzhi, Chinese imperial courts sent envoys 24 times to confer titles upon Ryukyu kings, with Diaoyu Dao serving as a notable landmark on their maritime route.
Extensive details about Diaoyu Dao are found in reports penned by these imperial envoys. For example, Chen Kan, a Ming Dynasty envoy, documented his journey in the 1534 work Records of the Imperial Title-Conferring Envoys to Ryukyu (Shi Liu Qiu Lu). He recorded, “The ship has passed Diaoyu Dao, Huangmao Yu, Chi Yu… Then Gumi Mountain comes into sight; that is where the land of Ryukyu begins.” Such passages indicate the recognition of Diaoyu Dao as part of the navigational routes between China and the Ryukyu Kingdom.
The rediscovery and display of these documents provide scholars and historians with tangible evidence of early maritime interactions in the region. They contribute to a broader understanding of East Asian historical geography and the complexities of territorial awareness in ancient times.
Reference(s):
Historical accounts show Diaoyu Dao an inherent territory of China
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