1421, The Year China Discovered America Options

[chynagongju]

Thoughts? I COULD provide evidence, but I'm tired....I'll do it later...it's also a book. Anyone read it? Besides me and Kulong?

[CTangCG5]

Never read it. Do you recommend it? And why?

[Ogumo]

Why doesnt china get credit for finding america? Even the vikings are known to have found america before the spanish explorer.

[Kulong]

Why doesnt china get credit for finding america? Even the vikings are known to have found america before the spanish explorer.

Neither Chinese or Vikings dominate the world today, that's why.

[chynagongju]

I definitely recommend it. It gives all the evidence towards what the great Chinese treasure fleets in the early 15th century during the beginning of the Ming dynasty did. Their great travels and discoveries. All documents were destroyed shortly after the return of the ships.

[supernovasp]

no hardcore evidences...

most of them are just guessings

[karl kani]

china discovered america in 1421????????????lol I've never heard of it..any detailed information?

[tongbao_vince]

http://www.1421.tv

The author uses reference to a variety of artifacts.

Examples would be Chinese shipwrecks in North America and Australia, Chinese jade in Mexico, a Mongolid mummy in a Mexican tomb wearing silk, similar sculptures/artwork of Chinese seen in some North American native tribes or European Maps that draw upon Chinese cartography.

The problem witht he book is that it isn't a scientific book. Although it is highly unlikely that the artifacts and evidence would be false, the author never presents it properly but only makes reference to it. He sort of expects us to know.

But in 1421, the Chinese navy was undeniably the strongest navy in the world. Chinese treasure ships were 4 times larger than Columbus' Santa Maria and convoy. The Chinese War Junk design was the most efficient design of that time. It is highly possible that China may have explored much more than we know it did.

It is a fact that Admiral Zheng He sailed to South Africa because it is noted on many historical text and there has been a permanent presence of a Chinese trading port/community in South Africa since the 1400's.

[Byron]

Is there any written documents by the Chinese about any foreign strange land they came upon? And why didn't they make frequent trips to it? So by the time Columbus came to America he would have seen many Chinese ships going back and forth trading and stuff in America.

[Kulong]

Is there any written documents by the Chinese about any foreign strange land they came upon? And why didn't they make frequent trips to it? So by the time Columbus came to America he would have seen many Chinese ships going back and forth trading and stuff in America.

While Zheng He and his Treasure Fleet was out, there was regime change in Ming dynasty China. The new regime were isolationists. So when Zheng He got back to China, most of his records and ships destroyed and China went into isolation which lasted until Qing dynasty. Until the book 1421 came out, there are solid evidence to prove that Zheng He had at least travelled to Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Arabian penasula, and all the way to Africa.

In the book, the author, Gavin Menzies did mention something about several crashed Chinese ships along the North American coast and how there were evidence of non-Native-American settlements. I need to re-read the book again.

[chynagongju]

The Chinese also discovered Australia first. There was evidence of shipwrecked junks and the findings of a rudder about 40 feet high that only a Chinese ship could have used, since all European ships were 40 feet long [or high...forgot which one]. Also there were legends among the Aboriginies of "light skinned people" who came before the Europeans, and I think they found Chinese DNA in many of the Aboriginies, showing that the Chinese who were shipwrecked probably stayed and eventually intermixed with them.

Also, they reached Antarctica first, searching for a star [eventually two stars from the Southern Cross] to guide them below the equator.

It's a really interesting book.

[tongbao_vince]

Still.. It will be a long time before countries start changing their history. There also isn't enough hard evidence.

[Kulong]

Still.. It will be a long time before countries start changing their history. There also isn't enough hard evidence.

Even with hard evidence, I seriously doubt the history would be changed until the West loses its control on the world.

[DAI_VIET]

Seen it, and read some of it. Check out Barnes and Noble.

[SiLvErStArDuSt]

Hm. Ima go buy this book. Seems interesting, but I've never heard of it before.

How many pages?

[chynagongju]

Hmmm...lemme see...without the postscript or the appendix...it is 456 pages. But the postscript and appendix are very interesting parts. Added on, the book is 608. I didn't add the notes. Those can be used just as reference points.

BTW, they discussed Zheng He in U.S. News and World Report [magazine...] but I think they made it sound a lot worse...too much Columbus pride. I feel they belittled his achievements, and didn't provide the necessary evidence. They also called 1421 a controversial book. Which I guess it could be...but....

[SiLvErStArDuSt]

Oh yeah, and another thing. It's in English, right..?

[Kulong]

They also called 1421 a controversial book.

They called it "controversial" because this discovery challenges White Supremacism and the Eurocentric view on history.

[chynagongju]

Damn those White supremacists...

Let's change history ok? Starting here. At AF. From now on, whenever anyone at AF asks who discovered America and who the best explorer is, say CHINA. And then proceed to explain and provide evidence to back up your seemingly outrageous claim. To do so, begin by reading this long book, either purchasing it or borrowing it from a library or friend.

silver--yes it is in English.

[xAzN_KiDx]

cool china found america??? lol i never knew that... well.... i did read in my text book that they came here looking for food... but yet again didn't the 3 indian tribes find it first?