Illustrated Gazetteer of the Maritime Kingdoms, Volume 4

First Volume: Investigation of the Southern Oceans

With the Ming dynasty, everything changed. Has the destiny of the vast oceans changed along with the map, shifting from the West to the East? In previous eras—regardless of whether it was a time of Great Unification or the periods of fragmented regional regimes like the Eastern Jin, Southern Tang, Southern Song, Qi, or Liang—the history books never ceased to record distant islands sailing across the seas to bring treasures and tribute. They offered tributes of grass-woven garments and animal skins.

Why is it that today, none of these nations appear at the Imperial Gatherings? original: "王會" (Wanghui). A classical reference to the "Gathering of Princes," referring to the formal assembly of vassal states paying tribute to the Chinese Emperor. It is because the ships of the Red Barbarians original: "紅夷" (Hongyi). A historical Chinese term originally referring specifically to the Dutch, but later used more broadly for Europeans with powerful naval artillery. have sailed eastward. Wherever they find a shore, they fight for it; wherever they find an island, they occupy it. They establish forts and trading ports, and set up military defenses. All the vital strategic passages of the Southern Oceans The Nanyang, referring to the South China Sea and the surrounding Southeast Asian archipelago. have now entirely become the major hubs of the Western powers.

When the geography and the times change, historical conventions must also change with the world. To record the Southern Oceans is, in reality, a means to record the Western powers. Therefore, I now use the five nations of Luzon referring to the Spanish-occupied Philippines, Holland, Portugal original: "佛郎機" (Fulangji), a transcription of "Frank" used historically for the Portuguese, England, and Prussia original: "布路亞" (Buluoya) to organize the framework of the Southern Oceans.

As for the four nations of Vietnam, Siam, Burma, and Japan—although they have not yet been swallowed up by the "Western pirates"—I have included them in these chapters because their affairs involve Maritime Defense. However, for Korea and the Ryukyu Islands, which are not involved in such maritime defense concerns, I have not included them here. All...