 Flashermac
Curmudgeon
Posts: 30898
Loc: Transylvania
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Prof Geoff Wade, a historian who has translated Ming documents relating to Zheng's voyages, disputes the portrayal of a benign adventurer.
He says the historical records show the treasure fleets carried sophisticated weaponry and participated in at least three major military actions; in Java, Sumatra and Sri Lanka.
"Because there is virtually no critical analysis of these texts even now - history writing is still in the hands of the state - it's very difficult for Chinese people to conceive of the state as being dangerous, expansionist, or offensive in any way to its neighbours.
"Chinese nationalism is fed on ignorance of its past relations. The way Zheng He is being represented is part of this."
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A happy childhood... is the worst possible preparation for life. - Kinky Friedman
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Old Hippie
I LOST a friend
Posts: 23968
Loc: SFO/OAK/BKK
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In response to Flashermac - Zheng He: Symbol of China's 'peaceful rise'
Why anyone trusts these people is beyond me.
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drogon
Carpal Tunnel
Posts: 5752
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In response to Old Hippie - Zheng He: Symbol of China's 'peaceful rise'
Peaceful explorator...like Cortez or Pizarro maybe?
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shygye
Carpal \'Tunnel
Posts: 10759
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In response to drogon - Zheng He: Symbol of China's 'peaceful rise'
... the weapons were to deal with the Somali pirates.
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cavanami
I've outlived my dick!
Posts: 9255
Loc: BKK
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In response to shygye - Zheng He: Symbol of China's 'peaceful rise'
The fleets of ships that sailed from China in the 1400's had soldiers aboard.
From the books I read, China was not out to conquer as much as to setup trade with other countries. If they ran into trouble, that's when the soldiers came in handy.
Pam (Jim's GF): "Do you actually put your dick in her?"
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Flashermac
Curmudgeon
Posts: 30898
Loc: Transylvania
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In response to cavanami - Zheng He: Symbol of China's 'peaceful rise'
The British Empire didn't set out to conquer either, just trade. But if the wogs wouldn't cooperate, one had to take them over for their own good. 
Unlike the French, Spanish and Portuguese who made no pretence of having lofty ideals... The US government had some serious soul searching when it came to annexing the Philippine Islands in 1898. Fortunately, in the end greed won out. 
A happy childhood... is the worst possible preparation for life. - Kinky Friedman
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shygye
Carpal \'Tunnel
Posts: 10759
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In response to Flashermac - Zheng He: Symbol of China's 'peaceful rise'
... but the Spanish were on a mission for god. 
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Flashermac
Curmudgeon
Posts: 30898
Loc: Transylvania
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In response to shygye - Zheng He: Symbol of China's 'peaceful rise'
Mammon
A happy childhood... is the worst possible preparation for life. - Kinky Friedman
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drogon
Carpal Tunnel
Posts: 5752
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In response to Flashermac - Zheng He: Symbol of China's 'peaceful rise'
Was the Philippine-American war the first 'dirty' war the USA led....was a pretty dirty one IMO
-> should wa say the USA built 'concentration camps'? Sorry my bad, these were internment camps -> probably one of the reasons the number of Filipinos passed from 9 million to maybe 8 million by the end of the war....
Anyway the Ming empire was of course a peaceful nation.....
Edited by drogon on 01-08-10 09:43 PM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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LizardKing
old hand
Posts: 1181
Loc: Your mind
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In response to Flashermac - Zheng He: Symbol of China's 'peaceful rise'
If you really want to have fun, tell a Malay that he's the guy who introduced Islam to Malaysia and watch their heads explode because he was Chinese...
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