|
16 January 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For enquiries, please contact
Renga Subbiah @ 9042 2562
renga@kaiiten.com
Or Elaina Chong @ 9455 0551
elaina@kaiiten.com
EAST BEATS THE WEST WITH THE DISCOVERY OF
ADMIRAL ZHENG HE’S MAP OF 1418
Summary
On 16th January 2006 in Beijing and on 17th January in a lecture to the Friends of the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, Admiral Zheng He’s 1418 map will be released to the world.
Significance
The 1418 map, drawn decades before Columbus, da Gama and Magellan set sail, shows the whole world with extraordinary accuracy. Each continent of the world has remarkable geographical features with near correct general contours and position. All the oceans of the world are displayed, many major rivers (the Potomac leading to Washington DC) and innumerable islands.
If the map is considered genuine, the history of how the “New World” was discovered will have to be rewritten. Columbus did not ‘discover’ America; da Gama was not the first to round the cape; Magellan was not the first to circumnavigate the world; Cook did not ‘discover’ Australia; New Zealand was not first settled by Maoris but by Chinese; the Portuguese were not the first foreigners to settle Brazil, Mozambique and Angola, nor the Spanish Chile, Peru, Argentina, Colombia and Venezuela. The Chinese had accurately surveyed the world before European voyages of exploration started.
Discovery of 1418 map
The map was purchased by Mr. Liu Gang, a prominent Chinese lawyer and collector in 2001. He acquired it from an old map/book dealer in Shanghai. When Mr. Liu saw the map in the dealer’s shop, he realised that this old map was very unusual since many of its depictions and descriptions were not consistent with the common knowledge of the discovery of the New World. Mr. Liu is a founding partner of “Commerce and Finance Law Office”, a prominent Chinese law firm.
Details of the 1418 map.
The map is finely illustrated on bamboo paper with ink and soft colours. It immediately impresses the viewer with its simplicity, elegance and clarity. It measures 59.7 cm x 41.75 cm but is not a precise rectangle (i.e. it is not A2 size). In the top right hand corner are six Chinese characters which read, “general chart of the integrated world”.
Links with other Chinese maps published by 1418.
At the launch in Beijing and at the National Maritime Museum at Greenwich, a schedule with photographs of Chinese maps of the world published during Zheng He’s era will be available for viewing. Despite the existence of several Chinese maps of the same era, the 1418 map for the first time collates all geographic details on a single spread. This map, was copied in 1763 by Mo Yi Tong, whilst China was being ruled by the Ming Dynasty. Also, the details on this map are consistent with descriptions in a book, “The Marvellous Visions of The Star Raft”, published around 1418 which chronicles Zheng He’s voyages in the mid- 15th century.
Expert evidence
To date, all experts who have given their opinion on the 1418 map consider it to be genuine. Copies of their opinions are available in the press pack.
Corroborative evidence
Mr. Menzies, author of ‘1421 The Year China Discovered America’, suggests that every continent, ocean, island and river shown on the 1418 map, acts as corroborative evidence that Zheng He’s fleets had visited those sites. The basis of his deduction can be seen at www.1421.tv . In addition, attached with this release is a 12th January copy of an article written by Stephen Fay in The Economist magazine relating to the 1418map which contains good points for reference. (www.economist.com/books/displaystory.cfm?story_id=5381851)
Time and Venue of Launch in Beijing, China
Time: 1800-1915hrs
Venue: Bookworm Club, Yard 4, Sanlitan South Street, Gongti North Road,
Chaoyang district, Beijing.
Contact persons: Renga Subbiah - HP: 90422562
Copies of the Press Pack as per Annex A will be available upon request. Please contact:
Renga Subbiah
Kaiiten Communications Pte Ltd,
124A, Telok Ayer Street,
Singapore 068594
Tel: (+65) 6296 5010, Fax: (+65) 6296 5667, HP: (+65) 90422562
Contact details for other related parties are as follows:
'1421 The Year China Discovered America’ team contact details:
32a Alwyne Road
Canonbury
London
N1 2HW
Telephone: +44 207 359 2789
Gavin Menzies: menzies@clara.net
Ian Hudson: ianhudson@1421.tv
Anna Mandy: anna@1421.tv
Geoff Mandy: geoff@1421.tv
Frank Hopkins: frankhopkins@1421.tv
Vanessa Stockley: vanessastockley@hotmail.com
Public Relations: UK
Midas P.R.
7-8 Kendrick Mews
London SW7 3HG
Telephone: +44 207 584 7474
Facsimile + 44 (0)20 7584 7123
Steven Williams: Steven@midaspr.co.uk
Sophie Ransom: Sophie@midaspr.co.uk
Public Relations: Asia
Kaiiten Communications Pte Ltd
124 A Telok Ayer Street Singapore
Tel: +65 6296 5010
Fax: +65 6296 5667
Elaina Olivia Chong: elaina@kaiiten.com
Kaiiten Communications
Mobile: +65 9455 0551
Renga Subbiah
Kaiiten Communications
Mobile: +65 90422562
Television:
Mandarin, Cantonese and Hui:
Frank Lee
Tel: +852.9368.3838.
leefrank1421@gmail.com
NHK - Gavin Menzies
English speaking:
Christopher Higham
Tel: +44 207 7484818
Christopher.Higham@btinternet.com
1421 motion picture:
Samantha Olsson: samanthao@earthlink.net
1421 website:
Pedalo.co.uk
Tom Porter: tom@pedalo.co.uk
Expert opinions on 1418 map (for Press) to be provided with Press Packs
Provenance:
Mr. Liu Gang: map1418@hotmail.com
Authenticity of the 1418 map:
Professor Robert Cribbs: robert.cribbs@sonipulse.com
Dr. Gunnar Thompson: discovergunnar@hotmail.com
Charlotte Harris Rees: Harrismaps@msn.com
Lam Yee Din: yeedlam@yahoo.com
Robin Lind: robin.lind@webpointers.com
Gerald Andrew Bottomley: gjbttmly@iinet.net.au
Anatole Andro: anatole.andro@yahoo.com
1421 press conferences:
Dr. Gunnar Thompson: discovergunnar@hotmail.com
Charlotte Harris Rees: harrismaps@msn.com
Lynda Nutter: lyndanutter@hotmail.com
Rosanne Hawarden: info@1421.org.nz
Dating Certificate: Cambridge, Beijing and Waikato Universites (via Liu Gang)
Library of Congress Public Affairs Office:
tel (202) 707-2905
fax (202) 707-9199
Email: pao@loc.gov
|
