China's Controversial Pre-Columbus 1418 Map?

[ultraforge]

There is an academic controversy in China. It revolves around a map allegedly copied by a Chinese cartographer in 1763 from a purportedly unfound original 1418 map made by Chinese explorer Zheng He showing that he discovered America before Columbus. On one side are the naysayers saying that the map isn't authentic. On the other side are those who

Comments

[fyre_falcyn]

It seems probably that Zheng He's fleets could have "discovered" America, certainly Vikings were here so why not the Chinese? I've long thought that Mayan art seems to have Chinese influences. However this particular map appears suspect. The lettering and province names do not appear to be consistant with documents of the alleged period. It will be interesting to find out more information.

[ultraforge]

However this particular map appears suspect. The lettering and province names do not appear to be consistant with documents of the alleged period.

Really? Very interesting.

I'm sure we'll be hearing about this again at some point.

[fyre_falcyn]

Here's a link to the map: http://www.1421.tv/pages/maps/1418.htm

I hope that it will be examined by more experts (in particular, I hope they test the ink), so a definitive answer will be found. I believe that there was more (and earlier) exploration of the world than we have yet found evidence for but I also know that there are unscrupulous people who will falsify information for the gullible.

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[fyre_falcyn]

Here's a link to the map: http://www.1421.tv/pages/maps/1418.htm

I hope that it will be examined by more experts (in particular, I hope they test the ink), so a definitive answer will be found. I believe that there was more (and earlier) exploration of the world than we have yet found evidence for but I also know that there are unscrupulous people who will falsify information for the gullible.