THE SINGAPORE ZHENG HE BAOCHUAN PROJECT

大家大概會一頭霧水吧?什麼是"BAOCHUAN"啊?
這裡指的是鄭和下西洋的旗艦,一般稱之為"寶船".
鄭和七下西洋所留下來的記載,技術,工法多半在後來的政治鬥爭中被銷毀.
因此,今天我們只知道這艘船很大很大,但是到底有多大?
沒有人敢提出斬釘截鐵的答案.

新加坡的"鄭和之友會"因此打算在下西洋六百週年紀念來臨之際,舉辦一次華山論"艦";
邀請全球各界專家共同來討論,到底,這艘船該長什麼樣子?

請參考他們的邀請函:

THE SINGAPORE ZHENG HE BAOCHUAN PROJECT

The “Friends of Admiral Zheng He” is embarking on a project to create an accurate model of Zheng He Treasure Ship. The process includes the setting up of workshops and seminars to discuss the dimension, design and features of a Ming Dynasty sailing junk. We write to you to get ideas, suggestions and feedback to help us with this project.

Background: Singapore, through the coordination of the Singapore Tourism Board, will be celebrating the 600th Anniversary of Admiral Zheng He' voyage. Several celebratory programmes are planned (Please see Appendix). One programme is the building of a high quality Baochuan (Treasure Ship) Model to act as the centre piece of the celebration. The intention is not only to construct one of the best researched Baochuan models, but also to document the process, so that Singapore, as an international maritime centre, can contribute to the understanding of Zheng He's enterprise. This project is undertaken by "Friends of Admiral Zheng He" with the support of the Singapore Tourism Board.

We hope to set up one workshop in Singapore and two in China to gather together scholars and experts to discuss this matter.

Workshop Title: "Unravelling the Mystery of the Size and Design of the Baochuan"

Objective: To deliberate on the dimensions, design and features of the Zheng He Baochuan in order to construct one (or more) detailed ship model of high quality and accuracy as a centrepiece for the celebration of the 600th Anniversary of Admiral Zheng He's voyages.

Venue for the Seminar: Singapore, Nanjing, Shanghai/Quanzhou (or other suitable cities)

Agenda for the Seminar:

1) Discuss the current status of research concerning the size and design of the Baochuan

2) Identify the leading scholars, past & present, who has made serious studies in this subject

3) Collate the most commonly accepted concepts

4) Investigate the pros & cons of the commonly accepted concepts

5) Propose improvement and modifications for a more authentic design.

Each workshop will last a day.

The results of such deliberation will be used to build a large Baochuan model.

We would like to have your assistance on the following:

1) Leads regarding the identity of scholars/and experts in the study of Zheng He’s Baochuan

2) Reference to past and current data, documents and material on this subject

3) Your opinion regarding the dimensions, design and feature of the Baochuan

4) Any reference material on ancient Chinese sailing and shipbuilding technology.

In addition, we would appreciate if you can forward this email to anyone whom you think can be interested in participating in this project.

Please send your suggestions and comments to:

Mr Chung Chee Kit

Director

"Friends of Admiral Zheng He"

Tel: 65-64332361

HP: 65-96210213

Email: [email protected]

=======================

Group on quest to recreate Zheng He's ship
An Article from the Singapore Straits Times

By Joann Tan

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

To mark 600th anniversary of Chinese explorer's first trip, they aim to learn what his ship looked like and make model

FORTY avid followers of the famed Chinese explorer Zheng He (Cheng Ho) want to recreate his flagship to commemorate the 600th anniversary of the 15th-century seafarer's maiden voyage next year.

The problem is no one is quite sure what it looked like or the size of the vessel, called the Treasure Ship.

So the group, the Friends Of Admiral Zheng He Society, intends to hold discussions on this in Singapore and several other cities around the world next year.

The admiral was born in 1371 in Yunnan, a province in China's south-west. Over 28 years, he visited around 30 countries, going as far as the Middle East. He kept a detailed logbook and made nautical charts of each voyage, which involved an armada of 300 ships carrying 27,000 sailors and soldiers.

Some historians claim it was he, and not Italian Christopher Columbus, who was the world's first ocean navigator as his seven voyages were made between 1405 and 1433. The Italian explorer's first voyage was only in 1492.

The admiral travelled on the order of the Chinese Emperor to establish trade relations with countries west of China. A Muslim, he is said to have contributed to the spread of Islam.

The society's secretary, Mr Chung Chee Kit, said determining the vessel's dimensions is vital as these affect its ability to navigate and float.

'For a long time, the West has been sceptical about Zheng He and Chinese technology. We're really trying to separate the myth from reality and to promote the awareness of Zheng He.'

The Treasure Ship was said to have had 1,000 men on board, 10 times more men than the Santa Maria, Columbus' flagship, which was said to be 27m long and 9m wide.

The size of the model to be built will depend on the society's funds. The model will be displayed at the international Zheng He exhibition at the National Library's new Bras Basah premises in August next year, along with Zheng He-related artefacts like porcelain pieces and books.

The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) plans to mark the anniversary with musicals, plays and movies of Zheng He, as well as build a statue of the Chinese explorer.

It will also put up two rock structures, called Long Ya Men (Dragon's Teeth Gate), at Labrador Park. The original structures there were apparently used by the admiral as navigational markers. They were destroyed in the mid-19th century.

STB assistant chief executive of leisure Gerald Lee said: 'Zheng He's anniversary will be a way for Singapore to celebrate its maritime heritage.'

Comments

[Philip Rose-Taylor]

I am an experienced traditional sailing ship sailmaker and last made a voyage in the Swedish East Indiaman 'Gotheborg' in 1996 to Shanghai. I am interested to work in the far east, regarding historical ships.
I am well able to instruct in sailmaking and rigging. Can send C/V.
P Rose-Taylor.

[Keith Duffield]

Philip Rose-Taylor:

I am trying contact you, as you were the First-Mate of the Nonsuch. Adrian and the crew are having a Reunion in Winnipeg (30 May - 1 Jun 2008). Can you come - then contact Kristin at Gotheborg Media Relations? Excellent work aboard the Gotheborg, by the way.

[Ross MacDiarmid]

Philip. I am wanting to contact you for old times sake and to talk about sailing across the Pacific in SV Spindrift. Tahiti to Newcastle 1981. Great memories. Ross MacDiarmid

[Warwick Alliston]

To Philip Rose-Taylor; I am Warwick Alliston formerly of Three Hummock Island, Bass Strait, Australia. We were shipmates in the Wongala. I now live and work in Papua Barat, Indonesia and would very much like to establish contact.

I also own and operate a charter ketch "Helena" in the Raja Ampat islands of Papua.

Wishing you well

Warwick

[Philip Rose-Taylor]

Hello Ross;
I have only just seen you message on the Baochuan web-site. Yes, do get in contact.

[Philip Rose-Taylor]

Hello Warwick;
Such a pleasant surprise, do please get in contact.

[Warwick Alliston]

Dear Philip-- Are you on e-mail?? My best e-mail address is [email protected].
I would like to send you some news of the family and also exchange some ideas on matters maritime.

All the best wick

Tel: +62 811485371 email: [email protected]

[dennis bradley]

Hey Philip, Dennis Bradley here in Duluth, MN. I was the PHJ (pier head jump as Adrian put it) helping to take ship apart at Frazer Ship yd. Glad to hear youre still sailing the replicas. I spend Winter's in Ft. Myers FL area--have myself a replica of Commodore Munroe's Egret. 28 ft cat ketch that I've converted to schooner with Jib set flying. Its Wood but have added copper bottom and rebuilt spars etc etc. Draws a Foot so perfect for the area. Cruise it mostly solo on west coast of FL but have had it on Lake Superior, Lake Powell (Colo. River reservoir) Chesapeake. Will be 70 this October. Minnesota boat is a Bolger Long Micro I built--cat yawl fixed keel 19'6". Fond memories of Nonsuch lo these many yrs ago. Just had whim to Google you.

[email protected]

[air jordan]

It really a useful idea.I will have a tiral of this idea as soon as possible as have already frustrated by them for a long time.Thank you very much for your continously post of effective tips.

[cheap jordans]

Wonderful blogs, but about the last two paragraphs (mean I don't really understand. Can you explain it?

[Largillier didier]

Good evening from Paris !
Sorry for my english not so good but better than my chinese !
I'm very interresting by the story of Zheng He and i just discover your site and your project to buil a model of the treasure ship. Did you succeded in building this model ? Do you have some picture ?
If yes do you think you could give some blueprints or schemes to try to build a small model ?
I hope not to surprised of my request, it's not for a commercial purpose i'm just an amator passionated by the expeditions and story of Zheng He.
Best regards from Paris

Didier Largillier
92 avenue Victor Hugo
92100 Boulogne Billancourt
M : +336 07 64 79 64

[Timberland Store]

Good stuff as per usual, thanks. I do hope this kind of thing gets more exposure.