Wang Dayuan
Encyclopedia
Wang Dayuan was a traveller from Quanzhou
, China
during the Yuan Dynasty
in the 14th century. He made two major trips on ships. During 1328-1333, he sailed along the South China Sea
and visited many places in Southeast Asia
and reached as far as South Asia
, landing in Sri Lanka
and India
. In 1334-1339 he visited north Africa
and East Africa
.
Around 1330, Wang visited the island of Singapore
, where he wrote about a small settlement called Dan Ma Xi (淡马锡, from Malay Tamasik) with Malay and Chinese residents. His account of his travel, Daoyi Zhilue Guangzheng Xia (Dao Yi Zhi Lue
) dated in 1349, is one of the few records documenting the early history of Singapore
.
Quanzhou
Quanzhou is a prefecture-level city in Fujian province, People's Republic of China. It borders all other prefecture-level cities in Fujian but two and faces the Taiwan Strait...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
during the Yuan Dynasty
Yuan Dynasty
The Yuan Dynasty , or Great Yuan Empire was a ruling dynasty founded by the Mongol leader Kublai Khan, who ruled most of present-day China, all of modern Mongolia and its surrounding areas, lasting officially from 1271 to 1368. It is considered both as a division of the Mongol Empire and as an...
in the 14th century. He made two major trips on ships. During 1328-1333, he sailed along the South China Sea
South China Sea
The South China Sea is a marginal sea that is part of the Pacific Ocean, encompassing an area from the Singapore and Malacca Straits to the Strait of Taiwan of around...
and visited many places in Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
and reached as far as South Asia
South Asia
South Asia, also known as Southern Asia, is the southern region of the Asian continent, which comprises the sub-Himalayan countries and, for some authorities , also includes the adjoining countries to the west and the east...
, landing in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
and India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. In 1334-1339 he visited north Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
and East Africa
East Africa
East Africa or Eastern Africa is the easterly region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. In the UN scheme of geographic regions, 19 territories constitute Eastern Africa:...
.
Around 1330, Wang visited the island of Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
, where he wrote about a small settlement called Dan Ma Xi (淡马锡, from Malay Tamasik) with Malay and Chinese residents. His account of his travel, Daoyi Zhilue Guangzheng Xia (Dao Yi Zhi Lue
Dao Yi Zhi Lue
Dao Yi Zhi Lue or Dao Yi Zhi is a book written c. 1330 by Yuan Dynasty Chinese traveller Wang Dayuan 汪大渊 recounting his travels to over a hundred places in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Africa. The book was written in present day Sri Lanka. It described the weather, products, people, and...
) dated in 1349, is one of the few records documenting the early history of Singapore
Early history of Singapore
The early history of Singapore refers to the history of Singapore before 1819, when the British established a trading settlement on the island and set in motion the history of 'modern Singapore'. Prior to 1819, Singapore was known by several names in written records dating back as early as the 2nd...
.