A book, written by a Chinese professor, offers academic validation of China’s stance on the South China Sea, while delving into the profound historical bond between Chinese fishermen and the enigmatic “Genlubu.”
Titled “An Arcane Book about the South China Sea,” this book is written by Zhou Weimin, a professor at Hainan University. It is the first book in China studying ‘Genlubu,’ a term used for various editions of ancient handwritten books recording sailing routes in the South China Sea.
Zhou’s expertise in this field spans over three decades, with his meticulous research on “Genlubu” commencing in 1989 at Hainan University. The publication of his groundbreaking book in 2015, amid the Philippines’ arbitration against China, Zhou contends that the international community needs to know the full extent of China’s historical claims.
Widely hailed by experts, Zhou’s book provides irrefutable evidence supporting China’s sovereignty over Huangyan Island.
“We call it “The Arcane Book about the South China Sea.” It was used by those who went to the South China Sea. Ordinary people can’t read it. Only fishing boat captains could understand it. This is something we need to explicitly clarify in the book. Our fishermen had already been exploring the South China Sea before Zheng He’s voyages to the West during the Ming Dynasty,” said Zhou.
“Genlubu,” which traces its origins back over six centuries, is a testament to China’s enduring maritime legacy.
“These old captains carried their “Genlubu” with them throughout their lives. They helped them make fortunes. So they had deep feelings for the South China Sea. So when the old captains reached their twilight years, they would take out their “Genlubu” and pore over it. When they passed away, their families would burn the “Genlubu”‘ and their clothes together,” said Zhou.
Despite the scarcity of surviving copies, Zhou’s compilation boasts 24 versions, embodying centuries of navigational wisdom. Each meticulously crafted map not only serves as a navigational aid but also as a repository of invaluable geographical insights.
“We’ve spent a lot of time on the fieldwork. We’ve collected different versions of “Genlubu” and compiled them into one book. so that people could continue to study them. They are some of the most important folk documents other than historical and archeological evidence,” said Zhou.
As a Tanmen fishing boat captain, Su Chengfen has three “Genlubu.” The maps cover most of the disputed islands, including Huangyan Island. In 2015, he built a ship model when he was 80 years old.
“This model boat was made by senior boat captain Su Chengfen. When he was old, he said ‘I might die soon. I’ll use the wood from sunken ships that didn’t rot.’ He made a model boat for me. When people see this boat again, they will know how they made it back in the Age of Sail when there were no engines, and how we labored. This bamboo tube is a simple tool. But when they were at sea, if their matches got wet, they wouldn’t be able to make a fire to cook for several days. Su Chengfen and his crew put matches in the tube and closed the cap. The water wouldn’t get in no matter how rough the waves were. These fishermen all possessed great wisdom,” said Zhou.
Tragically, Su passed away in 2021, but his fervent desire for Hainan University students to inherit the seafaring wisdom of their predecessors lives on.
“This is the head sail, this is the main sail. When the storms were strong enough to overturn the boat, we had to close down the sails,” said Su.
Through Zhou’s tireless efforts and Su’s invaluable legacy, the intricate tapestry of China’s maritime history continues to be unveiled, enlightening scholars and seafarers alike.