A Selection of Studies on Zheng He's Voyages to the West: 1905-2005

Author: Organizing Committee for the Celebration of the 600th Anniversary of Zheng He's Voyages to the West
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-07-01
Features: It has been exactly 100 years since Liang Qichao published "Great Navigator of Our Country, Zheng He," marking the centennial of Zheng He studies. The Selected Works on Zheng He's Voyages to the West (1905–2005) primarily compiles research achievements over the past 100 years, selecting and compiling discussions published by domestic scholars over the decades. This academic anthology, themed around "loving the motherland, fostering friendly relations with neighbors, and scientific navigation," adheres to the principles of "letting a hundred flowers bloom and letting a hundred schools of thought contend" and "making the old serve the new." It aims to promote Zheng He's maritime achievements and inherit maritime culture, ensuring a clear research narrative, comprehensive mainstream viewpoints, and a well-rounded field of study. The book includes 108 selected papers.
The editorial committee of The Selected Works on Zheng He's Voyages to the West (1905–2005) (hereinafter referred to as The Selected Works) held a meeting in Beijing to review the Selected Works, which was organized and edited by experts under the guidance of the Organizing Committee for the Celebration of the 600th Anniversary of Zheng He's Voyages to the West. On behalf of the Director of the Committee, Minister Zhang Chunxian, and the three Deputy Directors, Comrade Yao Mingde, Director of the Organizing Committee and Editor-in-Chief of The Selected Works, presided over the meeting. The editorial committee consisted of representatives from some member units of the Organizing Committee and several historians and Zheng He study experts, with over 20 committee members in attendance.
After reviewing the editorial report of The Selected Works, the committee meticulously examined the submitted manuscript of the catalog. The meeting concluded that the Selected Works effectively reflects research achievements on Zheng He's maritime activities since 1905, demonstrates the fundamental trajectory of a century of Zheng He studies, and upholds the principle of "letting a hundred flowers bloom and letting a hundred schools of thought contend." It is a significant outcome of the national commemoration of the 600th anniversary of Zheng He's voyages to the west. Additionally, attending experts proposed revisions to further improve the catalog of The Selected Works. These suggestions will be reviewed by the Editor-in-Chief of The Selected Works in accordance with editorial procedures, and the final draft will be approved by the Director of the editorial committee.
The Selected Works is an anthology of papers reflecting research on Zheng He's voyages to the west over the past century, organized and compiled by the Organizing Committee for the Celebration of the 600th Anniversary of Zheng He's Voyages to the West. The editorial work began in late 2004. After thorough preparations, including publishing plans, drafting an editorial outline, and coordinating contributing experts, the specific editorial process commenced in early this year, adhering to high-quality and high-standard requirements.
On February 19, a th editorial meeting was held in Beijing to define editorial tasks and align editorial perspectives, resulting in the foundational catalog framework and catalog of The Selected Works. A second editorial meeting was held from March 26 to 28 in Nanjing, which finalized the preliminary draft of the catalog. Subsequently, multiple rounds of expert feedback and revisions were conducted. On May 16–17, a third editorial meeting was held in Beijing to discuss expert opinions, compile the unified catalog of The Selected Works, and finalize the submitted manuscript for review.