A Selection of Studies on Zheng He's Voyages to the West (1905—2005)

Author: None
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-07-01
Features: ★16K hardcover, published by Ocean Press ★Written to commemorate the 600th anniversary of our great navigator Zheng He's voyages to the Western Oceans ★Preface written by Wen Jiabao, Li Tiying, Ji Xianlin, Zhou Guangzhao, Su Jilan, etc. for this book ★Clear structure, relatively complete academic viewpoints, and comprehensive main research areas ★Reflects the general outline of Zheng He studies over the past century Since Liang Qichao published "Our Great Navigator Zheng He," it has been exactly 100 years since the beginning of Zheng He studies. Zheng He's Voyages to the Western Oceans: A Selection of Studies (1905–2005) selects and compiles the research achievements of Zheng He over the past 100 years, carefully chosen from the works published by domestic scholars over the century. It is an academic collection edited around the themes of "loving the motherland, friendly neighborhood, and scientific navigation," adhering to the principle of "letting a hundred flowers bloom and letting a hundred schools of thought contend" and "using the old to serve the new." Based on promoting Zheng He's maritime achievements and inheriting maritime culture, this book strives for a clear research structure, complete mainstream viewpoints, and comprehensive research fields. The book includes a total of 108 selected papers.
The editorial committee of Zheng He's Voyages to the Western Oceans: A Selection of Studies (1905–2005) (hereinafter referred to as The Selection) held a meeting in Beijing to review the Selection, which was organized and edited by the Zheng He 600th Anniversary Celebration Preparation Leadership Group. On behalf of the Director of the editorial committee, Minister Zhang Chunxian, and the three deputy directors, Comrade Yao Mingde, Director of the Preparation Leadership Group Office and editor-in-chief of The Selection, presided over the meeting. The editorial committee consisted of representatives from some units of the Preparation Leadership Group and several historians and Zheng He study experts, with over 20 members in attendance.
After hearing the work report on the editing of The Selection, the meeting carefully reviewed the submitted manuscript of the editorial outline. The meeting concluded that The Selection well reflects the research achievements of Chinese scholars on Zheng He's maritime activities in various aspects since 1905, demonstrates the basic development of Zheng He studies over the past century, and adheres to the principle of "letting a hundred flowers bloom and letting a hundred schools of thought contend." It is an important outcome of the national commemoration of the 600th anniversary of Zheng He's voyages to the Western Oceans. At the same time, the attending experts also proposed revisions to further improve the editorial outline of The Selection. These suggestions will be studied by the editor-in-chief of The Selection according to the editorial process, and the final draft will be completed after approval by the director of the editorial committee of The Selection.
The Selection is an academic collection organized and edited by the Preparation Leadership Group for the Zheng He 600th Anniversary Celebration, reflecting the research achievements on Zheng He's voyages to the Western Oceans over the past century. The editing work of The Selection was launched at the end of 2004. After thorough preparation, including publishing plans, drafting editorial outlines, and coordinating participating experts, the specific editing work began early this year with the aim of high quality and high standards. On February 19, an editorial working meeting was held in Beijing to define editorial tasks and unify editorial concepts, forming the basic framework and outline of The Selection. On March 26–28, a second editorial working meeting was held in Nanjing, resulting in the preliminary draft of the editorial outline of The Selection. Subsequently, multiple expert opinions were solicited, and repeated revisions were made. On May 16–17, a third editorial working meeting was held in Beijing to discuss expert opinions, conduct a unified draft of The Selection, and form the submitted manuscript of the editorial outline.