This week I read an intro from Fei Xin to a survey on what countries the Star Raft ship has visited. I found it interesting that a lot of the intro was just spent praising the emperor. He says the emperor swept away the barbarians of the last dynasty to found something better which has nothing to do with a ship visiting other countries. Maybe Fei Xin thought he needed to prove that he was loyal to the emperor and something bad would happen if he didn’t. Or maybe this kind of overwhelming devotion was common across most published works of this type.
The way Fei Xin talks about visiting foreign countries is also interesting. There is a bit that mentions civilizing others, but that’s not what’s focused on. He focuses on learning about other countries from their customs to the geography. He isn’t that concerned with how to use what’s there to China’s benefit unlike European countries.
I also looked at a Chinese map of the world from 1602. It’s interesting in how it mixes scientific discussion, myths, and absurd statements together. One part is about the sizes of the sun, earth, and moon, one part is about Mount Atlas where the sun always shines and there’s no other weather, and one says that England has no venomous creatures.
I also thought about my next show and tell. I don’t know how I want to do it, but I know it’ll be about painting.
Next week I’ll work more on my next show and tell.
