Since the Song Dynasty and possibly earlier, Chinese navigators had started writing down records of routes as well as navigational theories and practices, such as mnemonics and prayers, which were compiled into compendiums called “compass journals” (針路簿). One such “journal”, in the collection of the Bodleian Library at Oxford University, is known as “Fair Wind for Escort” (Shunfeng Xiangsong《順風相送》). The compendium recorded in detailed chapters the routes used by Chinese navigators in the 15th century onwards for voyages from various Chinese ports to overseas destinations.[13] They included precise compass bearings to be taken by the junks, using certain reference points such as easily recognisable islands to verify their positions along the routes.
Shunfeng Xiangsong frequently referred to Nanting Shan (南亭山), today’s Dawan Shan Island (大萬山島), Gong Xie Shan (弓鞋山), modern day Ai Zhou (隘洲), which is an island to the west of the Dangan Islands (擔桿列島), and Tung Keung (東羌), a small but easily recognisable island next to Hong Kong’s Po Toi Island (蒲台島).[14] The three islands were sometimes mentioned together as reference points for setting compass bearings for navigators. Two of these important navigational landmarks were just an arrow’s flight south of the Hong Kong region, while Tung Keung (marked in modern Hong Kong maps as Sung Keung 宋羌) was well inside the Hong Kong area. Shunfeng Xiangsong mentioned these islands individually or as a group at least nine times.[15] Almost all routes emanating from Fujian and Guangdong used these islands as beacon points. Another equally important compendium, “Truthful Compass Journal” (Zhinan Zhengfa 《指南正法》), mentioned these islands 13 times.[16]
The famous Zheng He (鄭和) Navigation Chart also included Gong Xie Shan and Tung Keung, in addition to drawing the island of Hong Kong in the chart as Fat Tong Mun (佛堂門).[17] The importance of these outlying islands as transit and reference points in shipping in those days of sailing junks need not be further emphasised.
Notes:
- [13]J. V. Mills, ‘Chinese Navigators in Insulinde about A.D. 1500’, Trade and Shipping in the Southern Seas: Selected Readings from Archipel 18 (Bangkok: SPAFA Co-ordinating Unit, 1985), pp. 38-39.
- [14]In Yue Da Ji (《粵大記》) , Tung Keung (東羌) was drawn to the east of Po Toi (蒲台); In Ruan Yuan’s Guangdong Gazetteer (阮元：《廣東通志》), 1822, it was specifically mentioned that ‘Tung Keung is to the east of Po Toi’; in 嶺南少岩氏：《新安縣全圖》, Tung Keung (宋羌(東羌)) is said to be found in between Po Toi (蒲台) and Waglan Island (橫欄), same as on other modern Hong Kong maps.
- [15]向達校注：《兩種海道針經．順風相送》（北京：中華書局，2000）。
- [16]向達校注：《兩種海道針經．指南正法》（北京：中華書局，2000）。
- [17]In many Ming maps, the island of Hong Kong was often marked as Fat Tong Mun, which is probably a misunderstanding. The name Fat Tong Mun should denote today’s strait between Tung Lung Chau (東龍洲) and the Clear Water Bay Peninsula (清水灣半島).
Part 1 Chapter 1.5 - The Hong Kong region in navigation records and maritime charts
