Did the Chinese arrive first?
To the Chinese, Columbus has never been much of a hero. Three years ago, a Chinese historical journal denounced him as a "colonial pirate" for setting sail to pillage Asia. Now a Chinese scholar is claiming that Columbus may have been beaten to the New World by a 5th century Buddhist monk named Huishen.
Sinologists have long known of the monk's voyage to a mysterious land called Fusang. But its location has been a source of contention. So has the veracity of his tales, which were questioned even by his contemporaries. Still, some modern scholars say Fusang could...
To continue reading:
or
Log-In
