Under the Sea: China’s Quest for Maritime History
This article examines how the Chinese political and academic discourses have constructed a narrative of China as a peaceful maritime power and the role that underwater archaeology has played in narrating China's rise. The ancient Chinese concept of tianxia (天下) is a central part of the Chinese...
Saved in:
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
SAGE Publishing
2025-08-01
|
| Series: | Journal of Current Chinese Affairs |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1177/18681026241283070 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849404356140466176 |
|---|---|
| author | Frederik Schmitz |
| author_facet | Frederik Schmitz |
| author_sort | Frederik Schmitz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This article examines how the Chinese political and academic discourses have constructed a narrative of China as a peaceful maritime power and the role that underwater archaeology has played in narrating China's rise. The ancient Chinese concept of tianxia (天下) is a central part of the Chinese elites’ discourse on maritime policy. This concept, translated as “all under heaven,” forms part of China's effort to produce historical statecraft using textual sources and underwater archaeological artefacts. In this narrative, the historical figure of Zheng He became a prominent representative of China's peacefulness, refuting concerns regarding the purposes of a more assertive Chinese foreign policy. Studying tianxia under the sea thus contributes to forming a better understanding of the production of narratives respecting China's rise. In particular, underwater archaeology is highlighted as an authoritative source of evidence underpinning and reinforcing narratives of China as an ancient and peaceful maritime nation. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d44f6ac1aee047dc96b613cd4b442f11 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1868-1026 1868-4874 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | SAGE Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Current Chinese Affairs |
| spelling | doaj-art-d44f6ac1aee047dc96b613cd4b442f112025-08-20T03:37:01ZengSAGE PublishingJournal of Current Chinese Affairs1868-10261868-48742025-08-015410.1177/18681026241283070 Under the Sea: China’s Quest for Maritime HistoryFrederik SchmitzThis article examines how the Chinese political and academic discourses have constructed a narrative of China as a peaceful maritime power and the role that underwater archaeology has played in narrating China's rise. The ancient Chinese concept of tianxia (天下) is a central part of the Chinese elites’ discourse on maritime policy. This concept, translated as “all under heaven,” forms part of China's effort to produce historical statecraft using textual sources and underwater archaeological artefacts. In this narrative, the historical figure of Zheng He became a prominent representative of China's peacefulness, refuting concerns regarding the purposes of a more assertive Chinese foreign policy. Studying tianxia under the sea thus contributes to forming a better understanding of the production of narratives respecting China's rise. In particular, underwater archaeology is highlighted as an authoritative source of evidence underpinning and reinforcing narratives of China as an ancient and peaceful maritime nation.https://doi.org/10.1177/18681026241283070 |
| spellingShingle | Frederik Schmitz Under the Sea: China’s Quest for Maritime History Journal of Current Chinese Affairs |
| title | Under the Sea: China’s Quest for Maritime History |
| title_full | Under the Sea: China’s Quest for Maritime History |
| title_fullStr | Under the Sea: China’s Quest for Maritime History |
| title_full_unstemmed | Under the Sea: China’s Quest for Maritime History |
| title_short | Under the Sea: China’s Quest for Maritime History |
| title_sort | under the sea china s quest for maritime history |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1177/18681026241283070 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT frederikschmitz undertheseachinasquestformaritimehistory |