Shipwreck Treasure off Coastal Malaysia

This emperor was responsible for unifying China, establishing a central government with an effective system of administration, promoting technological innovation and foreign diplomatic relations.

A Sisatchanalai celadon plate with floral motif.

This storage jar with blackish brown glaze is believed to originate from Maenam Noi, Singburi, Thailand.

This ewer appears to have been custom-made for foreign markets.

Sisatchanalai covered box with black underglaze from the Sisatchanalai kilns of Thailand.

This bottle is encrypted with the words "A Van Hovoken & Co Rotterdam".

(Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Cape_Rachado)

(The above is a painting of Admiral Alfonso de Albuquerque - The National Museum of Ancient Art, Lisbon, Portugal)

The Portuguese in Malacca were later defeated by the Dutch in CE 1641.

(Source: //en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfonso_de_Albuquerque)

I have some links below that might help you locate the best beaches and dive spots in Malaysia. "Selamat Datang ke Malaysia" ! ("WELCOME TO MALAYSIA !" in the Malay language).

This is a joss stick holder in the figure of a headless crane probably made from the Dehua kilns of Fujian province, China.

The "Wanli" ship (probably not its original name) is presumably named after the Emperor Wanli. It is worth noting that at the time the Wanli ship sank, the Ming Dynasty was also on a tragic course towards oblivion.

At the age of 9, Wanli became emperor and in his early years he ruled under the guidance of elder statesmen. During his early reign the Ming Dynasty's economic and military power prospered. But sadly, towards the end of his rule mainly due to the emperor's gross mismanagement and selfish ambitions, the dynasty progressively declined and was finaly overthrown by the Manchus in CE 1644. The Emperor has been described as obese, extremely self indulgent (he spent huge amounts of state resources to construct his own tomb) and was thought to be an opium addict in his later years.

(Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wanli_Emperor )

(The above is an engraving of George Macartney (CE 1737 - CE 1806), the 1st Earl Macartney, an Irish born British citizen who became the first envoy of Britain to China in CE 1792. This was during the reign of the Qing Dynasty where China's foriegn trade flourished)

By the end of the 17th century under the Qing Dynasty, the Chinese economy began to heal from the war-torn days when the Ming Dynasty was overthrown. Order was restored and markets began to expand as in the late Ming period. Foreign trade was reestablished with the re-opening of the southeast coast which had been previously closed. At the height of the Qing Dynasty in the late18th century, China's economy had expanded sizeably. Strong exports of tea, silk and other manufactured goods resulted in a large, favorable trade balance with the West. The inflow of silver into the country further fueled economic growth.

Sadly though its military power weakened therefater. Faced by massive rebellions and defeats in wars, the Qing Dynasty declined after the mid-19th century. The Qing Dynasty was overthrown following the Xinhai Revolution, when Empress Dowager Longyu abdicated on behalf of the last emperor, Puyi, on February 12, 1912.

(Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qing_Dynasty )

A seal-scripted dish from The Qing Dynasty

I thought I might end with a picture of some happy faces cheering you for reading my short compilation of Malaysian shipwrecks. By the way, if you look closely at this photo, you'll see Malays, Chinese, Indians, and a mix of people in various combinations ...its puzzling isn't it? (I'm of ethnic Chinese origin with a slight shade of Malay in me, I think.)

That's what happens to places that are at the cross-roads of very different civilizations, I suppose. But I thank my ancestors for braving the perilous blue waters so that I may have a better life here.