Skip to main content
  • Book
  • Open Access
  • © 2023

Splendors of Quanzhou, Past and Present

Authors:

  • Is suggested 20 years ago by then governor of Fujian, Jinping Xi

  • Shows how cooperation between Chinese and foreigners helped kindle the innovativeness behind Quanzhou’s prosperity

  • Explains why Quanzhou was the Middle Ages’ greatest melting pot and center of cultural and commercial exchanges

  • Explains why Quanzhou was the Middle Ages’ greatest melting pot and center of cultural and commercial exchanges

Buy it now

Buying options

Softcover Book USD 49.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 59.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access

Table of contents (16 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xi
  2. Quanzhou at a Glance

    • William N. Brown
    Pages 1-3Open Access
  3. The Story of Zaytun

    • William N. Brown
    Pages 5-15Open Access
  4. Exploring Quanzhou Maritime Museum

    • William N. Brown
    Pages 17-28Open Access
  5. Exploring the Ancient Maritime Silk Road in Today’s Quanzhou

    • William N. Brown
    Pages 29-45Open Access
  6. Quanzhou: Home of Miraculous Chinese Puppets!

    • William N. Brown
    Pages 47-50Open Access
  7. Academy Upon the Sea—Past and Present

    • William N. Brown
    Pages 51-57Open Access
  8. Records of Ancient Zaytun

    • William N. Brown
    Pages 59-67Open Access
  9. Quanzhou—A Love of Nature Since Time Immemorial

    • William N. Brown
    Pages 69-71Open Access
  10. Zayton, City of Bridges

    • William N. Brown
    Pages 73-78Open Access
  11. Enchanting Hui’an

    • William N. Brown
    Pages 79-93Open Access
  12. Nan’an—Home of Koxinga

    • William N. Brown
    Pages 95-103Open Access
  13. Jinjiang and Shishi

    • William N. Brown
    Pages 105-112Open Access
  14. Anxi—Oolong Tea Capital of China

    • William N. Brown
    Pages 113-120Open Access
  15. Dehua—China’s Ancient Porcelain Production Center

    • William N. Brown
    Pages 121-125Open Access
  16. Quanzhou—Home of Minnan Cuisine

    • William N. Brown
    Pages 127-134Open Access
  17. Captivating Quanzhou Specialties

    • William N. Brown
    Pages 135-137Open Access

About this book

This open access book explores the past and present of Quanzhou (Zayton) and the rich diversity and tolerance that kindled Quanzhou’s innovativeness and helped it prosper both commercially and culturally—values that are today being embraced by China’s global trade partners.

 

Quanzhou (Zayton), Marco Polo’s port of departure and Columbus’ goal in China, was not only the start of the Maritime Silk Road and the Middle Age’s greatest port but also centuries ahead of its time in its tolerance and diversity. The fabled “City of Light” had 7 mosques for its 40,000 Muslims, some of whom served in government, as well as 3 Franciscan cathedrals funded in part by the emperor, Jewish synagogues, and centers for Nestorian Christians, Hindus, Taoists, Manicheans, Jains, etc. As Franciscan Bishop Andrew of Perugia wrote in 1322, “Tis a fact that in this vast empire, there are people of every nation under heaven, and every sect, and all and sundry are allowed to live freely according to their creed.”

 

In 2021, UNESCO designated “Quanzhou, Emporium of the World,” as a world heritage site, and the city is now the hub of the Belt and Road Initiative, the 21st Century Silk Road, which was inspired by ancient Quanzhou.





Keywords

  • Maritime Silk Road
  • Admiral Zheng He and Sinbad
  • Chinese White Porcelain
  • Chinese Marionettes
  • Koxinga and Zhengchenggong
  • Southern Shaolin Kung Fu
  • Belt and Road Initiative
  • Islam in China
  • Ibn Battuta in China
  • Nestorian Christians in China
  • China UNESCO World Heritage
  • Open Access

Authors and Affiliations

  • MBA Center, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China

    William N. Brown

About the author

 Dr. William Brown, at Xiamen University since 1988, is OneMBA academic director and professor of Leadership and Strategy. Fujian’s first foreign PR, he has driven over 200,000 km around China exploring its development, co-written and hosted over 400 TV episodes and consulted with cities on urban and rural development. Honors have included China’s “Friendship Award,” “Honorary Citizen of Fujian” from then-governor Xi Jinping, “Top Ten Educator 1954-2014” and “CCTV’s Moving China 2019” award. He published Chasing the Chinese Dream with Springer in 2021. 

Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: Splendors of Quanzhou, Past and Present

  • Authors: William N. Brown

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-8036-7

  • Publisher: Springer Singapore

  • eBook Packages: History, History (R0)

  • Copyright Information: NewChannel International Education Group Limited 2023

  • License: CC BY-NC-ND

  • Hardcover ISBN: 978-981-19-8035-0Published: 22 December 2022

  • Softcover ISBN: 978-981-19-8038-1Published: 18 December 2022

  • eBook ISBN: 978-981-19-8036-7Published: 21 December 2022

  • Edition Number: 1

  • Number of Pages: XI, 137

  • Number of Illustrations: 1 b/w illustrations, 30 illustrations in colour

  • Topics: History of China, Urban Studies/Sociology, Organizational Studies, Economic Sociology, Contemporary Literature

Buy it now

Buying options

Softcover Book USD 49.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 59.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access