Rooting, flourishing and cultural exchange of Chinese ancestors along the South Seas Maritime Silk Road before the Qing Dynasty

The Maritime Silk Road of the Chinese ancestors was characterized by the establishment and the flourishing and rooting of Chinese settlements across various regions, and by the long-term practice of cultural exchange and mutual learning. Its background lay in the continuous advancement of navigation and shipbuilding knowledge from the Han to the Song dynasties. With large ships capable of carrying hundreds of people, the number of crew members landing and staying at different ports increased. The shortening of sailing days and distances also extended the time people spent stationed locally while waiting for the monsoon to change direction, allowing them to reside in port areas for half a year or even longer each year, engaging in trade and livelihood activities with neighboring regions. As a result, the ancestors possessed the objective conditions to achieve long-term transoceanic settlement, with family or business members taking turns to reside overseas, thereby forming a unique way of life in which complete families or clans were sustained through cross-sea human and resource connections. Historical records from the Song, Yuan, and Ming dynasties repeatedly mention Chinese settlements at ports throughout the South Seas—particularly the ancient port-state of Jugang (巨港, Palembang) under Chinese control since the Yuan and Ming periods, as well as surrounding Chinese villages and towns. These accounts clearly show that the Chinese language and script had long been in use across the maritime region. Through cultural exchange, economic development, and social participation, the Chinese continuously contributed to forging a shared community of life in the South Seas.