Relics from Ancient Hero's Sunken Ship to be Salvaged

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, January 15, 2002

Relics from Ancient Hero's Sunken Ship to be Salvaged

Relics from an ancient sunken warship belonging to a national hero Zheng Chenggong, who led his army to drive out Dutch invaders occupied Taiwan in 1624, are to be salvaged in today's Dongshan sea area in the East China Sea, Fujian Province.

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Relics from an ancient sunken warship belonging to a national hero Zheng Chenggong, are to be salvaged.

Zheng Ghenggong's warship sank in today's Dongshan sea area in the East China Sea, Fujian Province. Chinese archaeologists have conducted an underwater survey to locate the relics and the salvage plan has been approved by the State Administration of Cultural Heritage.

Previously, archaeologists have salvaged a number of iron cannons, bronze blunderbusses, shells, landmines and porcelains at the relics site.

Archaeologists say more relics still remain on the sea bed.

Salvage operations will coincide with this year's commemoration of the 340th anniversary of Zheng Chenggong's reoccupation of Taiwan. China Central Television will report the salvage live.

At the end of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), Zheng Chenggong led his army to drive out Dutch invaders who occupied Taiwan in 1624, and Taiwan was reunited with China. Zheng died later that year.

Zheng Chenggong

Zheng Chenggong (1624---1662), a native of Shijing, Nan'an County, was born in Japan and returned to the homeland when he was seven. He studied in An'hai of Jinjiang City during his childhood.

As a famous national hero at the end of the Ming Dynasty and at the beginningof the Qing Dynasty, he commanded his army across the Taiwan Straits and recovered Taiwan during the period from April, 1661 to February, 1662. He forced the invaders from Holland to sign on the Capitulation, which boosted morales of Chinese people at that time.

Burdened with pressing duties for developing Taiwan, he died in 1662 and was buried at Zhouziwei in Tainan Prefecture. In 1699, the 38th year of Kangxi in the Qing Dynasty, Taiwan was incorporated into the territory of the Qing Dynasty. Permitted by Emperor Kangxi, the tombs of Zheng Chenggong and his son Zheng Jing, were moved to the hometown in Nan'an City by his grandson Zheng Keshuang.