Ancient China

Schottenhammer (2001) focus

• Examines maritime trade at Quanzhou during the Song Dynasty.

Importance of Quanzhou

• Quanzhou was a critical node on the Maritime Silk Road — extending north to Korea and Japan, west to India, Sri Lanka, and into East/West Africa.

• It was an economic powerhouse and cultural melting pot

What role did metals play in Song Dynasty maritime trade?

• Copper, silver, and bronze constituted coinage and payment mechanisms for foreign merchants.

• Their availability shaped the entire trade network

What was the Huizi?

• Paper currency introduced to ease metal scarcity.

Issue with Huizi

• Foreign trading partners often refused it, still insisting on metal exchange

• The whole port network had to adapt to shifting monetary supply.

Quanzhou as a liminal space

• Foreign merchants settled in harbour cities like Quanzhou, forming 'foreigners' communities'.

• Their tombstones are strong material evidence for this cosmopolitan character

Quanzhou shipwreck

• A Southern Song trading vessel sunk c.1277.

• Cargo: 4,700g+ of spice wood , ceramics , 504 copper coins

• Route identified as returning from Borneo →hull creatures confirm stops at Singapore and Siam.

Cargo Labels

• Wooden cargo labels recorded names, place names, and trade company names — some marking private goods of individual sailors.

• Directly demonstrates co-existing commercial systems

Comparison to Uluburun

• The commercial nature of the Quanzhou wreck is clear

• Both demonstrate co-existing commercial systems