Posted 2019/1/16
The Marine Silk Road is a seaward passage for trade and cultural exchanges between China and other countries in the ancient times. This route starts from Guangzhou. With the South China Sea as its center, it is also called the Silk Road on the South China Sea. The Marine Silk Road was formed in the Qin and Han Dynasties, gained development in the Sui Dynasty and the three kingdoms period, developed in the Tang and Song Dynasties, and experienced changes in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The Marine Silk Road appeared prior to the Silk Road on land. It is the oldest sea route known in the world, and the main artery of the of the ancient sea lanes of traffic. It has two main start lines – the East China Sea and the South China Sea. China was in touch with the Malay Peninsula as early as in the Han Dynasty, and this relation became more closely after the Tang Dynasty. At that time, sailing was the most convenient way of exchanges between the two, and also a channel for trades between East and West. The main bulk cargo then was silk during the Sui and Tang Dynasties, therefore, the name of “Marine Silk Road” came into being. When it came to Song and Yuan Dynasties, the name was changed to “Marine Ceramic Road”, because porcelain gradually became the main export goods. At the same time, because the main import goods are spices, it was also called the “Marine Spices Road”.
