Look Back to Ties between Taizhou, Korea 500 Years Ago

Source：Taizhou Information Center

2018-06-08 15:20

China and the Republic of Korea are close neighbors separated by only a strip of water, and Taizhou has close historical relations with Republic of Korea. In the first month in the 1st year of Hongzhi Reign (1488) in the Ming Dynasty, Choe Bu (1454~1504), a Korean official who was performing official business on Jeju Island, received a message saying that his father died and he needs to go back home for attending his father’s funeral. On his way home by boat, the fleet encountered a storm and the boat sank. After drifting on the sea for 14 days, Choe Bu and the other 42 people on the boat were rescued by villagers in Niutoumen (now the Pubagang Town in Sanmen County). This is the turning point of life and death for the 43 Korean people. In his “Records of Drifting on the Sea”, Choe Bu said that “I spit blood when I was drifting on the sea, and I didn’t have saliva in my mouth for three days. We managed to survive by chewing rice and drinking our urine.” When describing his landing on Sanmen County, Choe Bu said that “I was hungry and thirsty, almost dead. My skin color changed and I lost all my fingernails and toenails.” Villagers in Sanmen County tried as best as they can to save the Korean people’s life. “They gave us porridge, tea and wine. We can eat and drink whatever we want.”

After their identities were verified, Choe Bu and his companions were sent to Beijing by boat on the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal and were received by Emperor Hongzhi. Choe Bu stayed in China for 4 months and fourteen days and traveled for over 4,000 kilometers. After returning home, he used fluent Chinese language to write a book in diary style, telling his stories of how he and his servants drifted on the sea to China from the sea in front of Jeju Island and how he returned home safe and sound. This is the first book written by a foreigner on the Maritime Silk Road which introduced China to the outside world in details. It is renowned as the Travels of Marco Polo in the east.

Lotus Seeds 500 Years Ago Bloom Flowers Today

In Choe Bu’s home town: Jeolla, there is a famous scenic spot: Hoesan White Lotus Pond. Legend goes that lotus seeds have strong vitality; lotus seeds 500 years ago could still sprout, bloom and bear fruit 500 years later. Today, like lotus seeds, the story of Choe Bu drifting to China and being rescued by villagers will bear fruit of friendship among Chinese and Korean people.

Since China established diplomatic relations with Republic of Korea, Party committees and government of Taizhou on various levels attached great importance to the story of Choe Bu. Taking “Records of Drifting on the Sea” as media, Taizhou government actively engages in economic and cultural exchanges with Republic of Korea. Taizhou has signed a letter of intent for friendly exchanges with Naju City. Linhai has established sister city ties with Hoengseong County. Wenling has established sister city ties with West District of Daejeon City. Yuhuan County has established sister city ties with Dangjin City. Tiantai County has established sister city ties with Hwasun County. This time, Taizhou will sign a letter of intent for friendly exchanges with Donghae City.

韩国友城风光

Landscape of Taizhou’s Sister Cities in Republic of Korea

罗州市

Naju City