Page 51 - Vol_2_Archaeology of Manila Galleon Seaport Trade

1 Bound for America: A Historical and Archaeological … 17

Besides these seaport heritages next to Yuegang, there were a few outer wharfs
of Yuegang along the coast of Zhangzhou, such as Jiuzhen ($#) at Luxi (#%)in
Zhangpu county, Zhangjiang (!") of Yunxiao (,#) county, Gongkou (&() at
Dongxi ("%) of Zhaoan ("!) county, Zhanglin (!$) at Hanjiang ($") of
Chaozhou (&!) county, all of them had been flourishing as illegal smuggling
wharfs during the sea ban period and legal wharfs after “Opening Sea” of Longqing
period (since 1567).
As the main transiting terminals of Spanish Paci!c navigation with mainland of
eastern Asia, Yuegang grew up as the hub for early cultural interaction of the east
and west since the late 16th century. After then, a group of red brick buildings
hybridized with the east and west architectural cultures emerged in the Yuegang
and Amoy harbors and south coast of Fujian, reflecting the history of
Yuegang-Manila navigation and maritime cultural influence on the seaport archi-
tectural landscape.
The historical heritages of Spanish were also have been discovered in Yuegang-
Amoy harbors. A grave stone at Gulangyu ("##) of Amoy was investigated and
identi!ed as the remnant of destroyed tomb of a Spanish seaman MANUEL DE
ZESPEDES Y – CARRIAZO who died at Amoy in 1759, as one of the crew of
Manila galleon Guadalupe Mary SEN (O) RA. DE GUADALU PE (F. Wang 2017).
This discovery shows the maritime cultural change of Spanish galleon trade in
Yuegang-Amoy seaports after the permission from the imperial court in the 5th year
of Yongzheng ("") (1727) (Figs. 1.9 and 1.10).
A series of historical coins originated from Spain and new Spain in America
dating from 16th to 19th centuries were also concentratedly unearthed in Yuegang
harbor and adjacent coast of southern Fujian, including the old handmade cob type
coins with shield pattern and pillars and water pattern, machine milled pillar and
crowned hemispheres pattern (Fig. 1.11). The archaeological discovery and

Fig. 1.9 Canvas painting of waterfront landscape of Amoy in 1900 showing a lot of European
sailing boats and Chinese junks (From exhibition of Asian Civilization Museum, Singapore)