Historical Evidence of China’s Sovereignty over Diaoyu Dao and Its Affiliated Islands

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  Diaoyu Dao Was First Discovered, Named and Exploited by China

  Ancient ancestors in China first discovered and named Diaoyu Dao through their production and fishery activities on the sea. In China's historical literature, Diaoyu Dao was also known as Diaoyu-Yu, Diaoyu-Tai or Diaoyu-Shan. The earliest recorded names of Diaoyu Dao, Chiwei Yu and several other places can be found in Voyage with a Tail Wind (Shun Feng Xiang Song) which began to be written in 1403 (the first year of Emperor Yongle’s reign of the Ming Dynasty 1368-1644). This documentation proves China discovered and named Diaoyu Dao as early as the 14th and 15th centuries.

  
  
  

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  Diaoyu Dao Has Long Been under China's Jurisdiction

  As early as the Ming Dynasty, China utilized Diaoyu Dao as part of its Maritime defense against Japanese pirates attacking the southeast coast. In 1561 (the 40th year of Emperor Jiajing’s reign of the Ming Dynasty), An Illustrated Compendium on Maritime Security (Chou Hai Tu Bian) compiled by Zheng Ruozeng under the auspices of Hu Zongxian, the supreme commander of the southeast maritime defense of the Ming court, included Diaoyu Dao on the “Map of Coastal Mountains and Islands” (Yan Hai Shan Sha Tu) and incorporated it into the maritime defense plans. “The Complete Map of Unified Maritime Territory for Coastal Defense” (Qian Kun Yi Tong Hai Fang Quan Tu), drawn up by Xu Bida and others in 1605 (the 33rd year of Emperor Wanli’s reign of the Ming Dynasty) and the “Map of Fujian's Coastal Mountains and Islands” in Treatise on Military Preparations: Coastal Defense II (Wu Bei Zhi? Hai Fang Er? Fu Jian Yan Hai Shan Sha Tu), drawn up by Mao Yuanyi in 1621 (the 1st year of Emperor Tianqi’s reign of the Ming Dynasty), also included Diaoyu Dao as part of China's territory.

  
  
  

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  Chinese and Foreign Maps Show Diaoyu Dao Belongs to China

  Maps marking Diaoyu Dao as China's territory are found in records such as “The Roadmap to Ryukyu” (Liu Qiu Guo Hai Tu) in Records of the Imperial Title-Conferring Envoys to Ryukyu (Shi Liu Qiu Lu) by Xiao Chongye in 1579 (the 7th year of Emperor Wanli’s reign of the Ming Dynasty), Record of the Interpreters of August Ming (Huang Ming Xiang Xu Lu) by Mao Ruizheng in 1629 (the 2nd year of Emperor Chongzhen’s reign of the Ming Dynasty), “Great Universal Geographic Map” (Kun Yu Quan Tu) in 1767 (the 32nd year of Emperor Qianlong’s reign of the Qing Dynasty), and “Atlas of the Great Qing Dynasty” (Huang Chao Zhong Wai Yi Tong Yu Tu) published in 1863 (the 2nd year of Emperor Tongzhi’s reign of the Qing Dynasty).

  
  
  

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