Curiosmos
  • Home
  • Unsolved Mysteries
  • Ancient Civilizations
  • Cosmic Phenomena
  • Alien Theories
  • Curious Lists
No Result
View All Result
Like us on Facebook
Curiosmos
  • Home
  • Unsolved Mysteries
  • Ancient Civilizations
  • Cosmic Phenomena
  • Alien Theories
  • Curious Lists
No Result
View All Result
Curiosmos
No Result
View All Result

The Ancient Chinese May Have Traveled to America Before the Spanish

Ivan PetricevicbyIvan Petricevic
August 14, 2020 - Updated on January 21, 2024
in Ancient Civilizations
A Chinese map of the world from 1763. Reddit.

A Chinese map of the world from 1763. Reddit.

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

What if the ancient Chinese traveled to America before the Spanish? There are many similarities between ancient Mexican cultures and the ancient Chinese. The discovery of America is a historical moment that revolutionized the history of humankind not just because new territory had been found but because two entirely different cultures met. However, it is maintained that Christopher Columbus discovered America—various Caribbean islands and the coast of Central and South America but not North America.

Viking visits to America

Five hundred years before, Leif Eriksson and his Viking sailors set foot in North America and established a settlement there. Saying that America was discovered is a misnomer because there were various cultures when the Spanish and Vikings set foot on the continent. But what if neither the Spanish nor the Vikings were the first to “discover” America? One theory holds that the ancient Chinese landed in America even before the Spanish and the Vikings.

Official history books

Officially, the history books tell us that the Spanish were the first to discover America. However, America was discovered by the Europeans. People have been living on the continent for tens of thousands of years. What are the odds that long before the Spanish, sailors from Asia traveled to “the New World”? One theory proposes that the ancient Chinese may have beaten the Spanish—and the Vikings—to the New World. Although, like many other things in history, which are falsely claimed and still held as an academic fact, history was written, only to be rewritten.

Suspicious similarities

Discoveries help reveal details of the past, and some scholars argue there are incredible, somewhat suspicious similarities between ancient cultures in America and the ancient Chinese civilization. What if, in the distant past and before the Spanish set for on the American continent, ancient Chinese explorers came in contact with Mesoamerican civilizations, resulting in cultural, social, and economic exchange?

Related Posts

Inside the tunnels of the pyramid of Cholula. Shutterstock.

Fascinating Facts About the Great Pyramid of Cholula

March 11, 2023
The Pyramid of Cheops and the Sphinx, photograph by Antoine Beato ca. 1880. Shutterstock.

3 Reasons Why the Great Sphinx May Predate the Ancient Egyptian Pyramids

July 4, 2019 - Updated on January 22, 2024

Is Fusang America?

While researching a possible connection between ancient American cultures and ancient Chinese, Hu Chundong, a professor at Beijing University, found at least 22 highly similar words in both languages. Further evidence proposed by Chundong is the similarity between Mayan art found in Campeche, Mexico and that of the Tang Dynasty. This same theory holds that a group of Tang Dynasty scholars wrote about sailors who traveled to a distant country called Fusang. The Buddhist monk Hui Shen first described Fusang in 499 AD. According to his description, the place was 20,000 li from China, around 8,316 kilometers. Fusang was a land rich in “edible oval fruits, red and similar to pears. It had a wealth of gold and silver.

A highly suspicious description

According to Joseph de Guignes, Fusang corresponds to the American coast, not Japan or Afghanistan, as others maintain. Hui Shen reported that Fusang was a place with many edible oval fruits, red and resembling pears. It had a wealth of gold and silver. Their society was organized, and they wrote on papers made with vegetable bark. They wore loincloths and hunted deer. This description is highly suspicious of America.

But if ancient Chinese sailors did travel to America, where did they land? Some experts speculate that they may have reached the coast between Mexico and Guatemala. Curiously, ancient Mexican cultures and the ancient Chinese favored the use of jade, to which they attributed healing powers and implemented its use in funeral rites.

Similar artifacts?

Take, for example, the artifacts that were unearthed not long ago at Teotihuacan, where, among other things, archaeologists discovered a green ritualistic mask, among other jade artifacts. Regarding religious belief, both cultures deified feathered serpents; the ancient Maya worshipped, the Aztecs worshiped Quetzalcoatl, and the Chinese worshipped a dragon called Loong. The ancient Chinese and the Maya are known for considering the world in divine dualities.

While the above description of Fusang sounds very familiar to a possible description of America, there is a discrepancy in the theory; Fusang converted to Buddhism according to Hui Shen, in addition to practicing cremation and owning animals such as horses, which did not arrive in America until after the conquest. The latter reinforces the idea that Fusang was in Afghanistan.

When did the Chinese get there?

However, some scholars maintain that there were at least two times during the history of ancient Mexico when the Chinese may have come into contact with the Maya: during the Shang dynasty, around 1500 BC. And more recently, during the Ming dynasty in the early 1400s. Possible visits from the Shang dynasty strangely coincide with the rise of the Olmec civilization from the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, which is on the east side of Mexico, not on the Pacific side.

Ancient Chinese and Olmec contact?

How the Chinese may have reached the Olmec area is uncertain, but researchers have compared Olmec art, ritual practices, and social structure to the ancient Chinese. The use of jade, for example, which had not been used before in Mexico, started at this time. The same happened with writing and a structured royalty. Art has similarities with statues of men with pointed beards and Asian-looking clothing.

The Cleft-headed god?

The ancient Chinese and the Olmecs worshiped a cleft-headed god. But is there any conclusive evidence other than ancient writings? Scientists have found evidence of Asian DNA throughout Mexico, especially on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. Chinese DNA has been found in the Yucatan Maya, considered by some as the heirs of the Olmec culture. Chinese DNA has also been found in indigenous people from the Pacific coastal state of Nayarit.


Join the discussion and participate in awesome giveaways in our mobile Telegram group. Join Curiosmos on Telegram Today. t.me/Curiosmos

Share157Tweet98Share27ShareSend
Ivan Petricevic

Ivan Petricevic

I've been writing passionately about ancient civilizations, history, alien life, and various other subjects for more than eight years. You may have seen me appear on Discovery Channel's What On Earth series, History Channel's Ancient Aliens, and Gaia's Ancient Civilizations among others.

Related Posts

Forbidden city vintage view, Beijing, China. Depositphotos.
Ancient Civilizations

Han Dynasty: The 10 Most Influential Emperors of Ancient China

March 26, 2022 - Updated on January 21, 2024
One of the 17 giant head statues erected by the ancient Olmecs.
Ancient Civilizations

Little-known curiosities about the ancient Olmecs

July 26, 2023 - Updated on January 20, 2024
How did prehistoric people track time? A photo inside Newgrange. Image Credit: KEN WILLIAMS/SHADOWSANDSTONE.COM
Ancient Civilizations

Uncovering the Secrets of Newgrange: 10 Astonishing Facts About Ancient Ireland’s Monument

April 14, 2023 - Updated on February 1, 2025
Image Credit: Shutterstock.
Ancient Civilizations

15 Reasons Why The Great Pyramid of Giza is the Most Advanced Ancient Structure on Earth

April 17, 2019 - Updated on May 2, 2023
The ancient Roman Scissor used by gladiators in Rome.
Ancient Civilizations

Here are 8 of the Strangest Weapons Ever Found

September 9, 2020 - Updated on January 21, 2024
Leif Erikson discovers America, a painting by Norwegian painter Hans Dahl (1849-1937). Credit: Wikiwand
Ancient Civilizations

5 Serious Misconceptions About Vikings

October 28, 2020 - Updated on January 21, 2024
  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Fair Use Notice
  • DMCA / Removal
  • Impressum
  • Contact
  • Fact-Checking Policy
  • Ethics Policy
  • Ownership and Funding Information
  • Impressum
CURIOSMOS.COM

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Unsolved Mysteries
  • Ancient Civilizations
  • Cosmic Phenomena
  • Alien Theories
  • Curious Lists