|
History Of Spain's infamous "Maynila Galleons"
In the early 1500's Spain's ominous influence began to reshape the cultures of the Far
East, and no region experienced this more than the diversely cultured 7,100 island
archipelago which the Spanish Capt. General Legazpi named the Felipinas. Eventually in
1565 Spain would establish her seat of power in the flourishing port city of Manila which
soon came to be known worldwide as the "Pearl of the Orient." It was from
this sheltered deep water port that annually the great Spanish ships known as the
"Maynila Galleons" would sail the Pacific trade routes to Alcapoco, Mexico laden
with the fabulous treasures of the Orient. Archival manifest and contemporary salvage
verify the cargos of articulately worked Philippine gold jewelry, elegantly carved jade
ornaments, Mexican silver and gold coins, magnificent blue and white porcelains from the
rich Ming and Ching dynasties of China, luscious rubies and diamonds from India, and all
manner of exotic trade goods destined to fatten the coffers of the vast Spanish empire and
its aggressive subjects.
Ming And Ching Dynasty Porcelain
As early as 1000 A.D. during the Sung Dynasty,
Chinese junks began carrying goods from China to the Philippine islands where Chinese
colonies had been established. But it wasn't until the transition from the Yuan to Ming
Dynasty which was around the latter part of the 14th Century that the Chinese discovered a
method of creating blue and white high quality porcelains. The secret of this beautiful
art was unlocked when cobalt from India was brought into the process. When kilned at the
appropriate temperature and right period of time it was discovered that the dull gray
lines of artwork would bloom into bright resilient deep blues. As a result, the Chinese
artisans created wonderful designs and true life scenes to ornately decorate each original
hand painted piece. The Spanish, arriving during the early part of the 16th Century,
wasted no time in establishing Chinese porcelains as one of their major exports to
European markets via " The Maynila Galleons." But unfortunately due to the
ferocity of storms which often broke up these fragile wooden castles of the sea jagged
reefs, most of the delicate porcelain cargo was shattered, leaving only fragments of these
wonderful ancient works of art as a testimony to the romantic and adventurous past of
brave man and great ships.
|
