早期南海航路與島礁之發現

The Discovery of Early Sea Lanes and Islands in the South China Sea

關於在南海航行最早的成文紀錄是在西元前第2到西元前第1世紀，當時船隻性能有限，都是沿著海岸線航行。因此，主要的航線是沿著中國、印度支那半島、馬來半島、印尼群島航行，而未敢向海中航行。在第3世紀發現了西沙群島，至第5世紀，航行技術提昇，船隻可以從中國廣州直接航行到印尼的爪哇島。然後從爪哇島航行到婆羅洲、菲律賓南部。在第7世紀有從中國越過台灣海峽到流求國之紀錄。

The oldest written record concerning sailing on the South China Sea dates back to the 2nd century B.C. At the time, the boats were only capable of voyage along the coast. Therefore, the main route was along the coast of China, Indochina, the Malay Peninsula and the Indonesia Islands. The sailors dared not voyage far from the coast. In the 3rd century, the Paracel Islands were discovered. In the 5th century, as nautical and navigational skills became more advanced, it became possible to sail directly from Guangzhou to Java island, and then to Borneo in the southern Philippines. In the 7th century, the first voyage from China across the Taiwan Strait to the Reuchieu Island was recorded.