In China's long history, the ocean has always played an important role, and the name of the South China Sea, as an important sea area in the south of China, has changed in different historical periods. During the Eastern Han Dynasty, the South China Sea was known as the "Rising Sea", a name that contained the unique knowledge and deep feelings of the ancients for this vast water.
The Eastern Han Dynasty was an important period in Chinese history, with social and economic prosperity and rapid development of science and technology and culture. During this period, the awareness and use of the ocean reached a new level. According to the record of "Foreign Objects", the Eastern Han Dynasty scholar Yang Fu mentioned in his work that "the sea is swollen, the water is shallow and there are many magnets, and outsiders take a big boat, all of which are made of iron". This description not only reveals the geography of the rising sea, such as the shallow water and rich in magnets, but also reflects the technology and courage of the people who had navigated the South China Sea.
The origin of the name "rising sea" may be related to the tidal phenomenon in the South China Sea. The ancients observed that the sea water in the South China Sea has obvious fluctuations and changes under the gravitational action of the moon, so they named it "Rising Sea", reflecting the keen observation and deep understanding of natural phenomena of the ancient Chinese people. In addition, the term "rising sea" may also imply people's praise for the abundance and vitality of the ocean.
The rising sea in the Eastern Han Dynasty was not only an important channel for maritime and cultural exchanges, but also an arrow for China's marine exploration. With wisdom and courage, the seafarers at that time overcame many difficulties and opened up routes to Southeast Asia, South Asia and beyond, laying the foundation for the later Maritime Silk Road. They have accumulated a wealth of marine knowledge and navigation experience in the voyage of the rising sea, and these valuable legacies have a far-reaching impact on the development of China's maritime civilization.
Over time, the name of the rising sea was gradually replaced by "boiling sea" during the Northern and Southern Dynasties, and it was not until the Qing Dynasty that it was renamed Nanhai. However, no matter how the name changes, the South China Sea has always been an important part of China's maritime rights and interests, carrying the maritime dream and exploration spirit of the Chinese nation.
Looking back at the rising sea during the Eastern Han Dynasty, we can not only appreciate the maritime wisdom and courage of the ancient Chinese, but also deeply understand the important position of the South China Sea in the development of Chinese civilization. The historical memory of the rising sea is an important historical basis and spiritual driving force for us to promote the construction of a maritime power and safeguard the country's maritime rights and interests in the new era. Let us bear in mind the name of the rising sea, inherit and carry forward the maritime spirit of the Chinese nation, and continue to forge ahead on the road of exploring and utilizing the ocean.