The God Culture: The Philippines is Japan

In his new book "The Garden of Eden Revealed: The Book of Maps" Timothy Jay Schwab who is The God Culture teaches the Philippines is actually Japan. Specifically he claims the island of Zipangu, described by Marco Polo, is not Japan but the Philippines. 

Garden of Eden Revealed, pgs. 124-125

This lie appears to be tightly woven together but comes undone easily if one pays attention to the words of Marco Polo. Therefore we shall dismantle it one thread at a time. 

First of all is the description of Zipangu given by Marco Polo. Rather than discuss the citation of Marco Polo given on page 124 Tim cites an article from Japan Today.

In the West around the 14th century, Japan was likely going by “the noble island of Chipangu,” which was given to it by none other than the famous explorer Marco Polo. Although it seems likely that Chipangu was Japan, it is not confirmed as Marco Polo included some very fanciful tales about these isles including the presence of rhinos, cannibalistic natives and private houses made of gold.

https://japantoday.com/category/features/lifestyle/why-is-japan-called-‘japan’-and-not-‘nihon-’

It is a crucial part of Tim's method that he never cite primary sources but if they must be cited they are to be dismissed or have their meaning twisted.  Here is Marco Polo's description of the island of Zipangu.

Chipangu is an Island towards the east in the high seas, 1500 miles distant from the Continent; and a very great Island it is.

The people are white, civilized, and well-favoured. They are Idolaters, and are dependent on nobody. And I can tell you the quantity of gold they have is endless; for they find it in their own Islands, [and the King does not allow it to be exported. Moreover] few merchants visit the country because it is so far from the main land, and thus it comes to pass that their gold is abundant beyond all measure.

I will tell you a wonderful thing about the Palace of the Lord of that Island. You must know that he hath a great Palace which is entirely roofed with fine gold, just as our churches are roofed with lead, insomuch that it
 would scarcely be possible to estimate its value. Moreover, all the pavement of the Palace, and the floors of its chambers, are entirely of gold, in plates like slabs of stone, a good two fingers thick; and the windows also are of gold, so that altogether the richness of this Palace is past all bounds and all belief.

Now you must know that the Idols of Cathay, and of Manzi, and of this Island, are all of the same class. And in this Island as well as elsewhere, there be some of the Idols that have the head of an ox, some that have the head of a pig, some of a dog, some of a sheep, and some of divers other kinds. And some of them have four heads, whilst some have three, one growing out of either shoulder. There are also some that have four hands, some ten, some a thousand! And they do put more faith in those Idols that have a thousand hands than in any of the others. And when any Christian asks them why they make their Idols in so many different guises, and not all alike, they reply that just so their forefathers were wont to have them made, and just so they will leave them to their children, and these to the after generations. And so they will be handed down for ever. And you must understand that the deeds ascribed
 to these Idols are such a parcel of devilries as it is best not to tell. So let us have done with the Idols, and speak of other things.

But I must tell you one thing still concerning that Island (and ’tis the same with the other Indian Islands), that if the natives take prisoner an enemy who cannot pay a ransom, he who hath the prisoner summons all his friends and relations, and they put the prisoner to death, and then they cook him and eat him, and they say there is no meat in the world so good!—But now we will have done with that Island and speak of something else. 

https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/12410/pg12410-images.html#CHAPTER_II2

That is the end of Marco Polo's description of Zipangu. He says he is done and will now proceed to speak of something else. Here is his next subject.

You must know the Sea in which lie the Islands of those parts is called the Sea of Chin, which is as much as to say “The Sea over against Manzi.” For, in the language of those Isles, when they say Chin, ’tis Manzi they mean. And I tell you with regard to that Eastern Sea of Chin, according to what is said by the experienced pilots and mariners of those parts, there be 7459 Islands in the waters frequented by the said mariners; and that is how they know the fact, for their whole life is spent in navigating that sea. And there is not one of those Islands but produces valuable and odorous woods like the lignaloe, aye and better too; and they produce also a great variety of spices. For example in those Islands grows pepper as white as snow, as well as the black in great quantities. In fact the riches of those Islands is something wonderful, whether in gold or precious stones, or in all manner of spicery; but they lie so far off from the main land that it is hard to get to them. And when the ships of Zayton and Kinsay do voyage thither they make vast profits by their venture.

It takes them a whole year for the voyage, going in winter and returning in summer. For in that Sea there are but two winds that blow, the one that carries them 
outward and the other that brings them homeward; and the one of these winds blows all the winter, and the other all the summer. And you must know these regions are so far from India that it takes a long time also for the voyage thence.

Though that Sea is called the Sea of Chin, as I have told you, yet it is part of the Ocean Sea all the same. But just as in these parts people talk of the Sea of England and the Sea of Rochelle, so in those countries they speak of the Sea of Chin and the Sea of India, and so on, though they all are but parts of the Ocean.

Now let us have done with that region which is very inaccessible and out of the way. Moreover, Messer Marco Polo never was there. And let me tell you the Great Kaan has nothing to do with them, nor do they render him any tribute or service.

https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/12410/pg12410-images.html#CHAPTER_IV2

Marco Polo writes a description of Zipangu saying it is an island 1,500 miles to the east of China. Then he says he is finished and says there are 7,459 islands in the Sea of China according to mariners. He also mentions the two winds that blow, one carrying ships inward and the other blowing them homeward. That is most certainly a description of the Philippines. Marco Polo has moved on from describing Zipangu to describing the Philippines.

But apparently Tim is not paying attention. 

Zai-tan is modern Guangzhou in Central China on the coast just North of Taiwan and Kin-said is the ancient name of Hangzhou which is North of that. Japan is not East of these locations. It is Northeast. The Philippines is Southeast. This is not merely a voyage to the East; it is neither Northeast or Southeast. We can determine which fits this story very easily. The island of Zipangu is said to be 1,500 miles from continental China. As this is by ship, these are nautical miles not those of flight. Chinese were traveling according to their own records, to the area of Mindoro they called Ma-I which is right next door to Palawan which they would pass. There are two ports listed here in China, but one fits the 1,500 miles distance to Palawan exactly. According to ports.com, the distance from Zhoupu (Zhejiang) Port in HUnagzhou Bay to the Port of Puerto Princessa in Palawan is 1,4600 nautical miles. Ok, they missed it by 40 miles perhaps, or did they take a little longer route around the shoals. However, the time of year this journey occurs tells us much.  

The mariners of Zai-tun and Kin-sai, who visit them, gain indeed great profits; but they spend a year on the voyage, going in winter, and returning in the summer; for the wind in these seasons blows only from two different quarters, one of which carries them thither, and the other brings them back.

This is consistent with the prevailing winds of the Philippines due to the Monsoon season especially for the return trip.

pgs. 132-133

Do you see what Tim has done here? He has correctly noted that Marco Polo wrote Zipangu was 1,500 miles away from China. He also correctly notes that a description is given of two winds which match the Philippine monsoon season. But he has conflated the two sections as if they are describing the same place. This section about the two winds is written after Marco Polo has finished describing Zipangu. There is no need to calculate the distance from China to Palawan in order to prove that Zipangu is the Philippines because Marco Polo is not talking about Zipangu in this section. A note on this new section says:

Polo seems in this passage to be speaking of the more easterly Islands of the Archipelago, such as the Philippines, the Moluccas, etc., but with vague ideas of their position.

https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/12410/pg12410-images.html#CHAPTER_IV2

To reiterate this section is NOT about Zipangu but Tim wrongly claims it is. 

Second of all is the little bit of history Marco Polo gives concerning the Khan's invasion of Zipangu.

"Kublai, on hearing of this amazing wealth, desired to conquer the island, and sent two of his barons with a very large fleet containing warriors, both horsemen and on foot." 

"One was named Abatan, the other Vonsanicin, both wise and valiant. They sailed from Zai-tun and Kin-sai, reached the isle, landed, and took possession of the plain and of a number of houses ; but they had been unable to take any city or castle, when a sad misadventure occurred."

This is the one area where Japan does have history of attempted conquests by the Mongols in 1274 and 1281. However the Spanish wiped out written Philippine history prior to the era. We may very well have this story if not. With the other factors not fitting Japan, this does not carry enough weight to overrule all the facts against the option of Japan. Anyone calling themselves a scholar who claims Chinese ships in that era could not make it to the Philippines is a liar especially the right season which would make this trip even more favorable than Japan.

pg. 132

Tim says this history is correct and does apply to Japan BUT the Spanish wiped out the written history of the Philippines which means the Philippines could also have been invaded by the Khan. Now we will never know. That is not only pure speculation but completely false. The Spanish did not erase "written Philippine history." There was no "written Philippine history." You can read all about that in the following article. 

https://thegodculturephilippines.blogspot.com/2023/07/the-god-culture-100-lies-about_75.html         

Third, and finally, is the description of the people of Zipangu.

The people are white, civilized, and well-favoured.

https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/12410/pg12410-images.html#CHAPTER_IV2

Tim's remarks are as follows:

He wrote the people of Zipangu were "fair, handsome, and of agreeable manners." Fair in Old English is not white but comely or beautiful referring typically to women and handsome is for the men. Either culture could fit that. However, it is difficult to find more "agreeable" manners than the Filipino as this indicated a welcoming culture. In those days of Marco Polo, Japan was a closed society to the outside world largely and that does not fit. 

pg. 131

Old English? The edition Tim is citing from was published in 1844. That is not Old English. The edition I have cited from was published in 1920. If Tim wants to prove that the people of Zipangu were not white then he should take a look at the original Italian and not the English translation. 

However, it doesn't really matter because Marco Polo is obviously not talking about the Philippines when describing the people of Zipangu. Just before he begins describing the Philippines he ends his description of Zipangu. 

But now we will have done with that Island and speak of something else. 

Tim either was not paying attention or he willfully misinterpreted what Marco Polo wrote. 

Now, there is a lot more stuff in this chapter about Zipangu but the most important points have been discussed. These are merely three threads which have been untangled. Tim's whole scheme relies on conflating two sections of Marco Polo's Travels which discuss different places. One of those places is Zipangu and the other is the Philippines. Once that fact is realized Tim's argument comes undone. In conclusion, the Philippines is not Zipangu. Timothy Jay Schwab who is The God Culture is wrong.