Re-evaluating the South China Sea Glass Exchange: A Perspective from 8th–16th Century Taiwan

WANG Kuan-wen* and YANG Chu-ya

Glass ornaments provide essential evidence for understanding Taiwan’s integration into ancient maritime exchange. By comparing chemical analysis from Taiwan with broader data from the South China Sea region, this presentation re-evaluates the regional glass exchange network across the 2nd millennium CE. The results indicate that during the early 2nd millennium, the long-standing dominance of South Asian mineral soda alumina glass began to shift. Simultaneously, the Western Asian soda plant ash glass became more common than in previous periods, appearing as both ornaments and vessel fragments. While South Asian glass remained present, West Asian glass reached a similar level of prevalence and, in certain regions, even surpassed it. However, comparative data reveal some regional variation: while West Asian glass vessel fragments are present in some Southeast Asian hubs, they are conspicuously absent in Taiwan, where finds are limited to ornaments. In the subsequent periods, the presence of Chinese high lead glass began to rise. The trend continued until Chinese high lead glass became the dominant composition around the mid-2nd millennium CE. These shifting exchanges may point towards potential correlations with broader changes in political and economic activities within the South China Sea, providing a foundation for future interdisciplinary research into the maritime dynamics.