Missouri Couple Claims Chinese Explorers Were in North America—Before Columbus!

A Missouri couple claims groundbreaking research proves Chinese explorers reached America in 1433—rewriting history. 🌐 #News #DeSotoMO #Missouri #Lifestyle

DE SOTO, MO – In 2004, Mark Nickless and his wife, Laurie Bonner-Nickless, embarked on a journey that would reshape historical narratives. Their work, later dubbed the “Piasa Project,” began with an article titled “Was the Piasa, in Fact, a Chinese Dragon?” published in Outdoor Guide Magazine. Since then, the Missouri couple has traveled the globe, presenting at conferences in China, Malaysia, and London. Their research has led to a startling conclusion: Chinese explorers may have reached America long before Columbus.

Mark and Laurie’s credentials speak to their commitment to uncovering the truth. Mark, a special education teacher for over 20 years, earned his B.A. in Education from Missouri Baptist University in St. Louis. Laurie, a skilled writer and translator, holds degrees in Cinematography and Telecommunications from California and Missouri institutions.

Together, they have authored books like Chasing Dragons: A True History of the Piasa and To the Gates of Fengtu, available internationally.

The Mystery of the Piasa

The Piasa, an enigmatic painting near Alton, Illinois, has sparked curiosity for centuries. The earliest description, by French explorer Marquette, describes two monstrous creatures with horns, scales, and tails. Mark and Laurie’s research suggests the Piasa was not mythical but a Chinese memorial.

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According to Laurie’s translations of a 16th-century Chinese text, Luo Mao Deng’s The Western World Voyages of the San Bao Eunuch, the Piasa commemorated the final Chinese expedition to North America in 1433, and its devastating introduction of smallpox to the Native populations.

Laurie’s work is painstaking. Inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien’s meticulous translations, she taught herself literary Mandarin and compiled a database of over 75MB of definitions and astronomical terms.

Her efforts culminated in the translation of Luo’s text, supported by 1600 footnotes, which vividly describes Cahokia—the ancient Mississippian metropolis near modern-day St. Louis. The Chinese explorers referred to it as Fengtu, a city of rituals and governance.

Evidence of Chinese Voyages

Mark and Laurie’s findings align with historical accounts of the Ming Dynasty’s treasure fleet. In 1405, Emperor Zhu Di commissioned an armada led by Admiral Zheng He. This fleet, comprising ships the size of football fields, sailed to Africa, the Americas, and beyond, between 1405 and 1433.

Mark explains, “One unit visited the interior of North America, using the St. Lawrence-Great Lakes-Illinois River route later utilized by the French. Fengtu—our Cahokia—is described in exacting detail.”

The Chinese explorers’ goals were ambitious: to exploit the rich iron resources of the “iron mountains”, today’s St. Francois of eastern Missouri, and convert its people to Buddhism.

However, the introduction of smallpox decimated the local population, including Cahokia’s residents, and derailed these plans.

Laurie notes, “The disease killed over 90% of those exposed, leaving entire villages abandoned.”

This solves the mystery of the Vacant Quarter, the depopulation of the central Mississippi Valley in the first half of the 15th century.

The Legacy of the Piasa and Cahokia

Mark’s research has led him to conclude that the Piasa’s name derives from two Chinese characters meaning “a place of unburied dead who died of disease.”

A French map from 1763 refer to the site as “flower pots,” which Mark interprets as a misunderstanding of the Chinese euphemism for smallpox- “flowers”.

The couple’s research also sheds light on Cahokia’s significance. Once a thriving city, it became a ghost town after the smallpox epidemic. Osage oral traditions recount this tragic event, further corroborating the connection between Chinese explorers and the Mississippian civilization.

Suppression of History

Mark and Laurie’s work raises a critical question: why is Chinese exploration of America not widely recognized? The answer lies in political motives.

In China, the failure of the 1433 expedition threatened Emperor Xuande’s legitimacy, his Mandate of Heaven, leading to the destruction of records and ships.

In America, acknowledging Chinese claims to the land conflicted with the Manifest Destiny ideology of westward expansion. By the mid-19th century, the Piasa bluff was quarried into oblivion, erasing physical evidence of its origins.

A Missouri Couple’s Impact on Global History

Mark and Laurie’s research has earned them international acclaim. They have presented their findings at prestigious venues like the Royal Geographical Society in London and the 5th Zheng He International Peace Forum in Surabaya, Indonesia, where where they received an award for the best paper.

Their work continues, with Laurie restoring illustrations from the last surviving copy of Luo’s book and translating additional chapters that confirm the conclusions of Gavin Menzies, author of several best sellers about early Ming-era world exploration.

These efforts aim to bring forgotten histories to light and challenge long-held assumptions about pre-Columbian exploration.

Conclusion

From their Missouri home, Mark and Laurie Nickless are rewriting history. Their dedication to uncovering the truth about the Piasa, Cahokia, and Chinese exploration before Columbus demonstrates the profound impact of persistence and curiosity.

As their findings gain recognition, they invite the world to reconsider the narratives of discovery and cultural exchange. Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below!

RELATED TOPICS: China | History | Illinois | Missouri

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