If long ago the Europeans had all taken Marco Polo for just a big liar, and had not had the idea of opening sea routes to pursue the beautiful fairy-tale of a thing named "china," as white and shimmering as a cowrie shell, might it not still be shining with discreet confidence far away across the sea?
如果當年歐洲人全當馬可波羅只是個大說謊家，而沒想打開海路、一探究竟，這個名叫「中國」、瑩潔似貝的美麗神話，會不會仍在海那邊，充滿自信地璦璦含光？