Zheng He’s voyages to the Occident were one of the greatest events in the history of communication between China and foreign countries, and the large-scaled proactive contact with foreign countries in the history of China.
(Zheng He)
Zheng He, a native of Kunming, Yunnan, belonged to the Hui ethnic group. His original family name was Ma, and original given name Ma He and infant name Sanbao. Later,he was bestowed a family name of “Zheng” by Emperor Chengzu of the Ming Dynasty. An eunuch , he was afamous navigator and diplomat of the Ming Dynasty.
The “Occident” to people of the Ming Dynasty referred to Southeast Asia west of Brunei and the coastal areas of the Indian Ocean. In order to extend the overseas influence of the Ming Dynasty and develop friendly contact between China and foreign countries, Zheng He, dispatched by Emperor Chengzu and Emperor Xuanzong of the Ming Dynasty, led large fleets for seafaring voyages seven times in succession from 1405 to 1433. They set off from Taicang, Jiangsu, and by way of southern Vietnam, Java, Sumatra and Sri Lanka, reached the western
coast of the Indian Ocean, as far as to the Red Sea and Somalia and Kenya on the eastern coast of Africa. Zheng He’s fleets were the largest self-contained ones in the world in the 15th century. Over a period of 28 years, Zheng He paid visits to more than 30 countries and regions in Asia and Africa an unprecedented feat in the history of navigation both in China and the world in terms of voyage, duration, fleet scale, tonnage, crew size, organization,technology and influence.
(The map of Zheng He’s Voyages to the Occident)
Zheng He’s fleets received warm reception in most countries and regions they reached. Their ships were loaded with plenty of gold,silver and other treasure; in particular, pottery and silk were favorites to local people they visited. The fleets brought back local specialties such as pearls, spices and medicines from the places they landed. On return voyages, the kings and envoys of many countries traveled with them to visit China.
Zheng He was a pioneer at a time of great world navigation. His first voyage to the “Occident” was 87 years earlier than Christopher Columbus’ discovery of the New World, 92 years earlier than Vasco da Gama’s arrival to India, and 114 years earlier than Ferdinand Magellan’s global navigation. As a diplomatic envoy, his voyages not only boosted economic exchanges between China and countries in South Asia and Africa, but also established peaceful and friendly relationships with countries he visited, leaving a positive impression on the people there.
In many countries and regions in Asia and Africa, there are still quite a few relics related to Zheng He. For example, there is a port city called Semarang ( 三宝垄 in Chinese language) in Indonesia, on a hill nearby there is Sanbao Cave, inside which stands a statue of Zheng He. It is said that Zheng He’s fleet once landed and stayed there. On the 30th day of the 6th month of the Chinese calendar every year, the date when Zheng He’s fleet landed according to legend, local overseas Chinese hold great celebrations to commemorate Zheng He. In
Malaysia, there is a hill called Bukit China Hill ( 三宝山 in Chinese), at the foot of the hill there is a Sanbao Well, beside the well there is a Sanbao Pavilion, and inside the pavilion is a tablet for the memory of Zheng He enshrined. In India,there is a stone statue of Zheng He. And in Somalia on the eastern coast of Africa, there is a Chinese village, which is also known as “Zheng He Tun” (Zheng He’s Settlement)