Chapter 21 Chapter 21 Zheng He’s Seven Voyages to the West

Zheng He's voyage to the Western Seas, a feat in the history of world navigation, marks the pinnacle of ancient Chinese shipbuilding and navigation. In the early Ming Dynasty, the "drivers" in the Yuan Dynasty were freed, and craftsmen in the handicraft industry could "receive silver as servants", and the people's enthusiasm for production increased.The economy has recovered and developed. In the early Ming Dynasty, my country's national power was strong. The mining and metallurgy industry, textile industry, porcelain industry, and especially the shipbuilding industry developed along the river and sea were displayed to the world with its superb level and outstanding characteristics.After the death of Ming Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang, because of the early death of the prince Zhu Biao, the emperor's grandson Zhu Yunwen (wenwen) succeeded to the throne, that is, Emperor Jianwen.After the "Battle of Jingnan" (1399-1402 A.D.), Zhu Yuanzhang's fourth son Zhu Di, the king of Yan, won the throne and became the ancestor.In order to gain understanding and attachment to regime change in overseas regions, increase prestige, show China's prosperity and strength, and strengthen economic and cultural friendly relations with overseas countries, Ming Chengzu sent Zheng He to the West.

Zheng He (1371-1435 AD) was a great navigator in the history of our country.It is also a pioneer in the history of world navigation.His original surname is Ma Minghe, and the small characters are Sanbao (Baoyi Zuobao), Hui nationality, from Kunyang Prefecture, Yunnan (now merged into Jinning).The world worships Islam.Both his grandfather and father went on a pilgrimage to Mecca, the holy land of Islam, and they were honored as "Haji" (meaning "pilgrim").It is reported that its thirty-seventh ancestor is Muhammad, the founder of Islam.Zheng He was born in a famous family, received a good education in his childhood, and knew something about foreign countries.In the fourteenth year of Ming Taizu Hongwu (AD 1381), Zhu Yuanzhang sent General Fu Youde to conquer Yunnan in order to wipe out the remnants of the Liang King in the Yuan Dynasty. The war ended in the following year.Zheng He's father died in the war, Zheng He was captured at the age of 12, transferred to Yan Wangfu, and later served as an eunuch.Due to Zheng He's "talented ambition since childhood", "great body and great appearance", "witty eloquence", humility, sincerity, and hard work, he was gradually appreciated and reused by Zhu Di.Later, he participated in the "Battle of Jingnan" with Zhu Di, and "made a lot of achievements in and out of the battle".After Zhu Di won the throne, he was promoted to the rank of eunuch, in charge of building the palace and supplying the needs of the royal family.In the second year of Yongle (AD 1404), he was given the surname Zheng, and has since changed his name to Zheng He.

The first time: Ming Yongle three years to Yongle five years (AD 1405-1407).On June 15th of the third year of Yongle, Ming Chengzu sent Zheng He and his deputy Wang Jinghong to the Western Ocean (referring to the various places in the Southeast Asia west of Brunei and the coast of the Indian Ocean), leading sailors, officers and soldiers, translators, procurement, craftsmen, doctors, etc. More than 27,800 people took 62 large ships (treasure ships) 44 feet long and 18 feet wide, as well as many accompanying ships.Such a huge ship, such a huge fleet, sailing in the vast ocean, is second to none in the history of China and the history of the world.The fleet of treasure ships was loaded with silk, porcelain, gold and silver, copper and iron, cloth, etc., starting from Liujiagang (now Liuhe Town, Taicang, Jiangsu Province) and passing through Fujian-Champa-Java-Old Port (now the huge southeast of Sumatra Island). Hong Kong) - Namuri (now Banda Aceh, Sumatra is Nanli) - Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) - Guri (now Kozhikode, India).On September 2, the fifth year of Yongle (October 2, 1407 AD), Zheng He returned to Nanjing.The kings of Sumatra, Guri, Managa (now Malacca, Malaysia), Little Gelan (now Kollam, India), and Aru (now central and western Sumatra Island) sent envoys to China with their fleets to "pay tribute".

The second time: Ming Yongle five years to Yongle seven years (AD 1407-1409).On September 13th in the fifth year of Yongle, Zheng He sailed to the West for the second time after more than ten days after returning to China.Mainly visited Champa, Java, Siam (today's Thailand), Managa, Namuri, Gayile (today's southern tip of India), Ceylon, Kochi (today's Cochin area on the southwestern coast of India), Guri and other countries .He returned to China in the summer, July and August of the seventh year of Yongle.Zheng He made a special trip to Ceylon to donate to the Buddhist temple on Mount Ceylon, and set up a monument as a text to last forever.The inscription reads, "I would like to use gold and silver to weave gold, spin silk banners, incense burners, vases, internal and external lamps and candles, etc., and donate to Buddhist temples to make offerings, only the World Honored One learns from them."This stele was discovered in 1911 in the town of Gary on the island of Ceylon. It is now preserved in the Ceylon Museum. It is carved in Chinese, Tamil and Persian. The Chinese language still exists today. It is also a precious cultural relic and a national treasure of Sri Lanka.

The third time: from the seventh year of Yongle to the ninth year of Yongle in Ming Dynasty (1409-1411 AD).In September of the seventh year of Yongle (October 1409 A.D.), "the eunuchs Zheng He and Wang Jinghong were ordered to lead more than 27,000 officers and soldiers to drive the No. 48 Haizhu to Zhufan Kingdom to read and reward." (Fei Xin " Xingcha Shenglan") This time, we still set sail from Liujiagang to Kaiyang, Fujian.The countries covered "...the eunuch Zheng He and the imperial emissary Guri, Managa, Sumatra (La), Aru (now the central and western part of Sumatra), Gayile, Java, Siam, Champa, Kochi , Abbabadan (now Ahmadabadan in India), Xiao Kelan, Nanwuli, and Ganbali (in today's Western India's Cambay area) countries, bestowed on their king Jinqi Sara." ("" Ming Shilu "Volume 83) Zheng He returned to Beijing on June 6, the ninth year of Yongle (July 6, 1411 AD).When Zheng He went to the West, he went to Mount Ceylon. His king, "Ariel Kunel, was insulting and disrespectful. He wanted to harm peace, so he went away. Ariel Kuner was not friendly to neighboring countries, and repeatedly invited him to rob his envoys. , All things are suffering.” (Volume 116 of "Ming Shilu") Zheng He visited Ceylon on his way back home this time, and he sent another 50,000 troops to rob Zheng He's ships.Fearless in the face of danger, Zheng He led 2,000 troops to copy the rear route and captured Ariel Kunel and the leader of his family alive.After returning home, he offered his prisoners to the court.The officials advocated killing him. In order to maintain the traditional friendship between the people of the two countries, Cheng Zu "compassioned his ignorance", ordered him to be released, gave him food and clothing, and ordered the sage in his country to be king again.Hearing it from overseas, everyone is impressed, but Zheng He "has the wisdom to know the soldiers and practice the war", when encountering great dangers, he can be calm and calm, and quickly decide the strategy to defeat the enemy, with the demeanor of a general.

The fourth time: from the eleventh year of Yongle to the thirteenth year of Yongle (AD 1413-1415).Zheng He's first three missions were all sailing in Southeast Asia and South Asia, traveling to Guli and returning.Friendly exchanges between neighboring countries have intensified.Cheng Zu said that "the distant ones are still unconquered" ("History of the Ming Dynasty: The Biography of Hulumos"), so he ordered Zheng He to sail to the Arabian-Persian Gulf, the Red Sea, and the coast of East Africa. "Send the eunuch Zheng He and others to give edicts to Managa, Java, Champa, Sumatra, Alu, Kezhi, Guri, Nanboli, Pahang (now the mouth of the Pengjing River in Malaysia), and Jilandan ( Today's Kota Bharu, Malaysia), Gayile, Hulumos (now Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz), Bila (Brawa), Liushan (Maldives Islands), Sun La (now Mozambique) Sofala) the kings of Jinqi, gauze, silk and other things are in short supply." ("Ming Shilu" Volume 134) During this mission, Zheng He personally went to the Yangshi Grand Mosque in Xi'an to hire the palindrome Ha Sanchong Interpreter, and Ma Huan also served as an interpreter.According to "Yingya Shenglan" written by Ma Huan: There are 63 treasure ships on this trip, the largest one is 44 feet long and 18 feet wide, and the middle one is 37 feet long and 15 feet wide.A total of 27,670 people, the scale is still very large.He set sail in October of the eleventh year of Yongle (AD 1413) and returned to China on July 8 of the thirteenth year of Yongle (August 12, 1415 AD).

The fifth time: from the 15th year of Yongle to the 17th year of Yongle (AD 1417-1419).Yongle set sail on May 16th in the fifteenth year.To Champa, Java, Managa, Ceylon, Kochi, Guri, Adan (northwest coast of the Gulf of Aden today), Lasa (near Aden, Democratic Republic of Yemen today), Mugudushu (Mogadishu today) , Malin (now Malindi in Kenya), Brawa, Hulumos, Sulu, Pahang, Shaliwanni and other places.He returned to China on July 17, the 17th year of Yongle (August 8, 1419 AD). During this visit, 19 countries including Manga, Guri, Java, Champa, Ceylon, Liushan, and Marin all sent envoys to pay tribute, resigned, and ordered Zheng He and others to go with him, and gave the kings of various countries brocade, gauze, silk and other things. .At the request of Ke Yili, King Kezhi, he was granted a seal and the mountain of his country was named Zhenguo Mountain. Ming Chengzu also personally made an inscription and gave it to him as a sign of friendship.

The sixth time: Ming Yongle 19th year to Yongle 20th year (AD 1421-1422).The main task of the sixth voyage to the West was to send back the envoys of 16 countries including Hulumos.On the 30th day of the first lunar month in the 19th year of Yongle (March 3, 1421 AD), "Zheng He and others gave imperial edicts and brocade, gauze, silk, silk and other things to the kings" were repatriated to accompany the envoys of 16 countries.The places I visited this time are Champa, Siam, Managa, Pungalam (Bangladesh), Ceylon, Guri, Adan (Arabian Peninsula), Dhofar, Raza, Yoshan, Kochi, Mugu Dushu, Brawa and other places.There are many countries I have visited, and most of them travel in groups (Zhou Zong) (meaning batches, teams).It was returned on August 18th in the 20th year of Yongle (AD 1422).

The seventh time: from the sixth year of Xuande in the Ming Dynasty to the eighth year of Xuande (AD 1431-1433).In the twelfth month of the sixth year of Emperor Xuanzong of the Ming Dynasty, Ming Chengzu and Renzong had passed away. Zheng He was 60 years old and still led a fleet of 27,550 people on a long voyage. "Everyone who has experienced Horumos, Mount Ceylon, Guri, Managa, Kezhi, Brawa, Mugudushu, Nambali, Sumatra, Lasa, Liushan, Aru, Ganbali, Aru Dan, Zofar, Zhubu (Somalia), Gayile and other 20 countries, as well as the Xuanwei Division in the old port, all their rulers gave them coins. On December 26th in the seventh year of Xuande (AD 1432) arrived at Hulumos, sailed back to the ocean on February 28th in the eighth year of Xuande (AD 1432), sailed for 23 days, arrived in Guli on March 11th, On the 20th, the large (Zhouzong) (large number, brigade) ships returned to the ocean.Zheng He died of illness on his way back here, and his body was carried back to China by the officers and soldiers on board the ship, where he was buried at the foot of Niu Shou Mountain outside the Zhonghua Gate in Nanjing.The tomb still exists.

In the 28 years from 1405 to 1433, Zheng He went to the West, reaching Southeast Asia, South Asia, Iran, Arabia and other places, and as far as the east coast of Africa and the Red Sea coast, a total of more than 30 countries and regions.Every time they arrive in a country, they present Chinese gifts to the king to establish friendly relations.Exchange Chinese porcelain, silk, tea, gold and silver, ironware, agricultural tools, etc. with local specialties such as ivory, spices, gemstones and other overseas rare treasures to strengthen economic and cultural ties.Trading in Guli abides by local trading customs. When negotiating prices, clap your hands in front of the public to make a decision, "whether it is expensive or cheap, and I will never regret it."In Dhofar (now the Dhofar region of Oman at the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula), "the king sent the leader to all the people in the country to exchange frankincense, blood dried fruit, aloe, myrrh, benzoin, styrax oil, and wood beetle in exchange for Yifu. silk, porcelain, etc.”Wherever the fleet went, they were warmly received by people from all over the world.During the sixth mission, Zheng He's fleet visited Banggela (Hanzhishendu, present-day Bangladesh).During the Yongle period, he visited his country several times, and the country also came to pay tribute to Fangwu several times.This visit was still warmly welcomed.The king "heard that the court envoys had arrived, sent officials and objects, and welcomed them with thousands of horses. The palace was tall and wide, and the columns were all decorated with brass, carved with flowers and animals. There were promenades on the left and right, with more than a thousand armored cavalry on the inside and giants on the outside. , bright armor, holding swords, bows and arrows, very majestic. On the left and right sides of Danchi, there are more than a hundred peacock plume canopies, and more than a hundred elephant teams are placed in front of the hall. The king is decorated with eight jeweled crowns, and he sits on a high seat in the hall. Enter, let two people with silver sticks come to guide. Five steps and one call, stop at the middle, and two people with gold sticks, guide as before. The king worships the imperial edict, kowtows, hands add forehead, open reading and receive rewards , put a blanket in the hall, and feast the court envoys. They do not drink alcohol, but drink it with rose water and fragrant honey water, and present the envoys with gold helmets, gold waists, gold bottles, and gold basins, and silver for their accessories, and all servants will be given as gifts."Only "thousands of horses come to welcome", "more than a thousand cavalry in the inner row", "more than a hundred peacock feathers and umbrella covers", and "more than a hundred elephant teams", which shows the grandeur of the welcome scene.It embodies the historical friendly relations between China and India, and China and Bangladesh. Kings and queens of Boni (Kalimantan) and Manjaka have all been to Nanjing, China, and Ming Chengzu hosted a banquet to entertain them.In particular, it should be pointed out that the tomb of King Boni was discovered in 1958 in Xianghua Village, Shizigang, outside Andemen, Nanjing.Boni Kingdom is located in the Brunei region of Kalimantan Island in Southeast Asia.In the second year of Taiping Xingguo (AD 977), Emperor Taizong of the Northern Song Dynasty had friendly exchanges with my country.In the fourth year of Ming Hongwu (AD 1371), King Maha Mosha sent envoys to congratulate the establishment of the Ming Dynasty.In August of the sixth year of Yongle (AD 1408), more than 150 people, including the king of Boni Kingdom, Manaragana, his queen, siblings, children, and close officials, came to my country for a friendly visit and lived in the "Huitong Pavilion" in Nanjing. , Unfortunately, a month later, King Manaragana fell ill and died in October at the age of 28.Before he died, he asked his queen to "buy China with her body".For this reason, Ming Chengzu stopped the court for three days to express his condolences, and buried him in the picturesque Shizigang with the king's ceremony.Every spring and autumn, people are sent to sacrifice and sweep.Later, the Ming court also sent eunuch Zhang Qian to escort the queen of Manarakana back home.The tomb of King Boni has been renovated and well protected.It has become a historical witness of the friendly exchanges between the two countries.East Africa's Malin King Walai Dunben personally led a group of people to visit China, but unfortunately died of illness in Fuzhou.Mugudusu and Prawa have also sent envoys to China for friendly visits many times.The Malin Kingdom and other Fan Kingdoms presented China with unicorns (giraffes), celestial horses, divine deer, etc.; wooden bones were presented to China's Hua Fulu (zebras), and Brawa Kingdoms presented China's thousand-mile camels and camel chickens (ostriches) , These have enhanced the friendship between China and foreign countries.

Zheng He and his fleet relied on collective strength and wisdom to fight the ocean in the stormy sea.Their pioneering and enterprising spirit of bravely overcoming difficulties, even at the cost of their lives, demonstrates the fearless heroism of the Chinese people.The political, economic and cultural activities they carried out wherever they went have written a chapter of friendship between Chinese and foreign peoples from generation to generation.The nautical experience they summed up and the routes they opened up are rich and precious cultural heritages left to future generations, which are always worthy of admiration and commemoration by future generations.So far, countries have preserved cultural relics and monuments commemorating Zheng He's voyages.In Java, there are Sambo Long, Sambo Cave, Sambo Temple, etc.; in Thailand, there is also Sambo Temple.In Somalia, Africa, the Ming Dynasty porcelain unearthed there is used as a symbol of the traditional friendship between the Chinese and Somali peoples. Fei Xin, who followed Zheng He on his voyages to the West, wrote "Xingcha Shenglan", Ma Huan wrote "Yingya Shenglan", and Gong Zhen wrote "Western Fanguozhi".It enables the Chinese people to understand the life, customs, social production and other conditions of the people in some Asian and African countries, and it is also an important material for studying the history of Sino-foreign relations and the history of navigation.

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