Zheng He’s Achievements

Zheng He, originally called Ma Sanbao, was born to a Chinese Muslim family in Kunyang, near Kunming, Yunnan province, China. In 1381, Ming forces invaded Yunnan, the last Mongol hold in China. They captured Ma Sanbao and other boys, castrated them, and made them orderlies in the military. Ma Sanbao was later given the name Ma He. From an early age Ma He distinguished himself through his intelligence and leadership abilities. He was given literary and military training and quickly advanced through the ranks, making important allies in the Ming court. In 1402 Ma He helped the prince of Yan overthrow the Jianwen emperor and take the throne as the Yongle emperor (1402–24). The new emperor gave Ma He a new surname, Zheng, and chose him to lead a magnificent armada to the “Western Oceans.” Zheng He’s integrity, knowledge of Islam, and diplomatic, military, and maritime skills helped make the voyages a great success.

Zheng He commanded the largest and most advanced fleet the world had ever seen. The voyages were intended to display China’s power and culture and bring foreign treasures back to the Ming court. Zheng He set sail on his first voyage in 1405, commanding some 27,800 men. His massive armada comprised 317 ships, including 62 “treasure ships” packed with rich gifts for heads of state.

Zheng He’s first two voyages followed familiar trade routes to Southeast Asia and India. He visited what are now modern-day Vietnam, Thailand, the Malaysian port of Melaka, and the Indonesian island of Java, crossed the Indian Ocean to Kozhikode in India, and stopped at Sri Lanka. The rulers he encountered were impressed by his diplomatic skills and the elaborate gifts he brought them. They agreed to send ambassadors to the Ming court. During the first voyage Zheng He captured a famous Chinese pirate, Che’en Tsu-i, who had been plundering the Malacca Straits. This feat added to his reputation as admiral and military leader. The second voyage was marred by a conflict with Sri Lanka’s King Alagonakkara. The king, feigning friendship, tried to plunder the treasure ships. Zheng He captured the king and took him to China, where he was freed after promising to pay tribute to the emperor.

On the third voyage Zheng He made stops in India. On his return trip in 1411 he touched at Samudra, on the northern tip of Sumatra. The fourth voyage was the most ambitious. After stopping at the principal ports of Asia he proceeded westward from India to Hormuz. Part of the fleet continued down the coast of Arabia to Yemen and up the Red Sea to Jeddah. A Chinese mission visited Mecca and continued on to Egypt. The fleet reached the east coast of Africa, stopping in towns of what are now Kenya and Somalia and sailing near the Mozambique Channel. Some 30 foreign rulers agreed to send tribute and envoys to the Yongle emperor. Zheng He’s Muslim roots helped him establish ties with the rulers of the Islamic nations.

These two voyages were undertaken primarily to return many of the foreign envoys to their homelands. Zheng He revisited courts in Southeast Asia, India, Arabia, and eastern Africa. On the sixth voyage Zheng He returned to China early with part of his fleet. However, he ordered the remainder of the fleet to continue exploring the eastern coast of Africa.

In 1424 the Yongle emperor died. His successor, the Xuande emperor, temporarily halted all expeditions. Not until 1431 was Zheng He sent on the final voyage, which once again traveled to ports stretching from Asia to Arabia and eastern Africa. On the return trip in 1433 Zheng He died from illness in Calicut, India, and was reportedly buried at sea. His tomb was erected in Nanjing, China, where it stands today.

Zheng He was the most important diplomat and admiral in the Yongle court. Although his voyages did not establish rich trading empires, they did extend the influence of China throughout the “Western Oceans” and into eastern Africa. Many Chinese, spurred by stories of distant lands, emigrated to areas visited by Zheng He. Zheng He’s armada of 317 ships ranked as the largest in the world until modern times. Following Zheng He’s death, the Xuande emperor moved to isolate China and banned all further expeditions. All of Zheng He’s ships were destroyed along with most of the records of the seven voyages. Only recently have the Chinese begun to celebrate the historic exploits of Zheng He and his impressive armada.