The Treasure Voyages of Zheng He 郑和We have traversed more than one hundred thousand li [50,000 km] of immense water spaces and have beheld in the ocean huge waves like mountains rising in the sky, and we have set eyes on barbarian regions far away hidden in a blue transparency of light vapours, while our sails, loftily unfurled like clouds day and night, continued their course as rapidly as a star, traversing those savage waves as if we were treading a public thoroughfare.

Tablet erected by Zheng He, in Fujian 1432 (translation in When China Rules the Seas, Louise Levathes, 1994)

Introduction

Zheng He (1371–1433) was a mariner, explorer, diplomat and fleet admiral who commanded expeditionary voyages from China to South East Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and East Africa between 1405 and 1433.

Zheng He’s early life

Zheng He, originally called Ma He, was born in Yunnan in Southern China into a Muslim family, under the last remnants of the Yuan Dynasty, the dynasty that was established by Kubla Khan.

In 1381, when Zheng He was just ten years old, Yunnan was invaded and conquered by the Ming army. The Ming conquest of Yunnan was the final phase in the Ming dynasty’s expulsion of the Mongol Yuan dynasty rule from China. Zheng He’s father was killed during the invasion and Zheng He was captured by the Ming army. He was castrated and placed in the servitude of Zhu Di, the Prince of Yan.

Zheng He spent his early life as a soldier serving Zhu Di in many military campaigns against the Mongols. With his loyalty and his brilliant mind, he gained the confidence of the prince and eventually became a trusted adviser, even though eunuchs had low status in Ming society.

Admiral of the Western Seas

Zhu Di became the Yongle Emperor in 1402. It was at that time that Zheng He was given his name by the Yongle Emperor as an honour, and was given the high ranking title of Grand Eunuch.

China was the dominant country within East Asia for two thousand years. Under the tributary system, tributary countries honoured China as the superior country by sending gifts in homage. In return, China’s role was to keep proper order in the East and South East Asian nations. China went to their aid in times of foreign invasion, and sent relief missions in times of disaster.

Emperor Yongle wanted to establish a Chinese presence and extend the empire's tributary system across the Indian Ocean basin. Emperor Yongle appointed Zheng He to the position of Admiral of the Western Seas and tasked him with achieving this.

Before setting sail, Zheng He first conducted an exhaustive study of existing nautical charts, celestial navigation, astronomy and geography, marine sciences, piloting and shipbuilding.

Zheng He’s journeys

Between 1405 and 1433 Zheng He led seven great maritime expeditions. His voyages covered over 50,000 km, further than anyone from China had travelled before, reaching Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, India, the Middle East and East Africa.

Painting of Zheng He at a temple shrine in Malaysia

The aims of the first three voyages, which extended to Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, India, and Sri Lanka, were to establish the new Emperor’s status and to demonstrate China’s wealth and military strength.

The goal of the last four voyages, to Iran, Yemen and Mogadishu, was to develop relationships with other countries, and to extend the sources of tribute trade.

Zheng He’s first voyage was in 1405. The fleet on the first voyage comprised 300 ships and 28,000 crew.

The fleet included 62 Treasure Ships. These were 400 feet long, with 9 masts. They were five times the size of the caravel ships used by the Portuguese. The fleet also had hundreds of ships to transport food, horses, fresh water and troops.

Zheng He navigated using stellar charts, nautical charts and the compass. The Chinese invented the compass and had been using it as a navigational aid from between the 9th and 11th centuries (predating the first European use by at least 150 years). The typical Chinese navigational compass was in the form of a magnetic needle floating in water.

Every voyage carried over twenty thousand crew. The ships were laden with treasure to be gifted to those they visited,

and returned with extravagant tributes for the emperor. Zheng He presented gifts of gold, silver, porcelain and silk. In return, China received such novelties as ostriches, zebras, camels, ivory and giraffes.

The voyages were conducted in accordance to Confucian ideals. The focus was on diplomacy, rather than conquest. Although largely diplomatic, however, they did at times involve some military action. Zheng He ruthlessly suppressed pirates who had long plagued Chinese and South East Asian waters and occasionally defeated and captured foreign rulers.

The last voyage

The Yongle Emperor died in 1424. His son the Hongxi Emperor discontinued the ocean voyages. However the Hongxi Emperor died the following year and in 1430, the Xuande Emperor appointed Zheng He to command over a seventh and final expedition into the Indian Ocean.

It is generally believed that Zheng He died during his final journey in 1433.

This was the final voyage of the Chinese treasure ship fleets. After that time, resources were diverted to fighting Mongols and to a massive expansion of the Great Wall of China.

Zheng He is honoured in modern day China. In the People’s Republic of China, July 11 is Maritime Day and is devoted to the memory of Zheng He’s first voyage.

This is the type of compass that was used by Zheng He’s fleet

Zheng He's Treasure Ships were about five times the size of the Portuguese caravels

Zheng He brought back a giraffe on his fifth journey

The Seven Expeditions of Zheng He

From a stone marker erected March 31, 1431, at a temple near the port where Zheng He’s fleets set off on their expeditions (modified translation):

Since we, Zheng He and his companions, received the Emperor’s orders to visit foreign countries, we have conducted seven voyages. Each time we have commanded tens of thousands of soldiers and more than 100 ships. We have visited Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, India, Iran, and other countries of the western regions, totalling more than 30 in all. We have travelled more than 30,000 miles.

When we found foreign kings who were obstructing the influence of Chinese culture and were disrespectful, we captured them alive. Pirates who were plundering other people were exterminated. We made the sea routes peaceful so that the foreign people could quietly pursue their business. This is the list of our voyages.

1. 1405-1407 We went to India and other countries. At that time the pirate Chen Zuyi and his followers were plundering the native merchants in Palembang [now part of Indonesia]. We captured him alive.

2. 1407-1409 We went to Indonesia, India, Vietnam and Thailand. The kings of those countries all presented as tribute local products, precious birds, and rare animals.

3. 1409-1411 We went by way of Sri Lanka. Its king was guilty of gross lack of respect and plotted against our fleet. The plot was discovered and the king was captured alive. On our return to China he was presented to the Emperor, who allowed him to return to his own country.

4. 1414-1415 We went to Iran and other countries. In Semudera [now part of Indonesia] the false king Sekandar was marauding and invading his country. We captured him alive, brought him back to China, and presented him to the Emperor.

5. 1417-1419 The country of Hormuz [now part of Iran] presented lions, leopards, and horses as tribute. The country of Aden [now part of Yemen] presented a giraffe and oryx [antelope]. The country of Mogadishu [now part of Somalia] presented zebras and lions.

6. 1421-1422 We returned ambassadors from Hormuz and other countries to their homes.

7. 1431 We start once more on a journey to the western regions.

Based on an English translation in Seven Epic Voyages of Zheng He in Ming China (1405-1433): Facts, Fiction and Fabrication, by Su Ming-Yang 2005.

An A to Z of Zheng HeUse words or ideas found in the information sheet to complete an A to Z of the Voyages of Zheng He.

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