Encountering Zheng He at Sea: A Commemoration of the 600th Anniversary of Zheng He's Western Ocean Voyages (1405-2005)

Author: Li Erhe et al
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-01-01
Features: Reading Encountering Zheng He at Sea is like listening to two scholars of maritime culture elaborate on the story of Zheng He and his treasure fleet. Six hundred years ago, Zheng He, under the command of the Yongle Emperor Zhu Di, led the treasure fleet on seven voyages to the Western Oceans, marking the beginning of humanity's "Age of Discovery." Today, Chinese maritime culture scholars Fang Zhongfu and Li Erhe, after years of research, have meticulously reviewed ancient texts and explored historical sites, re-examining this glorious history and telling lesser-known stories of Zheng He's voyages. Encountering Zheng He at Sea is based on historical records and facts, revealing the latest findings on Zheng He and blending historical accuracy with readability. It is accompanied by over 30 historical illustrations, uncovering many mysteries surrounding Zheng He's maritime expeditions. Zheng He of China, Henry the Navigator of Portugal, and Christopher Columbus of Italy are all renowned for their maritime explorations, but who was the first to round the Cape of Good Hope? In the section, the authors state clearly: Humanity has experienced an "Age of Discovery" centered on exploration, spanning the 15th to 17th centuries. Zheng He and his treasure fleet of the Ming Dynasty in China initiated this era of maritime exploration. Later explorers, such as Henry the Navigator of Portugal, came 15 years after Zheng He, and Christopher Columbus of Italy came 87 years later. Zheng He's ability to become a pioneer in human maritime exploration was closely tied to the Ming Dynasty's "tribute trade." Additionally, ancient Chinese people had already crossed the seas in rafts, and Zheng He inherited and advanced their spirit, fulfilling his childhood dream of exploring the Western Oceans. The author uses substantial evidence to prove that some maritime works claiming that the Chinese were "unaccustomed to navigation" are incorrect. China is the birthplace of maritime culture, and Zheng He is a global maritime pioneer. The author argues, supported by extensive historical records, that Zheng He's naval expeditions had fundamental differences from the later maritime exploration fleets of other nations. Zheng He's voyages to the Western Oceans involved fleets of over 200 ships and more than 27,000 crew members. The ships included treasure ships, warships, transport ships, and others, with treasure ships being the largest. The name "treasure ship" originated from the mission to "explore the seas for treasures." However, the treasure ships carried Chinese porcelain, silk, and other cultural treasures abroad and returned with spices, rare animals, and more. The Ming court's "tribute trade" and its diplomatic strategy of "promoting harmony and softening distant peoples" were widely disseminated by Zheng He's fleet. This led to a continuous flow of visiting envoys and the establishment of maritime trade departments known as "Shibo Si." During the Yongle period of the Ming Dynasty, foreign trade flourished rapidly. Trade was mutually beneficial. Zheng He's fleet opened the "Maritime Silk Road," allowing China's blue-and-white porcelain craftsmanship to spread to the West, while Western glassblowing techniques were introduced to China. The influence of the fleet on world culture also included Buddhism, Islam, and Taoism. Zheng He's maritime expeditions to the Western Oceans strengthened connections and fostered friendly relations between nations. The visit of the King of Borneo, accompanied by 150 family members and attendants, to China as a tribute was a significant event at the time. Unfortunately, the king died of illness in Nanjing, and the Ming Emperor mourned him for three days, giving him a grand burial in Nanjing. The gratitude of the "barbarians" toward the Ming envoy Zheng He is evident in the "Three Treasure Temples" built on the other side of the ocean. Why did the Ming Dynasty's maritime endeavors, which had pushed human maritime exploration to its peak, suddenly halt? Therefore, reading this book holds certain implications for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. The author vividly describes Zheng He's fleet sailing across the boundless seas, using methods like sounding to determine their position, "star observation" and compass navigation to ascertain direction, and observing celestial phenomena to harness monsoon winds to speed up their journey. These practices prove that Ming Dynasty maritime technology was world-leading. The Zheng He Navigational Charts, drawn from Zheng He's seven voyages, hold immense practical and academic value, representing a precious legacy in the history of human navigation and greatly enriching geographical literature. The cover illustration depicts a reconstruction of Zheng He's treasure ships.