Posted 2016/8/26
Zheng He's voyages to the Western Sea are great diplomatic undertakings in the history of China. 600 years ago, a gigantic fleet composed of more than 200 ships and 27,000-28,000 crews under the leadership of Zheng He set out for western countries, which marked the beginning of the unprecedented series of voyages in the world maritime history. Zheng He and his crew visited more than 30 countries and started the dialogue and exchange of civilizations between China and these countries. Zheng He's voyages declared the commencement of the great era of navigation.
Zheng He's western voyages are the earliest and vastest marine cause of the largest scale and most advanced technology in the world's maritime history. The voyages were almost a hundred years earlier than those of Vasco da Gama, Christopher Columbus and Ferdinand Magellan. In addition, Zheng He's fleets were several times that of the latter, with crews tens and hundreds times more.
Nowadays, valuable relics left over by Zheng He can still be found in many East Asian countries and his voyages have exerted a far-reaching influence on the local residents.
On July 11, 1405, Zheng He was sent as an envoy by Emperor Yongle (Zhu Di) of the Ming Dynasty (1368 – 1644) to the western countries. Zheng He commanded eight great expeditions between 1405 and 1433, with Suzhou, Jiangsu Province as his invariable starting point. During the 28 years, his fleets had been to Southeast Asia as well as West Indian Ocean and had sailed as far as the coast of the Red Sea and the east coast of Africa. More than 30 countries were visited, including Java, Sumatra, Cambodia, India, Sri Lanka etc. Zheng He offered largesse to the kings he visited in token of amity. Silk, porcelain, bronze and iron wares, gold, silver and other handicrafts carried along by the fleets were traded for exotic specialities. Officials kept record of news during their stay in those countries. At the departure of the fleets, envoys were sent by the kings to present treasure and special local products to the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty and trade with Chinese merchants. The friendly exchanges enlarged trade, and promoted mutual understanding between China and these countries as well.
