The Great Voyages Of Zheng He

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Voyages Of Zheng He

Written By Reduan Koh on Thursday 10 May 2018 | 22:54


China began extending its power out to sea during the Yuan Dynasty (1271–1368) when it invaded Japan and Java. Even before that it established a Maritime Silk Road that carried more goods than the overland Silk Road. According to Columbia University's Asia for Educators: To satisfy growing Chinese demand for special spices, medicinal herbs, and raw materials, Chinese merchants cooperated with Moslem and Indian traders to develop a rich network of trade that reached beyond island southeast Asia to the fringes of the Indian Ocean.

Into the ports of eastern China came ginseng, lacquerware, celadon, gold and silver, horses and oxen from Korea and Japan. Into the ports of southern China came hardwoods and other tree products, ivory, rhinoceros horn, brilliant kingfisher feathers, ginger, sulfur and tin from Vietnam and Siam in mainland southeast Asia; cloves, nutmeg, batik fabrics, pearls, tree resins, and bird plumes from Sumatra, Java, and the Moluccas in island southeast Asia. Trade winds across the Indian Ocean brought ships carrying cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, turmeric, and especially pepper from Calicut on the southwestern coast of India, gemstones from Ceylon (Sri Lanka), as well as woolens, carpets, and more precious stones from ports as far away as Hormuz on the Persian Gulf and Aden on the Red Sea.

Agricultural products from north and east Africa also made their way to China, although little was known about those regions. By the beginning of the Ming Dynasty, China had reached a peak of naval technology unsurpassed in the world. While using many technologies of Chinese invention, Chinese shipbuilders also combined technologies they borrowed and adapted from seafarers of the South China seas and the Indian Ocean.

For centuries, China was the preeminent maritime power in the region, with advances in navigation, naval architecture, and propulsion. From the ninth century on, the Chinese had taken their magnetic compasses aboard ships to use for navigating (two centuries before Europe). In addition to compasses, Chinese could navigate by the stars when skies were clear, using printed manuals with star charts and compass bearings that had been available since the thirteenth century. Star charts had been produced from at least the eleventh century, reflecting China's concern with heavenly events

Zheng He commanded several treasure fleets – Chinese ships that explored and traded across Asia and Africa. His expeditions greatly expanded China’s trade. In 1403, the new emperor, Zhu Di, ordered the construction of the Treasure Fleet – a fleet of trading ships, warships and support vessels that would travel across the South China Sea and Indian Ocean. This was a big change for the Chinese empire; before 1403, China’s isolationist policies had forbidden foreign travel and trade. Zheng He took seven voyages as commander of the Treasure Fleet:
  • First voyage (1405-1407) : Zheng He was made commander of the Treasure Fleet and set sail for Calicut to purchase spices such as cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, turmeric and pepper. The fleet traveled to Champa (southern Vietnam), Siam (Thailand), Malacca, and Java, through the Indian Ocean, and on to Calicut. On the return trip to China, the fleet stopped at Ceylon (Sri Lanka).

  • Second voyage (1408-1409) : The fleet traveled again to Calicut, Kochi and Siam (Thailand).

  • Third voyage (1409-1411) : Zheng He and the fleet sailed from China toward the Hormuz on the Persian Gulf, passing Champa (southern Vietnam) and Sumatra. In Champa, they traded with the native populations for ebony, lakawood, and aloewood in exchange for Chinese porcelain and silk.

  • Fourth voyage (1413-1415) : The emperor ordered the largest Treasure Fleet expedition yet assembled. It included 63 vessels and 28,560 men. The fleet traveled to India, Sumatra and then to Hormuz where they obtained sapphires, rubies, topaz, coral beads, amber, woolens, and beautiful carpets. On the return voyage, Zheng He brought envoys from nineteen countries as tribute to the emperor.

  • Fifth Voyage (1417-1419) : The emperor ordered Zheng He to return the envoys back to their home countries. During this voyage, the fleet stopped in Champa, Java, Sumatra, Malacca, the Maldive Islands, Ceylon (Sri Lanka), Cochin, and Calicut. From there, the fleet ventured through Hormuz to Aden on the southern coast of Arabia near the entrance of the Red Sea. In Aden, Zheng He bartered gold, silver, porcelains, sandalwood and pepper for rare gems, pearls, coral amber and a giraffe. The giraffe was given as a tribute to the emperor. The fleet also traveled the eastern coast of Africa, returning envoys to Mogadishu, Brawa, and Malindi.

  • Sixth Voyage (1421) : Zheng He and the fleet returned the remaining envoys to their home countries. This was Zheng He’s shortest voyage. In 1424, the emperor died and his successor suspended all expeditions.

  • Seventh Voyage (1431-1433) : Zheng He’s last mission was to “explore the distant lands beyond the seas,” and beyond the realm of the emperor. The fleet traveled to Champa, Java, Sumatra, Malacca on the Malay Peninsula, finally arriving in Calicut. When the fleet split into two groups, Zheng He stayed in Calicut due to failing health. Zheng He died in 1433. Historians are split on whether he died in Calicut or on the return voyage to China, where he would have been buried at sea.

Related Post : Source : Wikipedia / factsanddetails / exploration.marinersmuseum
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