The real purpose of Zheng He's voyage to the West was in the ninth year of Tongzhi (1870), when a simple stone stele suddenly appeared in the Indian Ocean, engraved with the historical trajectory of Zheng He's descent to the West, triggering people's exploration and thinking about this history.
The traces of this stele were excavated, attaching the legendary fate of Zheng He's fleet. In 1911, a British archaeologist named Thompson discovered an old stone tablet in the eastern waters of Sri Lanka, and after identification, it was found to be engraved with Ming dynasty scripts.
Inspired by this, a translator finally translated the words on this seemingly ordinary stone tablet. It turned out that this stele was erected during Zheng He's visit to Manchuria, now Sri Lanka, during the Yongle period of the Ming Dynasty, to commemorate the history of friendly exchanges between the two countries.
This serendipitous discovery made people re-understand the history of Zheng He's voyage to the West. However, the true purpose of Zheng He's voyage to the West has long been controversial.
The turmoil of the dynasty and the succession of the Ming dynasty became the historical background behind Zheng He's expedition. Zhu Yuanzhang, the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty, made many of his own sons princes, of which Zhu Di was the most powerful.
During the Jianwen Emperor's period, Zhu Di rebelled and finally seized the imperial throne for the sake of Ming Chengzu. In order to consolidate his dominance, Ming Chengzu needed to enhance his national prestige and stabilize the situation.
Against this background, Zheng He was ordered to sail and embarked on an unprecedented ocean-going adventure in history. Zheng He's voyage to the West lasted more than two years and covered more than 30,000 miles.
Zheng He led a huge fleet, carrying rich tribute, through fierce winds and waves, only to realize the dream of Ming Chengzu. He not only led the sailors and helmsmen of the fleet, but also translators, medical officers and other talents, and even craftsmen from all over the world, using various handicraft skills to show the local people Chinese civilization.
Zheng He's fleet became the envoys of a maritime power, fully blending Chinese and foreign cultures. The purpose of Zheng He's voyage to the West was not to conquer and plunder, but to treat each other with courtesy and spread Chinese civilization.
Their encounter with the King of Manraka is a perfect illustration. According to the stele, Zheng He's fleet encountered a provocation at Manraka, but Zheng He subdued the Manraka king by force and installed the king's younger brother as the new king.
This action shows Zheng He's adherence to the principle of justice and upholding dignity. Zheng He brought Chinese silk, porcelain, tea and other gifts to Manraka, and the king of Manraka also gave back treasures, and friendly relations between the two countries were maintained.
It can be said that Zheng He's visit to the West was a friendly visit rather than a conquest and occupation, and it was a bright chapter in the spread of Chinese civilization. The stone monument erected by the king of Manraka bears witness to the vicissitudes of Manraga.
However, the stele has experienced a bumpy fate. Since the erection of the monument by Zheng He, it has been in the water for more than 600 years and has experienced the vicissitudes of time.
It was not until 1911 that the stele was discovered by the British and later restored. This stone stele that has seen the light of day is like a miniature of Zheng He's descent into the West.
Although Zheng He's fleet had encountered stormy seas and died in the face of difficulties, they still persevered in that rare encounter. This story across time and space has endured through the wind and rain.
The discovery of the Manraka stele gives us a new perspective on this history. Zheng He did not go to the West to conquer and occupy, but to promote the great Ming Weide and spread Chinese civilization.
The friendly exchanges of Zheng He's fleet spread Chinese civilization to Southeast Asian countries and promoted the friendship between the two countries. This history is of far-reaching significance, and it inspires us to build a society of solidarity and diversity and exchange.
Zheng He's voyage to the West is a legendary historical event. From the discovery of the Manraka stele, people can re-understand and interpret this history.
The encounters and fate in this history, as well as the magnificent journey of Zheng He's fleet, will continue to inspire and lead future generations. Just like Zheng He's sailing dream, it will not stop, but will start again in each era and go to a new distant place.