Preface
Zheng He, a name, a legend. He led China's official ships across the ocean seven times, opening up a maritime Silk Road connecting the East and the West.
His seafaring feat has been hailed as a milestone in the history of ancient Chinese navigation, creating amazing feats. However, just after becoming famous, Zheng He fell into a kind of unknown end.
Why did this seafaring legend end up like this? What kind of stories and mysteries are hidden in this? Let's embark on this fascinating voyage and discover the truth and meaning.
A generation of Tianjiao: the rise of Ma He
In 1371, in an ordinary family in Kunming, Yunnan, a child named Ma He was born. The child was born into a devout Islamic family, and both his grandfather and father made several pilgrimages to Mecca and was revered as "Haj". Such a family background has laid a deep foundation of faith for Ma He, and it has also made him open and tolerant since he was a child.
In 1404, Ma He's life took a turn for the better. At that time, Ming Chengzu Zhu Di had just ascended the throne as emperor, he gave Ma He the surname "Zheng", and appointed him as the internal official eunuch, and Ma He changed his name to "Zheng He". This change not only gave Zheng He a new identity, but also gave him the opportunity to express his ambitions.
Since then, Zheng He has been full of ambition and has embarked on the glorious voyage of his life. As an envoy of the Ming Dynasty, he led a large fleet of ships on seven voyages to the West in the following decades, covering the vast seas from China to East Africa, which became a milestone in the history of human navigation.
Unify the territory and open up the sea frontier
Zheng He's nautical feats can be said to have shocked the world again and again. On his first voyage to the Western Ocean, he led a huge fleet of 27,800 people, a total of 206 large ships, from the coast all the way to the heavenly side (Mecca). Such a voyage of unprecedented scale was undoubtedly amazing at the time.
After several voyages to the West, the size of Zheng He's fleet remained unabated, reaching a maximum of 27,670 passengers. Not only did it cover Southeast Asian countries, but it also reached the Arabian Peninsula and East African coasts for the first time, greatly expanding China's ties with foreign countries.
These voyages not only demonstrated the capabilities of the Chinese at sea, but also demonstrated the unshakable status of the Ming Dynasty as a great power in the East. Under the leadership of Zheng He, various countries sent envoys to the court to express their submission to the Ming Dynasty.
During the Zhu Di period, the number of missions increased from 183 in the previous dynasty to 318, and many overseas kings came in person. This undoubtedly became a strategic victory for the Ming Dynasty. The key to Zheng He's brilliant maritime career lies in the strong comprehensive national strength of the Ming Dynasty at that time.
In terms of military strength, economic strength and scientific and technological level, they all reached the highest level in the world at that time. This provided Zheng He with a solid backing, enabling him to create miracles in the history of human navigation again and again.
Dominate the ocean and demonstrate national prestige
As an envoy of the Ming Dynasty, Zheng He not only demonstrated the great strength of the Chinese at sea, but also fully demonstrated the national prestige of the Ming Dynasty through these voyages. Every time he went to the Western Ocean, Zheng He's fleet would bring back a large number of rare treasures as tribute, arousing the yearning and submission of various countries.
This vast trade network and influence all over the country undoubtedly established the unshakable position of the Ming Dynasty as the overlord of the East. This was exactly what Zhu Di expected, and he sent Zheng He to envoy in order to increase the prestige of the Ming Dynasty overseas and "promote the rationality and correctness of the imperial throne."
At the same time, Zheng He's voyage also greatly promoted the exchange of Chinese and foreign cultures. Through contact with this huge seafaring force, the people of all countries have gained a deeper understanding of Chinese civilization. There are even many overseas kings who come to the court, hoping to learn from China's advanced experience.
It can be said that under the leadership of Zheng He, the Ming Dynasty established an unprecedented network of trade and cultural transmission overseas. This is not only a demonstration of China's strength, but also an indelible contribution to promoting exchanges between human civilizations. It can be said that this is a rare and glorious chapter.
Loyal ministers are innocent, and their deeds are buried
However, a tragic fate awaited this great and accomplished navigator. Because Zheng He's voyage itself was heavily political.
From the beginning, one of Zhu Di's purposes in sending Zheng He to the West was to find his political opponent, the deposed Emperor Zhu Yunwen of the Ming Dynasty. As a result, this loyal servant had to become an assassination tool, and he had to hunt down his original monarch. This dark political purpose doomed Zheng He to a tragic fate.
At the same time, Zheng He's navigation career was also frantically suppressed by conservatives within the Ming Dynasty. These so-called "forbidden sea factions" often blamed Zheng He's military defeats and overseas trade losses on him, and instigated the imperial court to put an end to this feat. At their instigation, even the original archives of Zheng He's voyages were completely burned, completely erasing this glorious history.
This not only made Zheng He unable to enjoy his old age in peace, but also caused a lot of confusion in later generations about this history. Many people have doubts about Zheng He's deeds, and some scholars have even raised the so-called "mystery of Zheng He". It can be seen that in the end, it is difficult to find a decent end for this loyal minister. This tragedy makes people sigh.
Justice will triumph over darkness
However, the wheels of history always roll forward. Nowadays, more and more people are beginning to re-recognize and judge Zheng He's achievements, trying to restore this forgotten glory. Even Britain and other Western countries began to recognize Zheng He's navigational achievements, and some people even believed that he was the real "great discoverer of geography".
Only by constantly excavating and reshaping these buried histories can we better understand ourselves and better move towards the future. Let's explore this glorious history that has been forgotten by the world. This is not only a tribute to a hero, but also a reminiscence and reflection on the entire nation.
The wheels of history roll forward, but if we can't grasp the footprints of the past, how can we find the direction to the future? Let us start from Zheng He and write a new chapter of this nation together!
epilogue
History is full of surprises and is often very different from what we imagined. The unparalleled seafaring army of the past has now become a forgotten story in the world. What is the force that has stopped them from moving forward, so that this glory will finally be buried in obscurity?
Zheng He's story is not only a piece of history, but also an eternal wake-up call. It tells us not to be blinded by the fog of power and interests, and not to tolerate any distortion and cover-up of the truth.