Over 600 years ago, a remarkable fleet of hundreds of ships set sail from the shores of China during the Ming Dynasty, led by the legendary navigator and explorer Zheng He. His expeditions, occurring more than eight decades before Christopher Columbus’ famous journey, have often been overshadowed in the Eurocentric annals of history. Zheng He’s missions were characterized by their emphasis on trade, diplomacy, and even the exchange of Chinese porcelain, rather than territorial expansion or coercion of local populations.
Historical accounts recount Zheng He’s seven epic voyages to what was then referred to as the “Western Oceans,” a region we now recognize as the Indian Ocean. Departing from Fujian Province in modern-day China, Zheng and his diverse crew made port calls at several significant locations, including Java, Palembang, Thailand, Malacca, Sumatra, Sri Lanka, India, Iran, and even extended their travels to Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. Some historians have identified more than 30 countries and sites across Asia and Africa that Zheng visited between 1405 and 1433.
While scholars debate the precise dimensions of Zheng’s fleet, historical records indicate that the flagship, in particular, may have measured a staggering 61.2 meters in length, 13.8 meters in width, and displaced around 1,000 tons.
One voyage, in July 1405, stands out for its detail. Zheng led a fleet comprising over 240 ships with a crew of 27,000 individuals, encompassing a wide range of roles such as marine surveyors, sailors, soldiers, doctors, cooks, translators, astrologists, and even barbers.
In stark contrast to European explorers of the late 15th century who often sought territorial conquest or the subjugation of local populations, Zheng He’s primary mission was centered on trade and the exchange of highly coveted Chinese porcelain. His ships predominantly carried porcelain, silk, herbs, ironware, and coins. During his port calls, Zheng would announce his amicable intentions, representing the Ming emperor’s message, before engaging in robust trade with the locals. The Ming court’s desires included spices, fabrics, precious gems, rhinoceros horns, and exotic animals.
Beyond trade, Zheng conducted one of the world’s earliest counter-piracy campaigns. In the early 1400s, the powerful “pirate king” Chen Zuyi controlled Palembang, terrorizing merchants traversing the Indian Ocean. Zheng’s “treasure ships” were prime targets, but he had been well-informed about Chen’s activities. Zheng ordered his fleet to prepare for combat, and in a confrontation, he managed to obliterate Chen’s fleet, slaying 5,000 pirates and capturing Chen alive. Chen was brought to the Ming capital and executed, a public spectacle meant to deter other ambitious pirates. This operation earned Zheng He widespread praise in the Southeast Asian coastal communities.
Zheng He was also careful to respect local cultures. In the National Museum in Colombo, a tablet he carried all the way from China can be found, paying homage to local religious beliefs. Written in Chinese, Tamil, and Arabic, it offered praise to Buddha, Tenavarai-Nayanar, and Allah, along with lavish tributes to these deities.
The goodwill visits by Zheng He had a lasting impact, fostering knowledge of and interest in Ming China among the coastal kingdoms in Southeast Asia. In 1423, over 1,200 envoys from 16 kingdoms in places like Calicut, Kochi, Cail, and Lamuri gathered in Beijing to seek closer ties.
During an era when might often dictated right and international laws or norms were scarce, Zheng He’s peaceful trade, cultural exchange, and the exchange of Chinese porcelain were a rare occurrence. This commitment to peaceful engagement was deeply ingrained in Ming China’s foreign policy and Chinese culture.
In the “Instructions of the Ancestor of the August Ming,” the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty issued a warning to his descendants: “My offspring shall not abuse China’s strength to wage unprovoked wars and take innocent lives.” To ensure enduring peace in China’s neighborhood, he specifically designated 15 neighboring countries as “states against which Ming shall never use force,” encompassing ancient Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Indonesia, India, Malaysia, and Brunei.
The Ming Dynasty’s desire for peace did not stem from weakness; it was a superpower with a population exceeding 100 million and advanced shipbuilding capabilities. Dominating smaller kingdoms across the seas would have been within reach, but the Ming Dynasty chose a different path, embracing peace for generations to come. The concept of domination over other nations was foreign to Chinese culture, a philosophy deeply rooted in the nation’s collective consciousness.
