Zheng He, a well-known name in Chinese history, led tens of thousands of people to cross the Indian Ocean for 300,000 kilometers in 28 years, and went to the Western Ocean seven times, the story is still shocking and admirable.
But one question is always puzzling - how did Zheng He accomplish this unprecedented feat of voyage in ancient times when there were no modern navigation equipment? Could it be that the level of science and technology in the Ming Dynasty was enough to create an "engine"?
Zheng He, formerly known as Ma Sanbao, was born in a prominent family in Yunnan. In the fifteenth year of Hongwu (1382), the Ming army marched south, and his father Maha was killed in the battle. The war caused the Ma family to lose all their property, and the household registration suffered heavy casualties. The young Ma Sanbao was also captured by the Ming army in this war and brought back to the harem to serve as a eunuch.
In the palace, this handsome young man was quickly favored and assigned to serve under Zhu Di, who was the king of Yan at the time. Ma Sanbao is smart and quick-witted, and he does things neatly. He won Zhu Di's trust and appreciation, and was appointed as an internal official and eunuch, and was given the name "Zheng He".
Since then, Zheng He has followed Zhu Di to fight in the south and the north, and has established a deep friendship. In the Battle of Jingyan, Zheng He made great contributions and helped Zhu Di ascend the throne for the sake of becoming an ancestor.
After Chengzu ascended the throne, he was determined to organize ocean voyages and promote the prestige of the country. He chose his confidant Zheng He as the chief envoy, opening the first "Age of Discovery" in Chinese history.
However, in order to sail tens of thousands of miles, it is first necessary to build a sturdy ship. Under the organizational command of Zheng He, frenzied shipbuilding began all over the country. The largest ship was 147 meters long and 51 meters wide, and the world had never seen such a huge ship at that time. Zheng He, as the leader of the fleet, his flagship was even more luxurious and magnificent. The three big characters of "Rulai Treasure Palace" shine dazzlingly.
After the ship problem was solved, Zheng He concentrated on the study of navigation technology. He used the "astronomical navigation method" to map the route according to the star map; And rely on monsoon changes to choose the departure date. He also selected and trained a large number of excellent sailors and accumulated experience in the sea. Finally, everything is ready. In the winter of the third year of Yongle (1405), Zheng He led more than 20,000 officers and soldiers for the first time and embarked on a magnificent voyage.
The first voyage lasted more than two years, and Zheng He's fleet traveled westward across the Indian Ocean to Gulan East (the northern tip of present-day Sumatra, Indonesia). Here, Zheng He's fleet encountered wind and waves and suffered heavy losses. However, Zheng He was not discouraged, and immediately organized the repair of the ship, replenished fresh water and food, and successfully returned to the voyage.
This voyage opened the horizons of the Chinese people, and the past of insufficient understanding of the outside world is gone forever. Chengzu Dayue immediately prepared a second voyage on a larger scale.
In the first month of the fifth year of Yongle (1407), Zheng He set sail again. This time, he continued westward, eventually reaching Ceylon (present-day Sri Lanka). Here, Zheng He used diplomacy to force the king to recognize China's suzerainty. This is the first time that the Chinese fleet has shown great strength and suppressed other forces.
On his third and fourth voyages, Zheng He visited island nations in Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean. Through diplomatic activities, these countries and regions recognized the legitimacy of the Ming Dynasty and became "vassal states" of China. As a result, Chinese culture spread far and wider.
In the seventh year of Yongle (1409), Zheng He embarked on his fifth voyage. This voyage was more distant than one might have imagined – his fleet sailed directly to the Gulf of Aden and the east coast of Africa. This is the first time the Chinese have arrived in the Atlantic! The local people were amazed by Zheng He's fleet. Zheng He also erected a stone monument on the east coast of Africa to mark the arrival of the Chinese fleet.
Two years later, Zheng He set off again. The sixth voyage passed through the islands of Nanhai Zhudao and finally reached Siam. On the way back, Zheng He fell seriously ill and was forced to suspend his diplomatic activities in Cambodia and return first. Fortunately, under the treatment of the doctor on the ship, Zheng He** came over.
In the nineteenth year of Yongle (1421), Zheng He completed his last voyage to the West. The main purpose of this trip is to consolidate the achievements of the past and visit countries that have established diplomatic relations. In the twenty-second year of Yongle, Zheng He arrived in Beijing and reported the voyage to Chengzu, officially completing his historic mission.
Today, we are still amazed by Zheng He's seven voyages to the West. So the question is, how did Zheng He complete this unprecedented voyage in ancient times when there was no modern technology?
To make a voyage of tens of thousands of miles, the structure and power of the vessel are the most critical issues. We can't imagine how a big ship could sail through thousands of miles of wind and waves in ancient times when there were no engines.
In fact, Zheng He's seven voyages to the West completely relied on "wind power". According to historical records, the large ships of that era were set up with huge sails, like a piece of white wings with outstretched white wings. The boatmen and sailors also paddled on the deck to help with the propulsion.
Zheng He and his shipwrights remodeled and optimized these ocean-going ships. Solid wood keels and hollow structures can withstand the wind and waves at sea and ensure the safety of the boat. At the same time, the weight is reduced and the boom is raised to get more wind power.
In order to determine the route, Zheng He made extensive use of the "astronomical navigation method". They identify the stars at night and determine their direction;During the day, you can observe natural landmarks such as seabirds and buoys. Zheng He also chose the time of departure according to the changes in the monsoon at sea, and sailed into the distance with the help of the monsoon.
It was with these skills that Zheng He's great ship was able to cut through the sea like a giant beast and make its way west to Africa. In the face of rough seas, sails are still the most important power**. We have to admire the wisdom of the ancients. With just the naked eye and simple instruments, tens of thousands of kilometers of ocean can be crossed. This is still a great challenge today.
Zheng He's seven visits to the West lasted 30 years. Wherever his fleet went, it deterred the Quartet and propagated Chinese civilization. It can be said that this is a sign that the development of maritime transport in ancient China has reached its peak.
Although this feat was ultimately unsustainable, the Chinese cultural relics such as silk and porcelain brought by Zheng He had had a profound impact on other ethnic groups. Zheng He's fleet also completed a detailed mapping of the western coast of the Indian Ocean. This made an important contribution to the great discoveries of ancient geography.
Today, "Zheng He's voyage to the West" has become a legend in the history of human navigation. It heralded ancient China's great achievements in shipbuilding and navigation technology. We should cherish the great wisdom of our ancestors and carry forward the spirit of Zheng He's "harmony" to know and understand this contradictory and beautiful world.