October 12, 1492, the day Columbus landed in the New World, was of epoch-making significance in the history of world navigation. This day marks the discovery of the Americas. Many modern American countries observe this day as Columbus Day.
However, in the 15th century, it was not only Europe that carried out all kinds of seafaring activities, looking for new **routes and **partners, developing a new capitalism in Europe. At the beginning of the 15th century, China already had large-scale navigation operations, which is the famous "Zheng He's voyage to the West" incident in Chinese history. If the navigation operations of that time had been sustained, modern China would not have been in a passive position.
Historically, there have always been different theories about the reason why Zheng He went to the West. Some people think that Zhu Di is looking for the missing Emperor Jianwen, but opponents believe that Zhu Di, who has already sat on the throne, will not care about Emperor Jianwen, who is not in danger, and there is no need to search for it many times. The cost of each voyage is incalculable. If you're looking for a deposed emperor, there's no need at all.
Another way of saying it is to preach the Weide theory of "reaching other countries and being gentle to distant places". At the same time, military teleology holds that Zhu Di took measures against the Timurid Empire in order to demonstrate the strength of the Central Plains Dynasty and praise Zhu Di's exploits. Let's go.
But no matter what Zhu Di himself thinks, judging from the obvious results achieved by Zheng He in the West, this is Zhu Di's original intention. Zheng He's voyage to the West was the largest, most frequent and longest sea voyage in ancient China. The first voyage began in the third year of Yongle (1405) and ended in the eighth year of Xuande (1433). In total, there were seven voyages. He visited more than 30 countries and regions, and let the small country see that there was a strong country in the East - the Ming Dynasty. Let Southeast Asia admire him, and in the future, all countries will come to pay tribute to the Central Plains.
However, even if more countries came to pay tribute, the annual income probably would not be comparable to the cost of Zheng He's trip to the West. Moreover, the tributary income was only the icing on the cake for the Central Plains Dynasty, which had a lot of land and resources. But this allowed the Ming Dynasty to fully establish the Huayi political system in Southeast Asia. This is the hidden political purpose.
As an ambitious emperor, Zhu Di may have hoped that this was the effect he wanted for Zheng He to go to the West. Throughout the ages, the unified concept of "Wang Wu Outsiders" and "Huaiyuande" was the most basic concept of the emperor.
The economic results achieved by Zheng He in the West are exactly what Zhu Di expected. However, in the short term, the cost of the voyage cannot be recovered for a while. It even triggered a financial crisis at that time, causing a "money shortage" in the country. shortage", a serious depletion of treasury reserves.
But in the long run, Zheng He's voyage to the West opened up overseas**, including tributary**, official**, and private**. These ** have promoted economic and cultural exchanges between the Chinese people and Southeast Asia and even Africa. After the Silk Road fell silent in a limited land area, this sea route allowed the two sides to exchange goods and develop their economies.
This large-scale navigation operation initiated by the state not only played a major role at the national level, but also was a novel experience for the people. Among the participants in the voyage were Ma Huan's "Yingya Scenic View", Fei Xin's "Xingsha Shenglan", Gong Zhen's "History of the Western Regions", etc., as well as the world's earliest surviving navigation atlas "Zheng He's Navigation Chart". Figures", all of which describe the situation in the countries they passed through in the West. In this way, people gain knowledge from many overseas countries. Only when the country is safe and secure can the people not worry about food and clothing, and can they accept new knowledge with the pride of a great country.
But unfortunately, after Zheng He's last voyage to the West, the Ming Dynasty's seafaring operations ended. Some scholars believe that the voyage cost a lot of money, "the expenses are huge, the inventory is empty", and the goal achieved by many voyages to the West is not enough. It has basically been realized, and there is really no need to go west again.
In addition, the leading figures who promoted the West, Ming Chengzu and Zheng He, have both passed away. There were no strong-willed people in the court to give orders. Emperor Renzong and Emperor Xuanzong had no intention of pursuing overseas careers. There is no "soul figure" of Zheng He in the team that went to the West. Since then, the Chinese fleet has disappeared into the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea, and the leading maritime business has been interrupted.
At that time, the Ming Dynasty's navigation technology, fleet size, sailing distance, duration, and areas involved were all ahead of the Western contemporary. Even the seafaring operations of Columbus and others at the end of the 15th century cannot be compared.
It's a pity that the latecomers caught up. European seafaring lasted for two centuries, the number of contacts began to increase dramatically, colonialism and liberalism began to appear, and so on, all of which allowed Europe to develop rapidly, making it possible to surpass Asia in the future.
If the Ming Dynasty had not given up navigation, I am afraid that it would have been able to get a piece of the pie in the Age of World Discovery, and let China become the "China" envisioned by Zhu Di.
Even the later Central Plains Dynasty implemented a policy of sea ban until the Qing Dynasty closed the country. China at this time was far behind the world and could not withstand the invasion of the Western powers.