Zheng He


Born Ma He in 1371, He was raised in a Muslim Chinese household in Western China, the descendant of mongols. "He" was his given name and Ma his family name. They lived under the rule of a Mongol prince. When the Imperial Ming Army invaded, He's father died in the fighting. He was a teenager when he was captured and ripped away from his people. They made him a servant to the imperial family. To be a servant in the imperial family, every male servant had to be castrated. Men who are castrated are known as eunichs. It's believed that castrated men are better workers because they don't have the hormones to distract them. 

Once in the service of the Imperial family, He befriended the young prince. The Prince was 11 years older but grew to enjoy the company of He. As young men, the Prince ruled from Beijing and He took a role in the military fighting the Mongols in the north. 

When the Emperor died, Prince Zhu Di was his only surviving son. However, the Emperor's nephew seized power. Not willing to standby and miss out, Prince Zhu Di declared war on the new Emperor. Zheng He took a role as a General. He launched a successful seige on the city of Nanjing. Prince Zhu Di accepted the title of Emperor four days later. On Chinese New Year 1404, Zhu Di rewarded Zheng He by promoting him to Chief Envoy and given control of the Chinese Imperial Fleet. He commanded 317 ships and 28,000 crew men. The thirty main treasure ships were five times the size of other ships of the time. The ships carried great amounts of gold and silver. 

Zheng He's first fleet was to Sumatra, modern-day Indonesia. They returned with gifts for the Emperor and created trade deals. Next they would travel to Brunei, Java, Siam (now known as Thailand) India, Arabia and the Horn of Africa. Each new kingdom was given Chinese goods as well as gold and silver. I'm return, local king's gifted novelties for the Emperor. These kingdoms weren't new to the Chinese but relations were strengthened and trade increased.

When Zheng He met the people of Africa, modren-day Kenya and Tanzania, he was gifted ostriches, Zebra, Camels and Ivory. They even returned to China with a giraffe for the Emperor. 

Zheng He collected representatives of each of these nations to return to China and show respect to the Emperor. The act of showing respect to the Emperor is called "Cow Toww" , a word used in the English language.

A couple of times, the expeditions had to wage war. In Sri Lanka they invaded the island because the new King was hostile to the Chinese.

In the strait between Malaysia and Indonesia, the imperial treasure fleet was attacked by the Pirate Lord Chen Zuyi. Looking to overpower the imperial forces and loot the treasure ships. 

https://youtu.be/ubSKrexjBio?si=HaEVTqIupqNp90ND

https://youtu.be/t-s1K56UgM0?si=FbeYC95nAC547GRl



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