Daming also had a magnificent voyage, but why didn't there be a colony?

To establish a colony overseas, we must meet some basic needs, such as a densely populated colonial empire, and some people are willing to leave their hometown. At the same time, the colonial dynasty must have a strong desire to expand its territory.

First, during Zheng He's vigorous voyage to the West, the population density of Ming Dynasty was not high.

In the early Ming Dynasty, Zheng He's voyage to the Western Ocean was unprecedented. In the Ming Dynasty, the population of the whole country was only about 60 million, and the population density of China was not high during Yongle period of the Ming Dynasty. On the contrary, it is necessary to encourage population growth to develop agricultural production.

Hong's household registration in the whole country is more than 1, 6 1, which is only one tenth of that in Xining period of Song Dynasty. If this historical data is true and reliable, then the hukou in the early Ming Dynasty was only 12% of that in the Yuan Dynasty.

It is said that in order to increase the population, the Ming Dynasty actually used special methods, such as curfew.

Curfews prohibit people from going out during the specified time. The curfew time stipulated in the Ming Dynasty is from the first day to the fifth watch, that is, it is forbidden to go out at 7: 00 pm, and the restriction will not be lifted until 5: 00 am. During the curfew, there will be patrol supervision by the Royal Guards. If anyone is found walking in the street, he will be punished with a stick.

Curfews can kill two birds with one stone, reduce crime, and at the same time encourage couples to reunite.

So by the end of Hongwu, the population had increased greatly. In the twenty-sixth year of Hongwu, the national population was about 60 million, basically returning to the level of the heyday of the Yuan Dynasty.

It can be seen that in the early Ming Dynasty, the population of China was already very scarce, so there was no internal motivation for foreign colonization.

Second, the people of the Ming Dynasty were unwilling to leave their homes. At the same time, the Ming dynasty had no intention of expanding its territory.

People in China are homesick and don't like to leave home and run around. The overlord of Chu has a famous saying: wealth does not return to his hometown, and wealth returns to his hometown.

Therefore, many soldiers of Zheng He followed him to the Western Seas. Their purpose is nothing more than making money. When they get rich, they will wear clothes and go back to their hometown, where they will spend their old age, buy fields and buy real estate.

Moreover, Zheng He's voyage to the West in the Ming Dynasty was not to expand overseas territory, but to protect and develop overseas trade.

At the same time, it also means to show off national prestige. In short, there is no idea of expanding territory. Governing backward areas is costly and often thankless. The Ming dynasty didn't want to do such a loss-making business.

For a typical example, Vietnam was first incorporated into the territory of the Ming Dynasty in 1407. As a result, it was regarded as a loss-making business in less than 20 years, and finally gave up the long-term plan to govern Vietnam.

Because the expenditure of court officials in the Ming Dynasty was far greater than local taxes, and there were often rebellions, the Ming Dynasty was really too civilized, and it often felt that backward areas were governed by civilized methods.

Therefore, no literati, especially literati, wants to live in that backward place. Many people don't want to take care of Jiaotuo province, that is, Vietnam, but no civil servants in the Ming Dynasty are willing to wait for a long time.

Not far from the Ming mainland, there is no way to colonize, let alone go overseas. Therefore, the Ming Dynasty is a civilized country, unwilling to get involved in muddy water and lose money in business, which also affected the glorious image of the Ming Dynasty.

Therefore, it is normal for Daming to have a magnificent sailing feat but no overseas colonies. China had a small population in the early Ming Dynasty, and the Ming Dynasty was a civilized country. It wanted to show the great image of the Ming Dynasty and was unwilling to expand its colonies overseas.