The influence of Zheng He's voyage to the West on China

the influence of Zheng he's voyage to the west on the survival and development of China's overseas immigrants. Zheng he's voyage to the west lasted for 28 years, with 12, people participating, and reached more than 3 countries and regions, which was a great pioneering work in the history of human navigation. According to relevant data, in Southeast Asian countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia, many Chinese came with Zheng He's fleet and stayed for a long time to become early overseas Chinese. Under the influence of Zheng He's voyages to the Western Seas, "... the people of Fujian and Guangxi, building boats and wading into the sea, flocked to it, or even bought fields and married women and stayed behind." 1 "By the middle and late Ming Dynasty, there were more than 1, overseas Chinese in Nanyang." It can be said that Zheng He's voyage to the West not only opened up the "Maritime Silk Road" and opened the door to China's foreign trade, but also indirectly expanded China people's geographical knowledge, raised people's expectation of immigrants' income, promoted more China people to go to Nanyang and other places to do business and make a living, and had a positive impact on the survival and development of China immigrants overseas and the formation of overseas Chinese society.

First, the follow-up effects of Zheng He's voyages to the West

Zheng He's initial motivation for his voyages to the West, whether it was to promote "kingly way" (the prestige of China) or "settle abroad" (to avoid troubles), can be regarded as an adjustment of the foreign policy of the Ming government, which objectively helped to open up China's foreign channels, develop foreign trade and establish.

First of all, Zheng He's voyages to the West promoted the prestige of "China". "Ancestral Instructions of the Emperor Ming" said: "China would be better if the four nationalities were suitable". Therefore, the Ming government listed 15 countries, including North Korea, Japan, Big Comb Country, Small Comb Country, Annan, Zhenla, Zhancheng, Sumatra and Guawa, as "countries without expropriation". Emperor Chengzu of the Ming Dynasty had the idea of "all nations come to Korea" and "four foreigners serve the guests", so as to satisfy the vanity of the feudal dynasty by "showing off foreign troops and showing China's prosperity". It can be seen that Zheng He's voyages to the West are official and have strong political significance. During Zheng He's voyage to the Western Seas, he defeated the pirate groups and conspirators who attacked by force three times, defended the interests of the Ming government with jewelry trading and self-defense guns, publicized the national prestige and improved the reputation of "China". Through "treating foreigners with courtesy and guiding others with kindness", it has promoted the contact between China and other parts of Southeast Asia, and has a far-reaching impact on overseas immigrants in China. According to Liang Qichao's Biography of Zheng He, the Great Navigator of the Motherland, "After Zheng He went to the Western Seas, there were no fewer than 54, or 5, people who moved to the Nanyang Islands, and those who had mixed marriages with the aborigines were 7 million people." The demonstration effect of Zheng He's voyage to the West created conditions for China immigrants to move abroad in large numbers, and promoted the formation and development of overseas Chinese society, which was also the far-reaching social foundation for overseas immigrants to worship Zheng He.

Secondly, Zheng He's voyages to the West promoted the social development of overseas Chinese. According to historical records, China people have been going overseas since the Shang and Zhou Dynasties. Xu Fu led 3, people to Japan in the Qin Dynasty, which was the first large-scale overseas migration in China's history. However, the real formation and development of overseas Chinese society appeared after Zheng He's voyage to the West. The success of Zheng He's voyage to the West attracted more and more China people to emigrate overseas, and a large number of Chinese villages or towns were formed, and a relatively stable and complete overseas Chinese society was formed. After the Opium War, China has fallen into a semi-feudal and semi-colonial society. On the one hand, due to the bloody exploitation of the rulers and the long-term political turmoil, especially the massive infiltration of colonial capital, local businessmen and craftsmen have gone bankrupt, a large number of farmers have been displaced, and people are miserable everywhere. On the other hand, after the Opium War broke out, the Qing government was weakened and almost dragged on. In order to maintain the backward feudal autocracy system, the Qing government signed many treaties that humiliated the country and the country, including ceding land, opening coastal trading ports, and recognizing the legitimacy of western powers to recruit Chinese workers. In fact, the maritime ban treaty was also abolished, which further aggravated the development of overseas immigration and formed a relatively mature overseas Chinese society.

Third, Zheng He's voyages to the West provided convenient conditions for Chinese migration. As we know, since the invention of the compass in the Song Dynasty, China's navigation technology has made great progress. Zheng He's voyages to the Western Seas not only opened up overseas channels, but also opened up routes connecting Southeast Asia, South Asia, West Asia and East Africa, and left many valuable navigation materials and detailed records of the places he passed through, which was of great help to China people in emigrating overseas. In order to promote the friendly exchanges between China and Southeast Asia, the Ming government set up the "Four Translation Rooms" in Nanjing, which was attached to the Hanlin Academy and was used to train foreign language talents from countries closely related to China. At the same time, by solving the border troubles, setting up the propaganda department, supporting the propaganda department of the old port, and advising the king of Siam, the Chinese pirate groups and the pirates in Ceylon Mountain were dealt a heavy blow, basically eliminating the threat of pirates and schemers, safeguarding the interests of overseas nationals to a certain extent, facilitating Chinese to travel to and from the Nanyang Islands, and making it possible for a large number of residents in the coastal areas of China to move out. In this way, mainly in the coastal areas of Guangdong and Fujian, the vast number of poor farmers have stepped out of the country and were forced to make a living overseas. It is estimated that in the 1 years since the Opium War, the number of people going abroad in China is estimated to be no less than 15 million.

Second, Zheng He's voyages to the West are conducive to the survival and development of China's overseas immigrants

The famous historian Wu Han once made the following comments on Zheng He's historical achievements in his voyages to the West: (1) Economic gains. Zheng He used porcelain, silk and tea to go to Nanyang Boyi, which benefited both the government and the people. (2) political success. The national prestige spread far and wide, and the kings of Nanyang came to the court with their heads bowed, and they were willing to be ministers. (3) Cultural communication. Treasure ships come one after another, and messengers come and go, so that all countries in Southeast Asia are infected with Chinese style. (4) The increase of overseas Chinese immigrants and the development of their influence. China people's position in Nanyang has suddenly improved, and Chinese people have gradually gained the faith of local people with their sensitive and hard-working skills. It should be said that Mr. Wu Han's evaluation is quite reasonable. Zheng He's voyages to the West expanded China people's living space overseas, ensured the safety of China's sea route to Southeast Asia, and played an important role in the survival and development of China immigrants.

First of all, Zheng He's voyages to the West have strengthened relations with Southeast Asian countries and improved the living environment of Chinese immigrants. Zheng He's voyages to the West were mainly "voyages to South Asia", that is, today's Nanyang Islands. After the founding of the Ming Dynasty, the positive development of friendly relations with foreign countries was mainly carried out through the exchange of missions, foreign "tributes" and gifts from the Ming government, which was characterized by "being generous to being thin". The Ming government treated the tribute envoys with courtesy, and even if "private goods came, they paid twice the price". Zheng He's voyages to the Western Seas exactly carried out the feudal dynasty's thought of "spreading virtue and softening people" and "cherishing princes makes the world fear them", which made the friendly exchanges between the Ming Dynasty and Southeast Asian countries reach its peak, and Southeast Asian kings visited China one after another, prompting them to implement a more relaxed overseas Chinese policy. According to historical records, in the 14th year of Yongle (1416), that is, after Zheng He had completed four missions to visit China, there were Guri, Claw Silicon, Mancijia, Zhancheng, Ceylon Mountain, Mugudushu, Slippery Mountain, Nanboli, Non-piercing Silicon, Adan, Sumen Ansai, Malin, Sisa, Hulumus, Keji and Shali. At the right time, all the envoys filled the hall. After Zheng He's voyage to the West, he set up trans-shipment stations in Southeast Asia, such as Sanfa in Xijia, Indonesia, Sishun in Guawa, Semarang in Guawa, and Giant Port in Sumatra, which served as stopovers for fleet rest, supply, accommodation of disease attaché s and reception of overseas Chinese. Taking Mancijia as the trade center, it established a central stronghold to carry out the activities of going to the West, which improved the living environment of Chinese immigrants to a certain extent, and then a large number of overseas Chinese moved to Nanyang. "The formation of Nanyang Overseas Chinese Center actually began when Zheng He went to the Western Ocean". In the Ming Dynasty, Zhang Xie's Examination of the East and West also recorded that there were 1, or even tens of thousands of overseas Chinese in Java, Kalimantan, the Philippines and the Malay Peninsula.

Secondly, Zheng He declared "Wang Wei" when he went to the West, which improved the political status of Chinese immigrants. According to historical records, wherever Zheng He's fleet went, it first "made a move and presented a reward", visited the king according to national etiquette, and presented precious gifts from China. Whenever Zheng He's fleet arrived, Chinese immigrants living in the Nanyang Islands rushed to tell each other and shouted "Sanbao eunuch", who made a special trip to see us. The main reason is that local Chinese deeply feel that Zheng He has brought national prestige, and after seeing Zheng He's huge fleet, local people also think that Chinese immigrants are backed by a powerful country, so naturally they dare not despise them. Southeast Asian countries also felt reverence for China because of Zheng He's visit, which can be seen from Mancijia and Sulu Wang's delegation to visit China. Since accepting the seal of the Ming Dynasty, from July, the ninth year of Yongle (1411) to September, the eighth year of Xuande (1433), King Mancijia led his princess and accompanying ministers to visit China three times, and was warmly received by Emperor Chengzu and Xuanzong of Ming Dynasty, which deepened the traditional friendship between Southeast Asia and China. Overseas Chinese have been paid attention to in Manciga. For example, the King of Manciga appointed overseas Chinese as the port owner, responsible for dealing with the merchant ships in China and zhina. After Zheng He's voyage to the West, King Sulu knew that China was a powerful and friendly country with vast territory and rich products, so he took his princess, prince and entourage with him, and a large delegation of more than 34 people visited China. When King Sulu arrived in China, he was given a grand reception by Ming Chengzu, and the bustling scene of China made them linger. On the way back to China, the East King of Sulu died unfortunately in Dezhou, Shandong Province. Except for the eldest prince who returned to China to inherit the throne, his princess, his second son, his third son and more than a dozen others stayed to guard the tomb, but they were unwilling to return to China and eventually died in Dezhou. His descendants settled in the northern suburb of Dezhou, Shandong Province, and Ann and Wen became their surnames. Chinese in Brunei also believe that "since (Zheng He) Wang Jinghong came to Brunei, the status of Chinese has been greatly improved". 8

Thirdly, Zheng He's voyages to the West brought advanced production technology and enhanced the development ability of Chinese immigrants. In the early years of Yongle, China had an abundant supply of grain, cotton and cloth, a prosperous handicraft industry, and relatively mature shipbuilding and metallurgy industries, which were in sharp contrast with the countries in Southeast Asia and South Asia that were still relatively backward at that time. After Zheng He's voyage to the West, he brought China's exquisite industrial products. According to books such as Ying Ya Sheng Lan, An Examination of the East and the West, and The History of the West, these items include blue and white porcelain, celadon dishes and bowls, musk, burnt beads, camphor, oranges, tea, lacquerware, umbrellas, gold, silver, iron tripod, copper coins and lake silk. After paying an audience with the king according to the etiquette of the country, Zheng He traded the goods he brought with the local people. China's silk and porcelain were well received by them. Zheng He's fleet "dug mountains to open the way, dug the ground to take springs," and various advanced production technologies and tools were continuously introduced, which played an important role in the local reclamation and economic development in Southeast Asia. Over time, this form of barter transaction quickly became popular, which produced the brand effect of "China Goods" in Southeast Asian countries. For the local overseas Chinese who are operating, it is undoubtedly advertising for them for free, cultivating the development ability of local Chinese and opening up the market space of China goods. The vast number of Chinese immigrants also bought goods directly from China through various channels, which made their area quickly become an important local economic, commercial and trade center and played a decisive role in the local social and economic development.

Fourth, Zheng He's voyages to the West inherited Chinese culture and enhanced the national cohesion of Chinese immigrants. Zheng He's voyages to the Western Seas, in addition to "recruiting, awarding prizes" and trading, followed the concept of "spreading education in overseas countries, guiding etiquette and changing their habits", and led a fleet to "travel around the Nanyang Islands, where he announced the virtues of Daming and comforted scholars." 11 He constantly spread China's enlightenment to Southeast Asian countries in order to improve their cultural level and change their backward development, which was widely loved by local people. Local people are also happy that China people will move to their places to develop production in the same place, and overseas Chinese are increasingly becoming an important force in economic construction in various countries. The Chinese married local women and began to form a process of friendly coexistence and integration with local people. Therefore, in areas where overseas Chinese are concentrated, in addition to forming a "Chinatown" in the commercial sense, Chinese immigrants have also built ancestral halls and temples, set up various clan associations, and set up private schools to learn Chinese, making it an important carrier for inheriting Chinese culture. For example, the couplets of "Drinking from the ends of the earth and thinking about the source, taking root when in Rome" hanging in "Chinatown" express the development idea that overseas Chinese are proud of China and take root when in Rome; "Chinatown" is the product of Chinese people's honest business and inheritance of Chinese culture. It has become an important base for China immigrants' overseas activities and played a positive role in enhancing the centripetal force of Chinese people.

Fifth, Zheng He adopted a dual policy of shock and appeasement in his voyages to the West, which safeguarded the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese immigrants. In the early years of the Ming Dynasty, the damage caused by pirates was quite serious, especially in some throat areas where envoys and business travelers had to pass, which were occupied by pirates. "Anyone passing by a guest's ship would rob property", which made envoys and business travelers "come and go", which was particularly harmful. During Zheng He's voyage to the Western Ocean, * * * had to fight three times. Zheng He made his first trip to the West. When he led his fleet back through the old port, he was raided by a pirate group headed by Chinese leader Chen Zuyi. This pirate group made a living by robbing the property of merchants and envoys in the past, trying to "cheat and invite robbery" and rob the treasures carried by Zheng He's fleet. After Zheng He's fleet defeated the sneak attacker, he captured the pirate leader Chen Zuyi alive and took him back to Beijing to be executed on the spot. At that time, although only a few people engaged in illegal activities, it has damaged the image of Chinese and involved many innocent people. After Chen Zuyi was arrested and brought to justice, it caused a shock in overseas and local Chinese communities. This "town-stopping" action eliminated the influence of pirate groups and safeguarded the interests of overseas Chinese to a certain extent. On Zheng He's second voyage to the West, when passing through Sri Lanka, the prince of that country tricked Zheng He into the capital, forcibly extorted property, and secretly sent troops to rob him in an attempt to capture Zheng He's fleet together. As a result, the plot failed and was captured, so Zheng He took them back to Beijing to be dedicated to Ming Chengzu. However, Ming Chengzu implemented a lenient policy and sent all the Sri Lankan kings and others back to China, which not only had a double effect of shocking and appeasing overseas countries, but also safeguarded the legitimate rights and interests of overseas Chinese and played an important role in their survival and development.

Third, the reference significance of Zheng He's voyage to the West

Zheng He's tribute trade to the West and its promotion of non-governmental trade have brought great wealth effects, stimulated people's desire to pursue wealth abroad in China coastal areas, directly raised people's expectations for the benefits of immigrants, and contributed to the development of Chinese immigrants and overseas Chinese society, providing a strong spiritual impetus for China to go global and develop itself. Today, Zheng He's voyages to the West still have a strong reference significance.

First of all, vigorously carry forward the spirit of Zheng He and "go out" to develop yourself. The wealth appreciation effect brought by Zheng He's voyage to the West has aroused people's desire for "going out" development. China is a person.