What was Zheng He's voyage to the West?

1405 1 1 In July (the third year of Yongle in the Ming Dynasty), Ming Taizu Chengzu ordered Zheng He to lead a huge fleet of more than 240 seagoing ships and 27,400 crew members to sail and visited more than 30 countries and regions in the western Pacific and Indian Ocean, which deepened the friendly relations between China and Southeast Asia and East Africa. Every time I set out from Liujiagang in Suzhou until 1433 (8 years of Xuande in Ming Dynasty), I sailed for 8 times. For the last time, in April of eight years, Xuande returned to Guri and died on the ship. The folk story "Popular Romance of Sambo Eunuch's Journey to the West" calls his travel adventure Sambo Eunuch's Journey to the West.

Zheng He has been to more than 30 countries, including Java, Sumatra, Sulu, Pahang, Zhenla, Guri, Siam, Adan, Tian Fang, Zoufal, Hume, Mugushu, as far away as the east coast of Africa, the Red Sea, Mecca and possibly Australia.

Zheng He brought giraffes from Africa in 14 14 (the 12th year of Yongle). Shen Du's Fu of Ruiying Qilin was painted by court painters in Ming Dynasty.

Definition of "Western Ocean": in the early Ming Dynasty, Borneo/Brunei was the boundary, the East was called the Oriental Ocean, and the West was called the Western Ocean. Therefore, in the past, it was called the South China Sea and the Southwest China Sea, in the Ming Dynasty it was called the Eastern Ocean and the Western Ocean, and the sea in the Gulf of Siam was called the Rising Sea.

The first voyage to the west

On June 15th, the third year of Yongle (1405 July 1 1), it set sail from Nanjing Longjiang Port, went to sea via Taicang, and returned to China on the second day of September, the fifth year of Yongle (1407 10 February).

The data of the first voyage to the West was 27,800.

The second voyage to the west

On September 13th, the fifth year of Yongle (1407, 13), he arrived in Brunei, Thailand, Cambodia, India and other places, saw off the tooth in Ceylon Mountain, brought it back with the ship, and returned to China in the summer of the seventh year of Yongle (1409).

The data of the second voyage to the West was 27,000.

The third voyage to the west

In September of the seventh year of Yongle (1409, 10), we set sail from Liujiagang, Taicang. Yao, Fei Xin, Ma Huan and others followed us and arrived in Vietnam, Malaysia and India. On the way home, we visited Mount Ceylon. June 16th, the 9th year of Yongle (14 1 July 6th).

The fourth voyage to the west

In the 11th year of Yongle (14165438+October 2003), accompanied by Ma Huan, the translator, set sail in Malindi, East Africa for the first time in the 13th year of Yongle (1465438+August 12). In June165438+1October of the same year, Ambassador Marinte came to China to present the "Kirin" (giraffe).

The data of the fourth voyage to the West was 27,670.

The fifth voyage to the west

In May of the fifteenth year of Yongle (1465438+June 2007), Pu Rihe, a descendant of Pu Shougeng, accompanied him to Zhancheng and Java Island via Quanzhou, and as far away as the ancient wooden capitals of Shu, Brava and Malin in East Africa, on July 17th of the seventeenth year of Yongle (1465438+August 2009)

The sixth voyage to the west

On the 30th day of the first month of the 19th year of Yongle (142 1 March 3rd, 2000), he set out for Bangkoci (Bangladesh). According to the historical records, "In the middle of the town, the official ship was caught in a strong wind, capsized and drowned, and the ship shouted, knocked on God for help, but the words were not finished ... It was calm", and he returned to the middle road. In August of the 20th year of Yongle. In the 22nd year of Yongle, Ming Chengzu died, and Injong Zhu Gaochi ascended the throne. Because of the economic emptiness, he ordered to stop sailing to the west.

The seventh voyage to the west

Treasure ships leave Longjiang Pass.

Xuande set sail from Longjiang Pass (now Xiaguan, Nanjing) on the sixth day of December (143 1 year). After returning, Zheng He died in Guri on the west coast of India in the eighth year of Xuande (1433) due to overwork. The fleet, led by eunuch Wang Jinghong, returned on the sixth day of July.

There were 27,550 people on the seventh voyage to the West.

Fleet establishment

Zheng He's fleet of voyages to the West is a huge fleet, which is completely compiled according to maritime navigation and military organization. At that time, it was a powerful maritime mobile formation in the world. Many foreign scholars call Zheng He's fleet a task force, and Zheng He is the commander or commander-in-chief of the navy. After comprehensively analyzing the world history of this period, Dr. Needham, an internationally renowned scholar in Britain, concluded: "The navy of the Ming Dynasty may be stronger than any Asian country in history or even any European country in the same period."

1, a large number, in good order.

Zheng He's voyages to the West were organized in the form of military organizations.

First of all, there are many people.

The number of Zheng He's voyages to the West has been clearly recorded four times in historical materials.

First time: 27,800 people

Second time: 27,000 people

Fourth time: 27,670 people

Seventh time: 27,550 people

We can preliminarily judge that the number of Zheng He's voyages to the Western Ocean was more than 27,000, and there were about five guards in the Ming Dynasty, each with 5,000-5,500 people. From now on, "Wu Zhi Shu" mainly comes from coastal health centers. At that time, the number of sailors of Columbus, Da Gama and Magellan in the west was between 90- 1500 respectively; /kloc-above 0/70; 265 people. What I'm talking about here is not just quantity, but a scientific truth. The number of sailors reflects a kind of strength, especially in ancient society, which requires material support from all sides and is not easy.

Second, the fleet establishment. According to the research of Chinese naval professionals for many years, Zheng He's fleet consists of three sequences: boat division, amphibious unit and honor guard. The boat division is the current warship unit. They are organized into formations, which are called forward battalion, rear battalion, middle battalion, left battalion and right battalion. Amphibious troops are used for landing operations; The guard of honor is solemn and powerful when serving as a guard and communicating with foreign countries.

According to the mission of going to the West, Zheng He's fleet consists of five parts: command part, navigation part, foreign trade part, logistics support part and military escort part. Command part: the center of the whole fleet, which commands and makes decisions on navigation, diplomacy, trade and operations. Zheng He's position is an imperial envoy and a general eunuch. Navigation part: navigation business, ship repair, weather forecast, etc. Foreign trade: diplomatic etiquette, trade, liaison translation; Logistics support part: managing finance, logistics supply, drafting documents, medical personnel, etc. Military escort part: responsible for navigation safety and military operations. According to the research on the composition of Zheng He's fleet, the compilation was perfect and rigorous, which condensed the rich navigation experience of ancient China people and ensured the realization of Zheng He's voyage to the West.

Develop overseas trade

The overseas trade developed by Zheng He's voyage to the West includes tribute trade, official trade and folk trade.

As an envoy of the Ming Dynasty, Zheng He visited local kings or chiefs everywhere on behalf of the Ming Emperor and exchanged gifts with them to show their sincerity in trade and friendship. Zheng He also exchanged goods with merchants from all over the world, traded on an equal footing, and bought back local specialties such as ivory, precious stones, pearls, corals and spices.

Navigation equipment-treasure ship

According to the Biography of Zheng He in Ming Dynasty, there are 63 treasure ships of Zheng He, the largest of which is 44 feet long and 18 feet wide. It was the largest seagoing ship in the world at that time, with a length of 1, a length of 51.18m and a width of 6 1. This ship has four floors. Nine masts on the ship can hang 12 sails, and the anchor weighs several thousand kilograms. It takes 200 people to set sail, and a ship can hold thousands of people. "Ming history?" "Military Records" also records: "The treasure ship is as high as a building, with a sharp bottom and wide width, which can accommodate thousands of people. "

Zheng He's fleet has five types of ships. The first one is called "treasure ship". The largest treasure is 44 feet long, 18 feet wide and carries 800 tons. This kind of ship can hold thousands of people, and it was the largest ship in the world at that time. Its posture is magnificent and unparalleled. Its iron rudder needs two or three hundred people to move. The second kind is called "horse boat". Captain Ma is thirty-seven feet long and fifteen feet wide. The third kind is called "grain ship". It is 28 feet long and 12 feet wide. The fourth type is called "by boat", which is 24 feet long and 9 feet wide. The fifth type is called "warship", which is eighteen feet long and six feet wide. It can be seen that some of Zheng He's ships are used to carry goods, some are used to transport grain, some are used for fighting, and some are used for living. The division of labor is refined and there are more types. It can be said that Zheng He's fleet is a large fleet with treasure ships as the main body and ships as the auxiliary.

Affirmative school

It is believed that the History of Ming Dynasty is basically correct, because the "2,000 Hope Ships" recorded in the Zheng He Monument in Nanjing Jinghai Temple are not "treasure ships" but smaller "warships".

Nanjing Zhenghe Shipyard excavated a rudder about15m long, which is the same size as the treasure ship described in Ming History.

The wharf of Nanjing Zhenghe Shipyard is 20 feet wide.

Ibn？ Ibn battuta's travel notes (1304- 1377) have recorded China's huge 12 sails that can carry thousands of people. The record of Baitutai can be used as circumstantial evidence of 12 treasure ship with thousands of people in sail.

Questioning school

It is considered that the strength of wood is limited, and the oversize hull can not guarantee the watertightness, so it is difficult to sail for a long time.

According to the records of Zheng He's remains in Nanjing Jinghai Temple, Zheng He's first treasure ship was "two thousand materials". According to their inference, it is about fifteen to twenty feet long and six to eight feet wide. The carrying capacity is about 5000 tons.

So far, no one has copied a 44-foot-long "treasure ship" that can really sail. At present, most of the imitation treasure ships take a skeptical view.

Even in the voice of doubt, Zheng He's treasure ship was still the world's leading ship at that time.

seamanship

According to Zheng He's nautical chart, Zheng He's use of hydrological needle (24/48 azimuth compass navigation) combined with star-pulling (astronomical navigation) was the most advanced navigation technology at that time. Zheng He's fleet navigated with a compass during the day and kept its course by observing the stars and the water compass at night. By reasonably solving the problems of fresh water storage, ship stability and anti-sinking, Zheng He's fleet was able to "keep the Yun Fan high and the stars gallop day and night" under the sinister conditions of "Hong Tao meets the sky and the waves are like mountains", with few accidents. During the day, flags of various colors are hung and waved in the agreed way to form corresponding semaphores. At night, lanterns are used to reflect the sailing situation. In case of fog and rain with poor visibility, gongs, horns and horns are also used for communication.

Zheng He's skills in going to the West are mainly manifested in three aspects:

1, astronomical navigation technology

China can determine the position and navigation position of ships by observing the sun, moon and stars long ago. Zheng He's fleet combined astronomical navigation and positioning with the application of navigation compass, which improved the accuracy of determining the ship's position and course. People call it "picking stars". Observe and locate with a "star-pulling board", judge the position and direction of the ship by measuring the height of the sky, and determine the course. This technology represents the world advanced level of astronomical navigation in that era.

2. Geographic navigation technology

The geographic navigation technology of Zheng He's voyage to the West is based on marine scientific knowledge and nautical charts, and the navigation route of ships is determined by using navigation instruments such as navigation compass, log and bathymeter, according to the records in charts and needle books. The navigation route is called needle track, and the compass error does not exceed 2.5 degrees.

3. Zheng He's nautical chart

The spread of Zheng He's Nautical Chart to this day is due to the military records of Mao, a writer in the late Ming Dynasty. The original picture is a long scroll in a straight line, and it was changed into a book when it was included in the military annals. From right to left, there are 20 pages of pictures, 40 of which are * * *, and finally two are attached to the chart. More than 530 place names are recorded in the chart, including 30 foreign place names. The farthest east African coast is 65,438+06. Cities, islands, navigation marks, beaches, reefs, mountains and air routes are all marked. Nansha Islands (Wansheng Shitangyu), Xisha Islands (Shitang) and zhongsha islands (Shixing Shitang) are clearly marked. 1947, the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of China named the South Island Reef after Zheng He and others to commemorate this great navigator.

Zheng He's nautical chart is the earliest existing nautical atlas in the world. Compared with the most representative Portland charts in the west at the same time, Zheng He's nautical charts have a wide range and rich contents. Although its mathematical accuracy is low, its practicability is better than Portland diagram. Needham of Britain pointed out in his book History of Science and Technology in China: Mills and Bragdon did something about the accuracy of nautical charts in China.

The brilliance of China's advanced navigation technology reflected by Zheng He's voyage to the West shows the great wisdom of the ancient people in China, thus creating Zheng He's voyage to the West.

The significance of zheng he's voyage to the west.

Zheng He has been to more than 30 countries, including Java, Sumatra, Sulu, Pahang, Zhenwax, Guri, Siam, Adan, Tian Fang, Zoufal, Hume, Mugushu, as far away as the east coast of Africa, the Red Sea, Mecca and possibly Australia. These records all represent the pinnacle of China's maritime exploration, more than 80 years earlier than the western explorer Da Gama Columbus and others. At that time, the Ming dynasty was ahead of the west in navigation technology, fleet size, sailing distance, duration and related fields.

In the historical significance of Zheng He's voyage to the Western Seas, there are many overseas interpretations. "In Zheng He's era, China really assumed the responsibility of a civilized country: be strong but not hegemonic, spread goodwill to friendly countries, publicize rewards, and be generous.

The Mystery of Zheng He's Files Destroyed: According to the Records of Special Areas in Zhou Zi, Zheng He's files on his voyages to the West were originally kept in the Ministry of War. During the Chenghua period in Ming Xianzong, the emperor ordered the Ministry of War to check the old files of Sambo, but the officials sent by Xiang Zhong, the minister of the Ministry of War, could not find them for three days, and the driver Liu Daxia had already hidden them in advance. Xiang Zhong asked officials, how can the documents in the library be lost? Liu Daxia, who was present at that time, said: "Three guarantees to the West Sea cost hundreds of thousands, and thousands of soldiers and civilians died. What are the benefits of getting treasures? " Although the old files are still there, they should be destroyed. Why do you still ask? " .

Zheng He's voyages to the West should include a large number of original materials, such as imperial edicts, Zheng He's fleet establishment, lists, logbooks, accounts, etc. Whether a large number of Zheng He files were destroyed by Liu Daxia is still a mystery. The disappearance of a large number of Zheng He's archives has brought great difficulties and restrictions to Zheng He's research.

Zheng He's Theory of Discovering America: In the best-selling book "142 1: China Discovers the World" published in 2002, the former British Royal Navy submarine commander Gavin? Menzies pointed out that Zheng He's fleet sailed around the world and discovered America and Oceania long before the era of great western navigation.

On June 65438+1October 16, 2006, a China painted on 1763 and marked Yongle 16 (14 18) was exhibited simultaneously in Beijing and maritime museum, a Greenwich country in London. The navigation map of China has detailed navigation areas and outlines of America, Europe and Africa. In addition, the picture is accompanied by descriptions of American aborigines (black and red skin with feathers on the head and waist) and Australian aborigines (dark skin, naked body and bone products on the waist). The only drawback is that there is no record of Britain in the nautical chart. According to China lawyer Liu Gang, the collector of the map, he bought the map from a Shanghai businessman for 500 dollars in 200 1 year, and learned the historical importance and significance of the nautical chart by reading the above book 142 1: China Discovers the World.

Zheng He visited more than 30 countries and regions in the 28 years before and after his voyage to the West. Everywhere Zheng He went, he presented gifts to kings of various countries as a sign of friendship. The fleet brought handicrafts such as silk, porcelain, copper, iron, gold and silver in exchange for local specialties. The accompanying officials keep a record of what they see at any time. On the way back, envoys from various countries came with the ship, presented treasures and specialties to the Ming emperors, and exchanged them with China businessmen. Friendly exchanges have expanded trade and enhanced understanding. Zheng He accomplished his mission brilliantly. People in Nanyang and other places have been commemorating this messenger of peace and friendship. In some cities, temples and scenic spots commemorating Zheng He still exist. Zheng He's seven voyages to the West are great achievements in the history of world navigation. European navigators Columbus and Wagda Gama both sailed much later than Zheng He. They sailed several times, about 100 people, three or four ships, and the maximum tonnage was only 120 tons. Zheng He surpassed these European navigators in voyage, scale and organization.