What is the purpose of Zheng He's voyage to the West?

Zheng He's voyages to the West fully embodied the spirit of ancient people in China who dared to explore. It has also promoted friendly exchanges and economic and cultural exchanges between China and Central African countries, which is a feat. Until now, the story of Sambo eunuch's voyage to the West is still circulating in relevant countries.

Columbus and Zheng He were both famous navigators, but under the comprehensive action of various reasons at that time, their voyages had different results: Columbus discovered the new American continent and established its important position in the history of world navigation; Zheng He's seven voyages to the West made little contribution to the development of China's foreign trade at that time. The reasons can be divided into the following points:

1 has a different identity: Zheng He is an official, representing the country by the imperial edict, and the voyage is funded by the state.

Family commitment. On the other hand, Columbus was a private navigator. Part of his voyage was funded by himself, and the rest was paid by the Spanish government or collected money from wealthy businessmen. His voyage is a combination of personal, social and national activities. Journal of Zhejiang Normal University (Social Science Edition)

1995 No.4 "Zheng He and Columbus the Navigator" Ye Xunzao]

They lived in a different background: feudal social politics based on the traditional closed small-scale peasant economy in China at that time.

Governing the economy has reached its peak, but the capitalist relations of production are still on the eve of germination. Western Europe was at the beginning of the disintegration of feudal system, and primitive accumulation of capital was at the beginning. The feudal dynasties in western European countries combined the opening of new air routes with the expansion of territory and territory. Money and gold are the driving force for Europeans to cross the ocean. [Journal of Zhejiang Normal University (Social Science Edition) 1995 No.4 "Zheng He and Columbus the Navigator" Ye Xunzao]

The navigation goals of the two were different: Zheng He's voyage to the West was essentially to strengthen and consolidate the centralized rule in the early Ming Dynasty and send it out.

The purpose of the country is "to show China's prosperity and strength by showing off its force in foreign countries", to restore and develop its political vassal relations with the countries visited, to communicate with other countries, and to keep people away. Columbus's voyage to the Western Ocean was basically the product of direct contact between western demand and the East, which was intended to conquer and expand in order to find a new region or a route to a certain place. [Peng Shunsheng, author of Comparative Study of Zheng He and Columbus, Guangdong Social Sciences No.6, 1995]

Their social and economic structures are different: China is still in the Ming Dynasty, and agriculture is mainly combined with cottage industry.

In the stage of self-sufficient natural economy, the development of commodity currency economy is slow, and there is no urgent need for large-scale overseas trade.

At that time, the rulers of the Ming Dynasty had the tradition of "emphasizing the foundation and restraining the end", forbidding "going out to sea privately" and "going out to sea privately", restricting private foreign trade and suppressing the social demand for developing overseas trade. At that time, the commodity currency economy in Western Europe was prosperous, the capitalist relations of production had sprouted and developed rapidly, and all classes and strata in Western Europe were full of longing for gold because of the dazzling commodity purchase and the exchange of currency rent. [Journal of Fudan University (Social Science Edition) No.65438 +0994 No.65438 +0 Author Tao Songyun Zheng Jiahong]

[Excerpt from Yang Kun]

Abstract 2

Different scales: Zheng He made seven voyages to the Western Ocean from 1405 to 1433, which lasted for 28 years, went through three dynasties and passed through 33 countries. The fleet spread all over the Indian Ocean, with a total voyage of 65,438+10,000 kilometers. This is several times more than the total number of 30 ships that Columbus took on four voyages to the West. Although Zheng He's voyages to the West were nearly a century earlier than Columbus', they were far behind Columbus in terms of voyage number, duration, distance, scope, scale, number of participants, high quality and strict organization.

The background is different: the historical condition of Zheng He's voyage to the West is that the feudal society, politics and economy based on China's traditional closed small-scale peasant economy have reached its peak, while the capitalist relations of production are still on the eve of germination. Columbus's westward voyage occurred at the beginning of the disintegration of feudalism in Western Europe and the early days of primitive accumulation of capital. The feudal dynasties in western European countries combined the opening of new air routes with the expansion of territory; Money and gold are the driving force for Europeans to cross the ocean. The development of open and economically vibrant commodity currency economy in western Europe provided a solid material foundation for Columbus's voyage to the West.

Their social and economic development contents are completely different. The former is based on small-scale peasant economy, while the latter is based on commodity economy, which makes their navigation nature and influence different.

The economic consequences are different: Zheng He's voyages to the West cost a lot, consumed a lot of national reserves and increased the burden on the people, which was difficult to maintain for a long time. It does more harm than good. The Ming government only considered the political impact of the voyage to the West, but not the economic benefits. Columbus's arrival in America brought western colonialists plundering and deceptive trade to Asia, Africa and Latin America, and made a large amount of gold and silver wealth flow to western Europe continuously, which turned into capital and became an important source of primitive accumulation of capital in western Europe, thus causing a "price revolution" in Europe, from which the emerging bourgeoisie gained huge profits and promoted the development of capitalist production relations in western Europe.

Historical Achievements: The "Tribute Trade" developed by Zheng He's voyages to the Western Seas was essentially for the political purpose of publicizing national prestige and showing China's prosperity. Columbus's westward voyage connected the western hemisphere with the eastern hemisphere, the old continent with the new world, and the world began to truly become a whole, and the narrow worldview in the Middle Ages was completely broken, thus opening the way for the emergence of new philosophy and new science; At the same time, it led to the formation of the world market. The eastern Mediterranean, once a major trade route, has now moved to the other side of the Atlantic, making Spain the most prosperous country in Western Europe in the16th century, with great development in commerce, shipping and workshops and handicrafts.

Navigation history: Zheng He crossed the Indian Ocean for the first time, which opened a new chapter in the history of intercontinental navigation, opened up a new route from Europe to India for Da Gama to bypass the southern tip of Africa, and played a leading role in Magellan's global navigation, which deeply influenced their navigation. It is not difficult to see that Zheng He is actually the initiator of 15 and 16 actual worldwide navigation activities. Columbus's voyage to the West also had a great influence on the development of the world's navigation history. Its greatest contribution was that it opened a new Atlantic route from Europe to America, which prompted the Portuguese to speed up the pace of opening a new route from Europe to Asia and India, thus pushing the western navigation and exploration activities to a peak.

In a word, Columbus's voyage to the West has made great contributions to accelerating the disintegration of feudal system in Western Europe and the development of capitalist relations of production, and its significance far exceeds that of Zheng He's voyage to the West.

Bibliography: A Comparative Study of Zheng He and Columbus Peng Shunsheng Guangdong Social Sciences1995,6

Zheng He and Columbus Ye Xunzao Journal of Zhejiang Normal University (Social Science Edition)1995,4

Comparison between Columbus and Zheng He Tao Songyun Zheng Jiahong Fudan Journal (Social Science Edition) 1994, 1.

The theme of Columbus' discovery of America; Qian Mingde's world history; 1994,3

[Cai Qianqian]

Abstract 3

/kloc-the 0/5th century is an era of great breakthroughs in ocean navigation and exploration in world history. A striking feature of this era.

But it entered the ocean from both ends of Eurasia-the Far East and the Far West-almost at the same time, and Zheng He's voyage to the West was much earlier than Columbus's "voyage". However, this unique historical opportunity has led to completely different results in the historical development of the two ends of Eurasia. Liang Qichao, an outstanding historian in our country, once said, "Gu Zhi became Ge, Wei Zhi was able to open a new era in the world, but Zheng Jun was unable to die ..." The reason is to compare Zheng He's voyages to the West with Columbus's.

If only from the perspective of navigation technology and opening up new routes, the two are roughly similar. But if you look deeper,

You will find that Zheng He's sailing style is very different from Columbus's.

First of all, Columbus's voyage to the West was the demand for goods and markets by social and economic development in western Europe in the late Middle Ages, especially

The demand for oriental spices and gold and silver is stimulated by internal economic forces. However, Zheng He sailed under another historical background. During Zheng He's 30-year reign, six voyages to the Western Ocean and seven voyages to the Western Ocean were enough to show the prosperity of social economy at that time, but the key point was that the motive force of these activities was politics rather than economy. The main purpose of the voyage to the West is to ensure the smooth flow of the South China Sea Road, re-establish the system of overseas sealing, restore the grand occasion of paying tribute to princes in the early years of Hongwu, and reward feudal emperors for their vanity of "governing the world" and "governing ten thousand squares". Although Zheng He's feat of going to the West was unprecedented in scale, it still showed the power of the peak of feudal kingship in Qin and Han Dynasties.

Secondly, the organizational form of Zheng He's voyages to the West is completely different from that of Columbus. The latter is privately funded overseas.

Adventure activities. Ship equipment is self-provided, more for help and businessmen, and it is a contractual combination of interests. The organizational form of Zheng He's voyages to the West is quite different. It is the official overseas mission of the central kingship organization, and its ship is a huge royal fleet. Zheng He's voyages to the West constituted a series of continuous expeditions at sea, which could only take place in a historical period of high centralization and abundant financial resources.

Third, two completely different ways of organizing ocean navigation are determined by two different social and economic systems.

. In the maritime exploration and maritime trade in Europe, there has been a trend of transferring the exclusive ownership and privilege of kingship to private or commercial companies, while China is still developing in the traditional institutional structure. The main task of Columbus's voyage was to open up new routes with the aim of developing East-West trade. On the surface, Zheng He's voyage to the West seems to be an important symbol of the Ming Dynasty's active overseas policy. In fact, this is only the appearance of history. First of all, although Zheng He's voyages to the West have the nature of developing overseas trade, they are still carried out under the traditional tributary trade system. Secondly, tribute trade is a special trade system, and its trade policy is "favoring one over the other".

Zheng He's voyages to the West and Columbus' voyages to the West have caused completely different social effects on the development of navigation in their respective countries. the latter

It set off a nationwide maritime craze, thus opening the great March of European colonization to conquer the known and unknown world overseas. But the former failed and could not arouse people's enthusiasm for going to the west. But forbade people to go to sea, so China did not embark on the capitalist road.

Attached-

Navigation destination, identity, navigation funds, navigation results, navigation team.

China established the overseas sealing system as an envoy, and the state's salary to officials led to the later "ban on officials"

Degree, tribute trade sea "

Western gold exploiters spontaneously raised funds and developed the spontaneous organization of western capital.

humanitarianism

Source:

Historical research, 1-3, 1992

/kloc-comparison and reflection on the development direction of Chinese and western navigation in the 0/5th century (Luo Rongqu)

[Chen Abstract]

Abstract 4

/kloc-in the 0/5th century, a miracle appeared in the history of world navigation, which caused a great turning point in human history in the 0/6th century. The greatest of these are Zheng He's seven voyages to the West and Columbus's four voyages to America. However, the background, purpose and nature, scale and influence of these two world-famous navigators are different. Here are some comparisons:

I. Different identities

As an official, Zheng He was sent to the coastal areas of South Asia and East Africa by imperial edict on behalf of the country. Everything needed for the voyage, including the "treasure ship", was provided by the government, and the participants were also appointed by the government. Therefore, Zheng He's voyages to the Western Seas were completely manifested in the actions of feudal countries. Columbus was a private navigator. Part of his voyage was funded by himself, and the rest was paid by the Spanish government or collected money from wealthy businessmen. The range of personnel is very wide. Therefore, his sailing activities are a combination of individual, society and country.

2. Different background of the times

The historical condition of Zheng He's voyage to the West is that the feudal society, politics and economy based on China's traditional closed small-scale peasant economy have reached its peak, while the capitalist relations of production are still in the embryonic stage. When Columbus sailed west to Western Europe, the feudal system began to disintegrate, and the primitive accumulation of capitalism began, which showed that the two were similar, that is, the country's political stability and social and economic development. But the purpose, nature and influence of its navigation are different.

Three. Different purposes

Zheng He's voyage to the West was entirely for consolidating the Ming Dynasty and showing his national prestige. Columbus's voyage was the result of primitive accumulation when capitalism began to develop.

4. Different sizes

Zheng He used several times more ships in his voyages to the West than Columbus used in his four voyages.

Different consequences of verbs (abbreviation for verb)

Zheng He's voyage to the West is a milestone for mankind to conquer the ocean, understand the world and transform it. Columbus's arrival in America marked the beginning of early colonial aggression and conquest in Western Europe.

Reference article: Ye Xunzao in the Navigator Zheng He and Columbus

[Excerpted from Tang]

Abstract 5

The huge fleet led by Zheng He is neither an ordinary merchant fleet nor an ordinary diplomatic mission, but a fleet organized by feudal rulers with dual tasks of diplomacy and trade.

One of his missions is to attract foreign countries to pay tribute and establish relations with them. In order to accomplish this task, the first thing Zheng He did after his voyage was to publicize Judy's imperial edict. Declare to all countries: the Ming emperor was the king of a great country according to the destiny of heaven, and he ruled the world according to the will of the "king of heaven". Governors from all walks of life and foreigners from all walks of life should do as the emperor of the Ming Dynasty said. Countries should not bully the weak, so they can * * * enjoy peace in the world. If I ask you to join me, you will get a generous return.

The second thing is to give gifts. Give imperial edicts and silver seals to kings of various countries, give crowns to kings and officials at all levels, and express their willingness to establish and develop friendly relations with those countries.

The third thing is to conduct trade activities. China's handicrafts are exchanged for local products of various countries, which makes countries attracted by China's exquisite and intact handicrafts and willing to come to China to pay tribute and conduct trade activities. The silk products and porcelain exported from China have long enjoyed a good reputation in Asian and African countries.

Many countries in Asia and Africa have long wanted to develop trade relations with China. It is only because of Zhu Yuanzhang's "maritime policy" that the development of this trade is limited. Judy canceled the policy of "marching into the sea" and sent Zheng He to the Western Ocean, which marked the resumption of normal trade between China and overseas countries. Overseas countries also believe that it is profitable to pay tribute, trade and establish friendly relations with China.

Their dissatisfaction with Zheng He focused on two points: First, they lacked the sense of sovereignty and territorial concept. They said that if Zheng He could sail like Columbus and Magellan, he would designate the Ming government as the jurisdiction. Think about the size of China now. The other is too lack of economic mind. In the history of Europe, those navigators were too greedy for money, even more pirates than pirates, which was certainly not desirable. Zheng He regarded money as dirt. In order to declare the favor of Daming's powerful empire, he only knew that he spent all his money to buy a false name of "coming from all directions" and did not have the consciousness of accumulating wealth through market exchange. He paid too much for his sailing activities and got too little. In the end, due to the huge cost, the national treasury could not bear it, which led to the premature death of China's ocean voyage, leaving many historical regrets.

It's just that I was also an active advocate of these views at that time. It is recognized that what Zheng He did is not his personal behavior, but has the background of the times and profound historical roots. Since Qin Shihuang, although he is also an enthusiastic sailor, he has organized many ships to go out to sea to collect elixir, and also let Xu Fuyun drift to Japan in the fog. But he was most enthusiastic about building the Great Wall of Wan Li, and actually planted a closed seed for China. In the Ming and Qing dynasties, it was only the extension of this fence to the coastline, with the sea as the barrier, which can be described as the same strain. 1996, I gave a speech at the end of the international business administration class at Thunderbird University in the United States: In the history of China, it was not Columbus who discovered America, but us China. The American professor who proposed the seat was dumbfounded.

Compared with Columbus, the significance of Zheng He's seven voyages to the West lies not in the transcendence of time and scale, but in the embodiment of a completely different view of the ocean and the spread of another marine culture. In a word, Columbus sailed a boat of plunder, while Zheng He commanded a boat of friendship. Zheng He made seven voyages to the Western Ocean, with the longest voyage of more than 6,000 nautical miles, and visited more than 30 countries and regions in Southeast Asia, Indian Ocean, Red Sea and East Africa. Everywhere he went, he expressed the desire of the Ming government to have friendly exchanges with other countries and spread the seeds of Chinese culture. Although he sometimes used force, he usually had to defend himself by force. Finally, he reconciled. Therefore, no matter where he went, he left the image of a messenger of peace and culture to the people there. Many places have built temples for him, and the incense is still burning.

-Excerpt from: A New Discussion on Ai Jian's "Two Righteousnesses"

/lhxw/hyys/fzzl.htm

[Summary of Shao Zequan]

Abstract 6

65438+

In the late Middle Ages in Western Europe, social and economic development intensified the demand for commodities and markets, especially for oriental spices and gold and silver. At that time, normal eastern trade was severely restricted by Italians and Arabs. Breaking this restriction and opening up new air routes has become a historical necessity.

As a new social force with innovative spirit, maritime explorers came into being. The feudal monarchs in western Europe restricted their oppression of wealth in many ways because of the economic structure of feudal lords. Moreover, the parliament limited their ability to collect taxes, which determined their strong admiration for domestic and foreign trade and overseas expansion. Support and encourage voyager's exploration activities.

Zheng He lived in the prosperous Ming Dynasty, when China's commodity economy was relatively prosperous. However, under the policy of attaching importance to this and neglecting the end, it is still self-sufficient. Zheng He's voyage to the West was driven by politics rather than economy.

2. Organizational form

We can see from the following table:

The main purpose of funding for sailing fleet is to play a role.

The Ministry of Finance of the Imperial Task Force in the form of China misappropriated everything to establish official diplomacy with overseas princes

Expenditure of conferring missions, appointment of officials and tribute system

Organize shipbuilding and publicize the tribute trade of Guowei.

Cargo loading and unloading task

Western-style royal chartered private joint-stock companies to explore new land and island conquerors.

The main way is for people to raise funds for sailing exploration. They explore Christianity on islands and new routes.

Team royal or aristocratic sponsorship to find gold, spices, communicators.

Or directly involved in plundering the colonists.

businessperson

pirate

The fundamental reason for this difference is the different economic systems. Maritime exploration and maritime trade between Europe and China have shifted from kingship to private ownership.

The tendency of individuals or commercial companies to transfer exclusive ownership and privileges. This is an important beginning of the change of western ownership structure, while China is still developing in the traditional institutional structure.

3. Results

Columbus discovered America, and gold, which made everyone ecstatic, gradually shifted the trade center from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic, bringing about the commercial revolution and the price revolution. Under the mercantilism, the great opening and overseas colonization have become the mainstream of development.

Zheng He's voyages to the West followed the traditional tributary trade system, and "favoring one over the other" did not bring any upsurge. On the court.

Facing the overseas opening policy, on the other hand, domestic businessmen are strictly prohibited from going to sea. China walked out of Nanyang and didn't go to the world!

From Books: Historical Studies, 1992 (1-3)

Article: Comparison and Reflection on the Development Trend of Chinese and Western Navigation in the15th Century, by Luo Rongqu.

[Picked by Peng Jueni]

Abstract 7

From some similar opportunities in the development of world history, the contrast between Chinese and western development is caused, but under the extremely similar historical appearance, the completely different historical essence is often concealed, as is the contrast between Zheng He's voyages to the West and Columbus' voyages to the West.

First of all, Columbus's voyage to the West was stimulated by the social and economic development of western Europe in the late Middle Ages, especially the demand for oriental spices and gold and silver, which was driven by an internal economic force. The exploration activities of western European navigators in the ocean are different from the innovative activities of the emerging social forces of the feudal class. Those western European feudal monarchs who supported and encouraged Columbus's voyage to the West pursued mercantilism and took various measures to encourage their own businessmen to go to sea in order to increase the income of the royal treasury and enhance their national strength.

Zheng He sailed under another historical background. The six northern expeditions and seven voyages to the Western Ocean since its establishment 30 years ago show that the social economy was prosperous and rich at that time, but the key point is that the motive force of these activities is politics rather than economy. Unlike Western Europe, China's feudal dynasty had no demand for overseas goods and markets. The main purpose of the voyage to the West is to ensure the smooth flow of the South China Sea Road, re-establish the feudal degree of overseas feudalism, restore the grand occasion of the tributary of the princes in the early years of Hongwu, and reward the vanity of feudal emperors in "governing the world" and "governing ten thousand squares". Zheng He's voyages to the West were unprecedented in scale, but he still showed the power of the peak of feudal kingship in the style of Qin Huang and Wu Han.

Secondly, the organizational form of Zheng He's voyages to the West is completely different from that of Columbus. The latter is a privately funded overseas adventure. In order to raise funds for the expedition, he asked the courts in Portugal, Spain, France and Britain to help him obtain the concession. Ships and equipment are provided by themselves, which is more of a combination of interests in the form of contract. Columbus sailed with few ships and personnel, which was in line with the nature of commercial capitalist ocean exploration. The organizational form of Zheng He's voyages to the West is quite different. It is an official overseas activity organized by the central government, and its fleet is a huge royal voyage.

Two completely different forms of ocean navigation organization are determined by two different social and economic systems. In Europe's voyage and maritime trade, there is a trend that sovereignty is transferred to private or commercial companies, which is an important beginning of the change of the institutional structure of western ownership capital, while China is still developing in the traditional institutional structure.

Zheng He's voyages to the West and Columbus' voyages to the West have had totally different social impacts on the development of their respective countries' navigation. The latter aroused the nationwide navigation fever, thus opening the great March of European colonization to conquer the known and unknown world overseas. But the former failed and could not arouse people's enthusiasm for going to the west.

The data comes from Luo Rongqu Historical Research 1992.

[Zeng Jian]

Abstract 8

/kloc-a miracle in the history of world navigation appeared in the 0/5th century, which caused a great turning point in human history in the 0/6th century. The greatest of these are Zheng He's seven voyages to the West and Columbus's four voyages to America. But the background, purpose, nature and influence of these two world-famous navigators are different.

1, sailing has different social backgrounds.

As an official, Zheng He was sent to the coastal areas of South Asia and East Africa on behalf of the country by imperial edict. Everything needed for sailing, including treasure ships, is provided by the government, and the personnel involved in sailing are also transferred from various government departments. Therefore, Zheng He's voyages to the West were entirely activities of feudal countries.

Columbus was a private navigator. Part of his voyage was funded by himself, and the rest was paid by the Spanish government or collected from wealthy businessmen. Some people were recruited, appointed and extracted from prisons by the government, so his sailing activities were the product of the combination of individuals, society and the country.

2. The purpose and historical significance are different.

Zheng He's voyages to the West are the messengers of peace and friendship. He visited more than 30 countries in Asia and made outstanding contributions to the establishment of peaceful and friendly international relations. However, the cause he started failed because: on the one hand, the official monopoly of tribute trade was mainly for political purposes such as "promoting morality", "promoting national prestige", "softening people far away" and "showing off wealth", which violated the basic laws of economic development, on the other hand, it was the policy of sea ban that the Ming Dynasty always pursued. ②

Columbus set sail in search of gold and wealth. The great role of Columbus's geographical discovery lies in: promoting the convergence of Chinese and western cultures, the connection between the old and new continents, promoting the worldwide rise of capitalism and the worldwide decline of feudalism, bringing great modern civilization to the world, and at the same time turning the eastern world with ancient civilization into a backward and miserable colony and semi-colony, causing unprecedented catastrophe to Indians and their splendid civilization. The geographical discovery has formed the basic pattern of the differences between the East and the West and the gap between the North and the South. ③

References:

① Excerpted from Journal of Yunnan Normal University (Philosophy and Social Sciences Edition), No.0 1994, No.0/Kloc-0, Zheng He is the Messenger of Peace and Friendship-Refuting Wang Mintong's Theory of Aggression by Pan Huili and Ruan Wensheng.

② Excerpted from Journal of Shanxi Normal University (Social Science Edition)No. 1994. 0 1 Liu Pu "Why Zheng He didn't stick to his career".

(3) Excerpted from Scientific Research 1995 03, The Historical Meditation of Science-Zheng He's Navigation and the Modern World, by Song Zhenghai.

[Selected by Huang]

Abstract 9

From 1403 to 1433, China's famous navigator led a huge fleet to the Western Ocean for seven times. Its large scale, numerous personnel, rigorous organization and magnificent spirit are unmatched by the western fleet at the time of geographical discovery. However, Zheng He did not continue his voyage to the West, and there was no successor to expand his career. His achievements were quickly overshadowed by the achievements of western Europeans in opening up new air routes and making great geographical discoveries. There are three main reasons for this:

1. They have different purposes.

Zheng He's motivation for going to the West can be divided into two stages. The first three voyages to the West were mainly for political purposes: First, to prevent Wen Jian, the emperor who lost in the power struggle, from plotting to restore, and to form an alliance with India to resist Mongolia. The second is to publicize the prestige of the Ming Dynasty, expand its political influence overseas, and urge overseas countries to come to Korea. The purpose of the fourth and seventh voyages to the West is to develop friendly relations with foreign countries and tribute trade, and at the same time to look for Kirin (actually a giraffe brought from Africa), which has both political and economic purposes. Because the feudal rulers of China implemented the policy of emphasizing agriculture and restraining commerce, although capitalism sprouted in the Ming Dynasty, the actual inequality of tributary relations was not worth the loss for China. In addition, ocean navigation costs a lot and the country's economic burden is heavy. In the third year after Zheng He returned from his last voyage, the rulers explicitly banned the continued manufacture of seagoing ships, and Zheng He's huge fleet was left to rot on the beach, leaving no one to sail.

The main purpose of European navigators such as Columbus is to obtain gold and spices and find new commodity markets and raw materials, not political purposes. The mercantilist theory formed in western Europe holds that profits are created from the circulation field, industry and commerce are the main sources of wealth, and gold and silver are indispensable wealth for a country. Without it, it will be acquired through overseas activities. This theory led people to seek wealth overseas, so it opened up a new route when China people destroyed ships on a large scale.

2. Different levels of scientific development

The observation of celestial bodies by ancient astronomy in China has never been free from the influence of astrology. Therefore, ancient astronomy in China has always been in a pre-scientific state. Geography, too, feudal rulers equated China with the world. For the rulers at that time, China was the center of the earth, and other countries were just barbarian places where vassals belonged to the emperor. Any new discovery in geography is a challenge to their theory, so they will not support navigation, exploration and overseas business activities like the rulers of western European countries in the late Middle Ages.

By the time of Columbus, the world map drawn by the famous Florentine geographer Tuscany had marked China and India on the other side of the Atlantic. "Extreme East is West" has become a Western European proverb. Many navigators firmly believe that sailing from Europe to the west can reach eastern Asia, so what about Columbus and Da? The successful voyage of Gamma and Magellan was a triumph of science.

3. Different national values

In China, a highly centralized absolute monarchy inhibits people's initiative and creativity. Spiritually, monarchs only advocate that the people should unconditionally fulfill their obligations to the rulers. At that time, the system of taking scholars made the whole intellectuals' thinking rigid to a great extent, which made people lose any interest in exploring the mysteries of the outside world. Moralists especially admire Sun Tzu's creed that "parents don't travel far". This powerful social norm has penetrated into the depths of national consciousness. Coupled with the influence of racial prejudice (the so-called distinction between Chinese and foreigners) and local concepts since ancient times, people's desire for knowledge and wealth in distant places has been suppressed.

However, the Renaissance in Western Europe called for the liberation of individuality and the promotion of positive adventurous spirit, and its humanistic thought played a positive role in promoting the development of Western Europeans overseas. In addition, people's worship of heroes at that time, hoping to surpass the original social conditions and environment in order to obtain a more perfect spirit of life, inspired a group of sailors to make arduous explorations, and of course prompted their desire for colonial plunder.

Therefore, although Zheng He was a pioneer in the history of navigation, his great geographical discovery finally achieved epoch-making significance.

References:

A comparative study of Qiang and Zheng He's voyages to the West and the great geographical discoveries, (Academic Exploration199602); Zhang Fusun, Why Zheng He Didn't Continue to Go to the Western Seas, (Journal of Yunnan Institute of Education,No. 1996, No.0 1); An analysis of Zhao Zhihui, Guo Lin and Zheng He's purpose of going to the West, Journal of Huaibei Coal Teachers College (Philosophy and Social Sciences Edition), 1999 0 1.

[Qin Shihuang's choice]