When China Ruled the Seas

Zheng He was born Ma He in a Muslim family living near Kunming, Yunnan. In 1381, at age 10, he was captured by a general of the Ming forces, the newly established dynasty fighting to quash some of the last holdouts of the Yuan dynasty in Yunnan. Like many young prisoners, Zheng was castrated so he could become part of the eunuch staff at the emperor’s court where he served the emperor’s fourth son, Zhu Di. Zheng proved himself to be a loyal aide and adept military commander when the emperor sent the prince to subdue a Mongol rebel.

When Zhu Di became emperor in 1402, he bestowed on his aide the name “Zheng” in honor of a battle in which he fought bravely. Zhu also chose Zheng to command the new fleet of ships. Aged 35 at the time of the first voyage, Zheng eventually led seven great expeditions into the Indian Ocean, as far as the Arab states on the Persian Gulf and the coast of Africa. This required the leadership to command a crew of tens of thousands of men, to conduct diplomatic and military affairs, and to negotiate trade. He also helped develop the capital of Nanjing and oversaw construction of a temple devoted to