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| Zheng He, the envoy of peace |
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Zheng He is China's most famous maritime explorer. His extraordinary ability and vision found brilliant expression in the great achievements of his life, including maritime exploration, foreign diplomacy, and military affairs.
Shortly after Zhu Di ascended the throne as the Yongle Emperor, he assigned Zheng He to the area of maritime affairs. Zheng He first conducted an exhaustive study of existing nautical charts, celestial navigation, eastern and western almanacs, astronomy and geography, marine sciences, piloting, and shipbuilding and repair. Between the third year of the Yongle reign period (1405 AD) and the eighth year of the Xuande reign period (1433 AD), Zheng He led seven great western maritime expeditions, traversing the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean into the Persian Gulf and Red Sea, and reaching as far west as the east coast of Africa. There is evidence of Zheng He's visits in over thirty Asian and African countries and regions. These seven voyages, unprecedented in size, organization, navigational technology, and range, demonstrated not only the power and wealth of the Ming Dynasty, but also Zheng He's extraordinary command ability.
Spirit of a Chinese Explorer
Zheng He has been hailed as one of the greatest maritime explorers in human history, reaching over thirty Asian and African countries and regions and pioneering new routes to the Red Sea and the east coast of Africa. Despite the historical limitations of his time, Zheng He's fleet fearlessly undertook seven voyages over the course of a mere thirty years, peacefully transmitting Chinese culture to the people of distant lands. These achievements in maritime exploration marked a major step in the evolution of human civilization. Opening important channels of communication between China and the rest of the world, they bore witness to the peace loving nature of the Chinese people, and the ongoing development of Chinese civilization.
Zheng He's western voyages embodied the Chinese people's ability to fearlessly confront natural hardships, and their determination to venture forth into the world to engage in cultural exchange. The "Spirit of Zheng He" represents the crystallization of the progressive and enterprising nature of the Chinese people, impelling humanity to new levels. Marking a milestone in the development of human civilization, Zheng He's triumphs belong not just to China, but to the entire world.
Spread of the Chinese Culture
Zheng He's western voyages were not just an opportunity to carry out overseas trade. More importantly, they served to transmit Chinese culture to South and Southeast Asia and the east coast of Africa. At the time, many of the countries of these regions were still relatively undeveloped, and therefore quite attracted to China's advanced civilization. Zheng He introduced numerous elements of Chinese culture to these distant lands, including Confucian ritual and beliefs; standardized calendars, weights, and measures; agricultural methods; manufacturing techniques; construction and carving methods; medicine; and shipbuilding and navigational technology. By linking the civilizations of China and the world, Zheng He wrote a brilliant chapter in the book of world history.
Message of Peaceful Coexistence
The overland and maritime diplomatic missions of the early Ming Dynasty were unprecedented in both scope and frequency. These missions, bringing with them extensive dialogue with other cultures both materially and culturally, reflected China's desire to gain a better understanding of other parts of the world, as well as the world's burgeoning interest in the oriental civilizations. All these missions were driven by the policy of the Ming Dynasty to reinvigorate traditional Chinese culture domestically, and seek peaceful coexistence and international reputation externally. For all its might and power at the age of rapid maritime expansion, Ming Dynasty China harbored no desire for hegemony, but rather deep aspirations for peace. It is this aspiration for peace and principle for common development that have shaped China's foreign diplomacy from times of old to the present today.
Splendor of Human Civilization
Six hundred years ago, Zheng He set sail from China, leading his massive maritime fleet into the uncharted western seas. Today, his reputation has come full circle. He is extolled around the world, from the flourishing and powerful countries of the West to the rapidly developing countries of the East. Traces of Zheng He's visits still can be seen in more than thirty countries and regions throughout Asia and Africa. Zheng He's western voyages were closely linked to the formation of Malaysia as a country. In Kismayu, Somalia, a village is named after him in commemoration. While in Kenya, the people of Famao have referred to themselves as "descendants of China" for over 500 years.
Zheng He's entire fleet for the western voyages consisted of over 200 ships, carrying up to 27,000 officers and crew. His flagship, the treasure ship from which he commanded his fleet, could carry over 500 people. The gigantic size and scale of the fleet was never seen before and had remained unmatched around the world for 500 years, up until World War I.
The Chinese ancestors forged a highly advanced maritime civilization, which reached its peak with the western voyages of Zheng He. As the most brilliant chapter on the Chinese maritime history, Zheng He's voyages added undying splendor to the human civilization. On this 600th anniversary of Zheng He's western voyages, the world commemorates this great forbear of the Chinese people. His spirit and vision are as vast, deep, and rich as the ocean he explored, and his quest for peace and friendship shall be passed down to all posterity.
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| Heads of delegations or other officials are kindly requested to advise the Secretariat well in advance of the meetings,of the full composition of their respective delegations,including,if any,members from diplomatic missions and their staff. More>> |
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