Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Non-Fiction 2019 | Page 6
Zheng He
Shanghai United International School Wanyuan Campus, Huang, Justin - 9
Zheng He was from Ming Dynasty. “Zheng He” is not his original name.He’s called Ma San Bao. He was
born in 1371 and he was a HUI. He was very famous in that Dynasty. Because of him and his fleet “the Belt
and Road” became true. You could say that Zheng He built the world friendship.
Zheng He was the person that Emperor Yongle most trusted. Emperor Yongle sent Zheng He to
Southernmost Asia, Pacific and Indian oceans seven times from 1405 to 1433. He went to more than thirty
countries and regions. He went as far south as Java, northwest to the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea, as far
west as east coast of Africa. Zheng He’s first voyage was much earlier than Westerners, and he knew better
navigation skills. This is a historical feat in China’s maritime history.
In July 1405, Zheng He led a fleet that had many vessels to southernmost Asia from Liu jiagang, Jiangsu
Province. There were 27800 people on the vessels. There were 5 kinds of vessels in the fleet. The biggest
vessel was about 151.18 meters long and about 61.6 meters wide. It could carry 800 tons of things such as
gold and silver jewelry, porcelain, tea, silk and take thousands of people. It was the biggest vessel at that
time. Every time Zheng He went to the ocean, he led more than 240 vessels. It was a difficult journey over
stormy seas. The countries which Zheng He sailed through were not always received friendly. Sometimes he
received hospitality, but sometimes he was viciously attacked. He wondered if he would ever make the trip
across the ocean. In the end, Zheng He got many things from other countries such as pepper, elephant
teeth, diamond, medicine, lion...He gave other countries porcelain, silk and tea.
From the first time to expedition to the ocean, he went on another six expeditions to the ocean. This
great event in world maritime history. Zheng He’s expeditions promoted overseas trade and promoted
economic development. It also promoted the development of China’s ancient maritime undertakings.
The Great Vovages of Zheng He
Shanghai United International School Wanyuan Campus, Jia, Stephen - 9
Zheng He was an important person on the Maritime Silk Road. He started the Silk Road because his
personality was just right for exploring. He had a determined heart for discovering new things. He was
open-minded so he could learn and remember new things. He went on seven journeys for making friends
with other countries. Also, he had battles when other countries wanted their goods and they didn’t give the
fleet any money or goods they have.
Zheng He had a huge fleet for sailing in the west ocean. He had about two hundred and seventy vessels in
his fleet. His ship is forty-eight meters long and sixty meters wide. He had about sixty-two of his own ships
in the seven journeys. His ship was much longer, wider and stronger than Marco Polo’s ship. His ships were
made from wood and has a sail on each ship.It was the third emperor of Ming Dynasty—Emperor Zhu Di,
who needs Zheng He to explore the Maritime Silk Road.
Zheng He traded a lot of things with other countries, like silk trade with diamonds or tusks. Also, they
have battles too.
Now I’ll introduce a battle to you. It’s called the battle of Xi Lan Shan. Xi Lan Shan is a place showed
now in Sri Lanka. The king was very greedy because he wanted to have more and more goods so he would
become rich. He asked Zheng He to give him more things. (Infact Zheng He already gave him some
goods.)So, Zheng He answered ‘ No,’ and the king’s army fought with him. At last, he used a clever way to
win the war. The king’s army scared him to the sea. Then, Zheng He turned around and fought to the
king’s palace and used the city’s walls for protection. At last, they won.
Zheng He went to a lot of countries on the way including India, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Somali,
Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Indonesia and Iran. Some of these countries’ king was kind and not greedy. Some
were greedy and looked down at Zheng He’s fleet.
Zheng He was a very great person in Chinese History. He went on the great Silk Road in the Indian
Ocean. We can learn a lot from him, like his determined heart, open-minded eyes and his wonderful
courage. I think his name will be remembered by the whole universe!