Zheng He

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john sefton
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Joined: Sun Mar 22, 2009 1:59 pm

Zheng He

Post by john sefton » Mon Mar 14, 2011 8:37 pm

Zheng He, originally named Ma He, was born into a Muslim family just beyond the borders of China (later Yunnan Province in the southwestern part of China) in 1371. His ancestors were the Arabian immigrated into China during the Tang and Song dynasties (618-1279). When he was still young the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) conquered his province in 1378, and he was taken to the imperial Chinese capital to serve as a court eunuch.

However, he distinguished himself by helping Zhu Yuanzhang defeat the Yuan Dynasty, and was rewarded with an official post in the government. During the coup started by Zhu Di, who was the fourth son of the first emperor Zhu Yuanzhang of the Ming Dynasty and later became Emperor Chengzu, Zheng He helped Zhu Di gain the throne and was given command of the Chinese navy. Hence he wielded great influence in court.

In 1402, after Emperor Cheng Zu of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) ascended the throne, he dispatched Zheng He and Wang Jinghong to lead a giant fleet to the Western Sea (today's Southeast Asia), carrying members of soldiers and large quantity of goods. The fleet reached the countries of Southeast Asia, east Africa and Arabia, initiating a feat in the history of navigation and regarded as an unprecedented great historical period in Chinese history of trade and cultural exchanges.

From 1405 to 1433, Zheng He led his fleet to voyage to the Western Sea for seven times. The number of ships of his fleet was from 40 to 63 each time, taking many soldiers and sailors on the voyage, with a total party over 27,000 people. Their ships navigated the wide sea area from Ryukyu Islands, the Philippine Islands and Maluku Sea to the Mozambican Channel and the costal areas of South Africa, developing mutual trade, exchanging culture and technologies, communicating traffic on the sea and promoting social and economic development in such countries and areas. The mighty fleet voyaged on the Indian Ocean, not only astonishing the Arabian navigators, but also amazing the Venice businessmen coming and going between Hormuz and Aden, hence providing a new enlightenment to the European navigation. Zheng He's voyages are 87 years earlier than that of Columbus, 93 years earlier than that of Gama, and 116 years earlier than that of Magellan.

Chinese treasure ships carried a great deal of special Chinese products to foreign countries. As to craftwork, there were brocade, gauze, and skein; as to china, there were newly developed celadon, Xiulihong, as well as the enamelware with Chinese characteristics. By the way, during the Tang Dynasty Chinese people had grasped the technology of sintering glass, but only after Zheng He's voyage, Chinese had grasped the technology of adding borax in glass to resist heat. The Arabian glass artisan came to China with Zheng He's fleet and imparted the new technology to sinter new kinds of glass vessel resistant to sudden changes of temperature. Since then, this kind of glass was produced in large quantities in China and became a common utensil.

Zheng He also brought back building materials, fuels and exotic articles. It was at this time that the so-called kylin and Fulu (African giraffe and zebra) became decorative animals for the Chinese imperial garden. After coming back, Zheng He's subordinates wrote the books as Travel Notes of Foreign Countries, Chorography of Western Countries, etc., introducing the geographic and natural conditions, local customs, as well as production and living of those foreign countries and regions, widening Chinese people's vision and enlarging their knowledge on foreign countries.
Zheng He's expedition was half a century earlier than those of the European navigators. Zheng He died in 1435 at the age of 65. After Zheng He's last voyage no further voyages were launched.
http://www.chinaculture.org/gb/en_about ... _22644.htm
Indonesia SG3029ms
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aukepalmhof
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Joined: Thu Apr 02, 2009 1:28 am

Re: Zheng He

Post by aukepalmhof » Mon Apr 08, 2013 10:00 pm

Singapore 2005 1st/1$
China 2005 100/1.50F. 8f, 6f.
Hong Kong 2005 $1.40 $10

On 28 June 2005, the State Post Bureau will issue a three-piece set of commemorative stamps, "The 600th Anniv. of Zheng He's Voyages to Western Seas", with a total face value of 2.40 yuan. A souvenir sheet was issued at the same time, with a face value of 6 yuan. The pictures on the stamps are:"Portrait of Zheng He", "Good-Neighborly Relations", and "Scientific Navigatioin", respectively, and the souvenir sheet is titled "The 600th Anniv. of Zheng He's Voyages to Western Seas".

Zheng He (AD1371---AD1433), a native of Kunyang Prefecture (the present Jinning County in Kunming), Yunana Province, was a world-famous navigator in history. From 1405 to 1433 (in the Ming Dynasty), Zheng He led his huge fleet to travel across the high seas 7 times. This great undertaking in world navigation history demonstrated the advanced shipbuilding and navigation technology of ancient China, as well as the Chinese people's braveness in exploratioin, dauntlessness and persistence in the face of difficulty and adversity, and traditional love for peace and friendship with the neighboring countries. The commemoration of the great historical voyages to western seas is of great significance in promoting the Chinese national spirit and building a harmonious society.

Republic of China (Taiwan) 1994 $5 and $15 sg2215/16, scott2977/78.
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aukepalmhof
Posts: 7771
Joined: Thu Apr 02, 2009 1:28 am

Re: Zheng He

Post by aukepalmhof » Sun Apr 14, 2013 9:23 pm

Republic of China (TAIWAN) 1994 $5/$17 sg2215/16, scott 2977/78
China 2005 6y sg?, scott?
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Anatol
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Joined: Sun Apr 12, 2009 2:13 pm

Re: Zheng He

Post by Anatol » Sat Feb 25, 2017 4:18 pm

Zheng He and his Ship Treasure XVв.
Madagascar 20…;5700,0. China 1985;8;8;20;80. Mali 2011;800f;1400f. Djibouti 2015;650f
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Anatol
Posts: 1037
Joined: Sun Apr 12, 2009 2:13 pm

Re: Zheng He

Post by Anatol » Fri Mar 17, 2023 9:29 am

PMR 2019; [P]
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