Zheng He
Zheng He (also romanized
Cheng Ho; 1371–1433/1435) was a Chinese
admiral, explorer, diplomat, and bureaucrat during the early
Ming dynasty (1368–1644). He is often regarded as the greatest admiral in
Chinese history. Born into a Muslim family as
Ma He, he later adopted the surname Zheng conferred onto him by the
Yongle Emperor (). Between 1405 and 1433, Zheng commanded seven
treasure voyages across Asia under the commission of the Yongle Emperor and the succeeding
Xuande Emperor (). According to legend, Zheng's largest ships were almost twice as long as any wooden ship ever recorded, and carried hundreds of sailors on four decks.
A favorite of the Yongle Emperor, whom Zheng assisted in the
Jingnan campaign that overthrew the previous
Jianwen Emperor in 1402, Zheng He rose to the top of the Ming
imperial hierarchy and served as commander of the southern capital
Nanjing.
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