郑和下西洋──三保太监的不朽航程中英文.docVIP

Early in the 15th century, a huge fleet of ships set sail from Nanjing. It was the first of a series of voyages that would, for a brief period, establish China as the leading power of the age. The voyage was led by Zheng He, the most important Chinese adventurer of all time and one of the greatest sailors the world has ever known. In fact, some people think he was the original model for the legendary Sinbad the Sailor. In 1371, Zheng He was born in what is now Yunnan Province to Muslim parents, who named him Ma Sanpao. When he was 11 years old, invading Ming armies captured Ma and took him to Ma befriended a prince there who later became the Yong Le Emperor, one of the Ming Dynastys most distinguished. Brave, strong, intelligent and totally loyal, Ma won the trust of the prince who, after ascending the throne, gave him a new name and made him Grand Imperial Eunuch. Yong Le was an ambitious emperor who believed that Chinas greatness would be increased with an open-door policy regarding international trade and diplomacy. In 1405, he ordered Chinese ships to sail to the Indian Ocean, and put Zheng He in charge of the voyage. Zheng went on to lead seven expeditions in 28 years, visiting more than 40 countries. Zhengs fleet had more than 300 ships and 30,000 sailors. The largest vessels, 133-meter-long treasure ships, had up to nine masts and could carry a thousand people. Along with a Han and Muslim crew, Zheng opened up trade routes in Africa, India, and Southeast Asia. The voyages helped expand foreign interest in Chinese goods such as silk and porcelain. In addition, Zheng He brought exotic foreign items back to China, including the first giraffe ever seen there. At the same time, the fleets obvious strength meant that the Emperor of China commanded respect and inspired fear all over Asia. While Zheng Hes main aim was to show the superiority of Ming China, he often got involved in the local politics of places he visited. In Ceylon, for instance, he helped restor