Zheng He

Lore & Background

Zheng He was born Ma He in Kunyang, Yunnan, into a Muslim family. According to legend, his largest ships were almost twice as long as any wooden ship ever recorded, with four decks and hundreds of sailors.

Reader's Guide

Zheng He's voyages represent a peak of Chinese maritime power and state-controlled trade in the early 15th century. Under the Yongle and Xuande emperors, his fleets projected a new militaristic presence in the Indian Ocean, extending Chinese influence from Southeast Asia to the Swahili coast. Zheng He's background as a Muslim eunuch who sought protection from the goddess Tianfei illustrates the syncretic religious environment of the era.

His legacy endures in Chinese culture through the alias Sanbao and in Southeast Asian temples named after him. The scale of his ships, if accurate, would have been unmatched in wooden shipbuilding history. His career also reflects the complex politics of the early Ming, including the rise of eunuch officials and the consolidation of imperial power.

Did You Know?

• Zheng He was born into a Muslim family and his father and grandfather held the title hajji, indicating they had made the pilgrimage to Mecca.
• He was castrated between the ages of 10 and 14 after being captured by Ming forces in Yunnan.
• He was also known by the alias Sanbao, which in Southeast Asian temple names can refer either to him or to the Three Jewels of Buddhism.