Zheng He (137 1 year-1433), a Hui nationality, whose real name was Ma, was called "eunuch" and was from Kunyang House, Yunnan Province (now Kunyang Street, Jinning). China was a eunuch, navigator and diplomat in the Ming Dynasty.

Zheng He's early experience is unknown. Presumably, he was captured by the Ming army in the Pingming-Yunnan War. He went to Peiping with Fu Youde and others in 1385, and later worked for Yan. Later, because of his meritorious service in the battle of Jingnan, he was given the surname Zheng and was promoted to the eunuch of the inner official.

Zheng He was resourceful, knowing the soldiers and learning to fight. From 1405 to 1433, Zheng He made seven voyages to the Western Ocean, which made great achievements in human history. Zheng He went to the Western Ocean for the seventh time and died in Guri on 1433 (the eighth year of Xuande). The ashes were buried in the underground palace of Hongjue Temple in Nanjing, and now it is the tomb of Zheng He or its cenotaph in Niushou Mountain in Nanjing.

Relevant experience

He has visited more than 30 countries, including Java, Sumatra, Sulu, Pahang, Zhenla, Guri, Siam, Bangra, Adan, Tian Fang, Zoufal, Hulumusi, Mugudushu and so on. He is known to have reached East Africa and the Red Sea as far as possible.

Zheng He's voyage to the West was the largest in ancient China, with the largest number of ships (more than 240), the largest number of sailors and the longest voyage, which was more than half a century earlier than that of European countries, and was a direct manifestation of the prosperity of the Ming Dynasty.

Zheng He's voyages to the West far surpassed those of Portugal and Spain nearly a century later, such as Magellan, Columbus, Da Gama and others. He is the pioneer of the "Great Navigation Age" and the only Oriental. He even put forward the theory of sea power 500 years earlier than Mahan. It is said that Zheng He first discovered America, Australia and Antarctica.