Zheng He

Zheng He

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Zheng He

1371 Born in Kunyang prefecture -- present day Jinning County, Yunnan Province. Originally named Ma He.

1382 The Ming army conquered Yunnan. His father Ma Hajj passed away (Hajj is the Muslim honorary title bestowed on devotees who have made their pilgrimage to Mecca). Aged 11, Ma He was taken prisoner by Ming troops, and castrated.

1390 Aged 19, Ma He won the favor of Zhu Di, the prince of Yan, and served in his residence.

1404 Ming Emperor Zhu Di changed Ma He's surname from "Ma" to "Zheng" as an imperial honor, and promoted Zheng He to Grand Eunuch, head of the eunuchs serving in the imperial household.

1405 At age 34, Zheng He was dispatched by Emperor Zhu Di to lead a maiden voyage into the Western Ocean (present day Southeast Asia) with fellow eunuch Wang Jinghong. Zheng He led a huge fleet that comprised 27,800 men.

1407 Embarked on his second voyage with Wang Jinghong, Hou Xian and others.

1409 In September, Zheng He led the third imperial voyage with Wang Jinghog, Fei Xin and others.

1413, 1417, 1421 Led the fourth, fifth and sixth imperial voyages.

1431 At age 60, Zheng He led the seventh and his last imperial voyage to the Western Ocean with fellow seafarers Wang Jinghong, Ma Huan, Fei Xin and others. For this voyage, he led a team of 27,550 people.

1433 During the final voyage, Zheng He contracted a disease and died in Calicut, southwest India. His body was brought back to China in July and he was buried on Niushou Hill (Bull's Head Hill). He was 62.