What was the purpose of Zheng He’s voyages to the West?

1. In terms of succession to the throne

In the name of "Jingnan", King Zhu Di of Yan finally captured Nanjing, the capital, and burned the palace, but the body of his nephew Emperor Jianwen was not found afterwards. Although Zhu Di immediately proclaimed himself Emperor Yongle, he may still be concerned about this matter and the scattered followers of Emperor Jianwen. In the historical documents of the Ming Dynasty, there are some rumors that Emperor Jianwen may not have been burned to death but fled overseas. There is even a story about returning to Beijing twenty years after becoming a monk. Therefore, some people think that Emperor Yongle sent Zheng He to the Western Seas because he was pursuing Emperor Jianwen. This statement is impossible to establish, because Zheng He's overseas missions were so grand every time. If Emperor Jianwen fled overseas, he would have heard the news and hid. A large-scale voyage to the West to find Emperor Jianwen was by no means an effective method. At present, most scholars no longer believe this theory. However, historical novels often emphasize this possibility for the sake of dramatization.

2. Political aspects

During the 24 years of Emperor Yongle's reign, the old Mongolian tribes in northwest China continued to pose a crisis to the Ming Dynasty. Emperor Yongle even went on several expeditions in person, and during his last expedition died in. Therefore, some people think that Yongle sent Zheng He to the Western Seas to stabilize overseas affairs, so that Yongle would have no worries, and it would help the Ming Dynasty focus on defending against the chaos in the north.

However, this theory cannot be established because the overseas countries at that time did not have strong military force and there was no possibility of attacking the Ming Dynasty's waters.

Another theory is that the voyage to the West was to control the Mongol Khanate that remained in Central and South Asia and the northern border of India. This is also impossible, because at the beginning of Yongle, the khan of this country died and there was no threat to the Ming Dynasty.

During Zheng He’s seven voyages to the West, he encountered three battles. One was to help a small country change its regime, the other was a country that wanted to sneak attack Zheng He’s fleet, and the other was a pirate group. All three were small battles. (More details will be given in the next article). Some people believe that Zheng He's voyages to the West played the role of an "international policeman." But these are just incidents along the way and cannot be the main motivation or purpose. The inscription on Zheng He's inscription says, "When he reached overseas states, the disrespectful Fan kings captured them alive. The invaders of the barbarian invaders destroyed them, and it was because of Hai Qingning that the Fan people depended on them." This statement can be confirmed.

3. Diplomacy

When faced with Zheng He’s massive hundreds of giant ships and tens of thousands of soldiers approaching their waters, Western countries would of course make war on them. A sense of competition. Therefore, "showing off one's power" as one of the main purposes of Zheng He's voyages to the West is very understandable and accepted by most researchers.

But if it was just to demonstrate national power overseas, what great benefits would it bring to Emperor Chengzu of the Ming Dynasty? Why did he need to spend so much money and military power? Therefore, "showing off his power" could not be the "ultimate" of Emperor Yongle Purpose.

Because Zheng He did not occupy any country or city during his seven voyages to the West. Therefore, in the past twenty years, some people have often advocated that Zheng He's voyages to the West were a "peaceful journey." But this is superficial, superficial, "self-promoting" and "self-advertising". Do you think that small Western countries would consider this a "peaceful" move?

In fact, Zheng He's treasure ships carried many treasures every time and gave them to every visiting king as a "gift." In addition, many countries also sent envoys or the emperor himself to take Zheng He's treasure ship and bring their country's special products and treasures back to the Ming capital to pay tribute. After these foreign envoys came to China, some time later they asked Zheng He to ship them back to their countries and bring back more "gifts." Therefore, during the Yongle period, the number of overseas tribute countries increased from a few countries during the Hongwu period to more than 30 countries. After Yongle's death, the overseas voyages stopped for six or seven years, and the previous tributary countries stopped coming. In the early years of Emperor Xuan's reign, he hoped that foreign countries would pay tribute, so he made his seventh trip.

Furthermore, in these *** 28 years, he made seven voyages to the Western Ocean, which is equivalent to an average of one every four years. A round trip takes two years. Therefore, for about half of the year, Zheng He’s fleet continued to visit China. to the West. Why is it so frequent?

To sum up, Yongle's "diplomacy" in the early Ming Dynasty is actually a historical precedent of modern "money diplomacy".

4. In terms of trade

Western countries were very fond of ceramics, silks, coins, etc. produced by the Ming Dynasty. During the Yongle period, they indeed used Zheng He's officials on his voyages to the West. ships, carrying these goods overseas.

On the return journey, Zheng He's official ship also purchased or exchanged some spices, dyes, gems, elephant skins, rare and exotic animals, etc. that were lacking in China. Therefore, the voyages to the West certainly played a certain role in trade between China and foreign countries. But if trade is the main purpose, why build two or three hundred treasure ships and send 20,000 to 30,000 officers and soldiers each time? All merchant ships in ancient and modern times try to use the minimum crew and free up the maximum space on board for cargo. to increase its profits. Zheng He's fleet ran in opposite directions from a merchant fleet. Therefore, the theory that "tributary trade" is commonly used by academic circles as the motivation for Zheng He's voyages to the West overstates the importance of "trade".

5. Cultural aspects

Mazu was originally the sea god of the southeastern coastal area of ??China. The belief in blessing ships was very important to Zheng He's voyagers. Because he visited Western countries as many as seven times, Mazu belief also spread to Southeast Asian countries with the help of these voyages. This is the most worthy of mention in terms of Western culture, and it also has an influence today. But the development of these mutual maritime and religious beliefs was the result of the voyages to the West rather than their motivation.