Admiral Zheng He, the Chinese Muslim who reached the Americas 50 years before Columbus
Zheng He, the greatest admiral in Chinese history, who reached the Americas 50 years before Columbus and played a major role in the spread of Islam in Indonesia, performed the Hajj pilgrimage with his 317 ships and 30,000 crew members.
The port of Jeddah was adorned with magnificent ships flying the Chinese flag, gliding like swans. For him, fulfilling the pilgrimage, which he had heard about from his ancestors since childhood and which had been a constant dream, was more valuable than all his other explorations.
Who is Admiral Zheng He of the Western Seas?
Born in 1371 in Yunnan province, his original name was Ma He. His father and grandfather were Muslim leaders of the Mongol Yuan Dynasty. When the Ming Dynasty took power, Ma He was given to Prince Zhu Di, the son of the emperor, as a slave. Ma He earned the prince’s trust and quickly became his closest advisor. The prince changed his name to Zheng He, which honored him and allowed him to gain respect in society. The prince later became the Emperor of China and appointed Zheng He as the commander of the trade fleet.
The Pilgrimage Journey
The early 15th century… A time between the Ottoman Empire’s period of turmoil due to Timur’s threat (the Interregnum) and the reign of Sultan Murad II. The modest port of Jeddah, perhaps the busiest it had ever been, was welcoming an enormous fleet.
Around 317 ships, with a crew of about 30,000, covered the sea from end to end. Those running to the shore watched the magnificent ships, gliding like swans under the Chinese flag, and the stunning view they created.
According to Chinese historical records, a tall, large-framed man with sharp facial features, long and drooping earlobes, agile and swift like a tiger, with a deep voice, pleasant and witty, and dressed in official uniform, disembarked from the flagship. The emperor had given him the title of Zheng He and “Admiral of the Western Seas.” Although he was a renowned admiral of the Chinese navy and commander of this great fleet, he was not originally Chinese.
As a child, he grew up listening to stories from his grandfather and father about their sacred pilgrimage journeys. Now, it was his turn. His dream was about to come true. He was one of the happiest men in the world. After fulfilling the pilgrimage, he visited the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in his city, Medina. And as he came, so he left.
Financing Large Construction Projects like the Great Wall and Supporting Innovation
When the Chinese overthrew the Mongols and established the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) in the 14th century, they possessed a powerful navy and a vast trade network. The Ming Dynasty reached its peak after the warrior Prince Zhu Di seized the throne in 1402 through a coup. Emperor Zhu Di chose to focus on wealth and growth through trade and appointed his loyal Muslim eunuch Zheng He as the commander of the trade fleet when he revolted.
Zheng He financed major construction projects, such as the continuation of the Great Wall, and supported innovation. In an effort to create an atmosphere of change, he moved the capital from Nanjing to Beijing and established the Forbidden City. To gather all the knowledge in the country, he commissioned the creation of an 11,000-volume encyclopedia. He also ordered the construction of a massive navy.
