Zheng He is now recognized as a great explorer, honored by Chinese and Muslims throughout Southeast Asia. But while his name be known, the details of his exploits are less. In the early 15th century, when Europe is slowly emerging from the Dark Ages and the Indians were contaminated by the applicants to their "New World", Zheng He, supported by the power of the Ming dynasty, left China on seven powerful journeys spanned Asia, the Indian ocean, the sub-continent, the Middle east and the east coast of Africa.
These trips would count some 300 ships, with the largest more than four times the size of the vessel Magellan used to circumnavigate the globe decades later, and were inhabited by something like 30,000 crewmembers .
Starting from Nanjing, Zheng He treasure fleets were designed to project Chinese power in the world and ensure loyalty to the throne in Beijing. The fleet made the Chinese emperor of the gifts to show his munificence when they returned laden with the exoticism of leaders who wish to show their respect for the ultimate power. These vessels are not built to destroy, but to impress.
Such a powerful fleet called for greater head of life and Zheng He, a eunuch, was certainly that. Standing seven feet tall, he was born in Yunnan province in the southwest of the country in 1368, far from any maritime influence. As China's Muslim community member, Zheng He was born Ma He.
Nearly two centuries before the Europeans arrived to claim their souls on spices and regions, Zheng He and the Chinese were intimately familiar with the waters around what would become the Indonesian archipelago. It would make frequent stops in commercial ports established as Gresik (who had a thousand Chinese families living there and was ruled by a Chinese Guandong province), Semarang, Cirebon, Palembang and Aceh at a time before Wali Songo (nine Islamic holy widely accepted as having brought Islam to Java) began to spread Islam.
Maulana Malik Ibrahim, the first of the Wali Songo, arrived in Java in 1404, the year before the first voyage of Zheng He and spent most of his time in East Java, including Gresik where he was eventually buried in 1419. it is tempting to think that the great explorer and propagator of the faith met, but there is no known record of them having done.
Interestingly the treasure fleet adopted by Palembang on their first trip in 1404. The fall of the empire Sriwijaya in the late 13th century had left a vacuum that the Siamese in the north and the Majapahit southeast rushed to fill, effectively bypassing Palembang. A few years before Zheng He sailed the Malacca Strait for the first time, Java was installed a puppet on the throne in Palembang, transforming the seat once an empire in a vassel. The people are not too bright and expelled the usurper and the chaos that followed a Chinese pirate named Chen Zuyi resumed, making the treacherous waters for vessels that use them. The treasure fleet would wait for the return trip before taking and defeat the pirates in battle.
Ma Huan accompanied Zheng He on one of his trips and much of what we know today has its chronic. He described the Javanese population as being divided into three groups :. The natives who clung to their beliefs Javanese Hindus, Muslims and Chinese, many of which he described as being Muslim
Although the exchange with the local population, Zheng He and his crew proved astute observers of local customs. It was noted that the wayang performance was similar to the traditions of history, they were used for the house.
Other local customs seemed unfamiliar. One dead in battle drew their attention. Advancing and retracting the rhythm of drums, two armed fighters lances attempt to conquer their enemy and to receive, as a reward, the new widow or slaves of the deceased man.
A stop saw Zheng He put in at Semarang when his vice commander, Wang Jing Hong, fell ill. After more than a week, Wang had still not fully recovered so Zheng He continued his journey leaving his second in command behind, waiting for him to catch up later. According to legend, Wang has never followed his leader. Semarang He loved so much that he decided to stay.
Semarang largely figures in the history of Zheng He. Another tale says he stayed for some time in a cave near the city. His legacy lives with a temple on the outskirts of town, Sam Po Kong (or Gedung Batu) dedicated to his memory. Just one of many of these places throughout Southeast Asia that recall the trips of the eunuch.
After the death of Zheng He, the leaders of the Chinese community in Semarang begged their people "Javanise" themselves by adopting Javanese names and following a Javanese lifestyle. Many Chinese have become very influential and married in the local ruling families, including one who was married to a ruler of Majapahit Empire.
today Zheng He's legacy much larger than some temples scattered in the region. He was a Muslim explorer working for a Chinese emperor shows that the 15th century, Asia was a much more cosmopolitan place than we give him credit and the fact it is so highly revered by both the Chinese communities and Muslims of Southeast Asia show that it is a character that transcends petty politics and nationalistic point of notation often scours the relations between the countries.
Zheng He should be a model for integration and tolerance. Instead, he became a sideshow in history, little understood by the Chinese diaspora and all but ignored for his role in the spread of Islam throughout the islands. Maybe he needs a Hollywood movie to finally give this giant of a man the respect and honor he fully deserves.
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