On This Day: Zheng He Sails — The Story of the Muslim Admiral Who Changed the Face of the World (July 11, 1405)
On the eleventh of July in the year 1405, a massive fleet set sail from the Chinese port of Nanjing, heading into the unknown. At its helm stood a Muslim man of Arab descent, who would become the greatest admiral in history: Admiral Zheng He.
This day marked the beginning of his first of seven famous voyages, which lasted 28 years and carried Chinese treasure ships to the shores of Southeast Asia, India, the Arabian Peninsula, and even East Africa — nearly a full century before Columbus.
Who Was Zheng He?
Zheng He was born in 1371 in Yunnan Province, southwestern China, and his birth name was “Ma He.” He came from a Muslim family of Arab descent — his grandfather and great-grandfather held the title “Haji,” meaning they had performed the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca. His great-grandfather was Sayyid Ajjal Shams al-Din Omar, a Persian from Bukhara who ruled Yunnan during the Mongol era.
In his childhood, Zheng He was captured during the Ming conquest of Yunnan, castrated, and sent to serve Prince Zhu Di — who later became Emperor Yongle. Zheng He served loyally and helped the emperor in his campaign to seize the throne, earning the title “Zheng” and being appointed admiral of the imperial fleet.
The Invincible Fleet
Imagine a fleet of 300 ships carrying over 27,000 men — this was the scale of Zheng He’s first voyage. The largest ships were called “treasure ships,” each about 120 meters long — longer than a football field — and 50 meters wide, with four decks and massive silk sails. These ships were twice as large as any wooden vessel in history.
The fleet carried everything a great empire needed: silk, porcelain, spices, and gold, along with translators who spoke Arabic, Sanskrit, Tamil, and Malay. Historians say the goal was diplomatic and commercial: to display China’s power and establish relations with Indian Ocean nations.
Great Stops
During his seven voyages, Zheng He reached:
🌏 Calicut (India) — where he erected a monument
🌏 Hormuz (Arabian Gulf) — the Persian trade gateway
🌏 Mecca — where he sent some of his men to perform Hajj
🌏 Mogadishu and Malindi (Somalia) — where he exchanged gifts with African sultans
🌏 The Maldives, Sri Lanka, Java, and Sumatra
At every stop, he presented gifts to local leaders (silk, porcelain, gold) and received their gifts in return (giraffes, tigers, frankincense, gemstones). He brought back a giraffe to China for the first time in history, astonishing the emperor, who believed it to be a mythical phoenix.
A Lasting Legacy
After Zheng He’s death in 1433 (or 1435), China stopped sending large fleets. The empire turned inward, and many records of the voyages were burned. Yet his legacy lived on — in Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore, he is still revered as a maritime saint, and temples and statues honor him to this day.
In Saudi Arabia and Gulf states, Zheng He is remembered as proof of the deep historical ties between China and the Islamic world — ties that began centuries before the Belt and Road Initiative.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Why is July 11, 1405 important?
A: Because it was the day Zheng He set sail on his first of seven great voyages, making him one of history’s greatest explorers — more than 80 years before Columbus.
Q: Was Zheng He really Muslim?
A: Yes, he was born into a Muslim family, and both his father and grandfather held the title “Haji.” However, he practiced religious tolerance and also revered the Chinese sea goddess “Mazu.”
Q: How many voyages did Zheng He make?
A: Seven voyages between 1405 and 1433, covering vast areas of Asia and Africa.
Q: Did Zheng He visit the Arabian Peninsula?
A: Yes, he reached Hormuz in the Arabian Gulf and sent men to perform Hajj in Mecca.
Q: Why did Zheng He’s voyages stop?
A: Due to political conflicts in the Chinese court after the emperor’s death, and China’s shift toward isolationism.
Isolationist policy closed its borders to the outside world for centuries.
📚 Sources: Wikipedia, Ming dynasty records, historian Edward Dreyer and Michael Levathes’ books.
