Zheng He was a Chinese explorer and diplomat during the Ming dynasty who led voyages to Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East and East Africa between 1405 and 1433. The document summarizes several of Zheng He's voyages, including defeating pirates in 1407, capturing the king of Sri Lanka in 1411 for insulting and attacking Zheng He, and returning envoys to their countries in 1416 while conferring gifts from the Chinese emperor.

1. Ming Shi-lu – Zheng He
11 Jul 1405: The eunuch Zheng He and others were sent to take
Imperial orders of instruction to the various countries in the
Western Ocean, and to confer upon the kings of those countries
patterned fine silks and variegated thin silks interwoven with
gold thread, as appropriate.
2 Oct 1407: The Eunuch Director Zheng He who had been sent
to the various countries of the Western Ocean, returned,
bringing the pirate Chen Zu-yi and others in fetters. Previously,
when he had arrived at Old Port, he came across Zu-yi and so on
and sent people to bring them to negotiated pacification. Zu-yi
and the others feigned surrender but secretly plotted to attack
the Imperial army. He and the others found out about this and,
marshalling the troops, prepared defenses. When the forces led
by Zu-yi attacked, He sent his troops out to do battle. Zu-yi
suffered a great defeat. Over 5,000 of the bandit gang were
killed, while ten of the bandit ships were burnt and seven
captured. Further, two false bronze seals were seized and three
prisoners, including Zu-yi, were taken alive. When they arrived
at the capital, it was ordered that all the prisoners be beheaded.
6 Jul 1411: The eunuch Zheng He and others, who had been sent
as envoys to the various countries in the Western Ocean,
returned and presented Ya-lie Ku-nai-er, the captured king of
the country of Sri Lanka, and his family members. Previously,
He and the others had been sent as envoys to the various fan
countries. However, when they reached Sri Lanka, Ya-lie Ku-
nai-er was insulting and disrespectful. He wished to harm He,
but He came to know of this and left. Ya-lie Ku-nai-er also
acted in an unfriendly way to neighboring countries and
repeatedly intercepted and robbed their envoys. All the fan
countries suffered from his actions. When He returned, he again
passed Sri Lanka and the king enticed him to the country. The

2. king then had his son Na-yan demand gold, silver and precious
objects, but He would not give these to him. The king then
secretly dispatched over 50,000 fan troops to rob He's ships.
They also felled trees to create obstructions and impede He's
route of return, so that he could not render assistance. He and
the others found out about this and they gathered their force and
set off back to their ships. However, the route had already been
blocked. He thus spoke to his subordinates, saying: "The
majority of the troops have already been dispatched. The middle
of the country will be empty." He also said: "Our merchants and
troops are isolated and nervous and will be unable to act. If they
are attacked by surprise, the attackers will achieve their
purpose." Thus, he secretly ordered persons to go to the ships
by another route with orders that the government troops were to
fight to the death in opposing the attackers. He then personally
led 2,000 of his troops through a by-path and attacked the royal
city by surprise. They took the city and captured alive Ya-lie
Ku-nai-er, his family members and chieftains. The fan army
returned and surrounded the city and several battles were
fought, but He greatly defeated them. He and the others
subsequently returned to the Court. The assembled ministers
requested that the king be executed. The Emperor pitied the
king for his stupidity and ignorance and leniently ordered that
he and the others be released and given food and clothing. The
Ministry of Rites was ordered to deliberate on and select a
worthy member of the family to be established as the country's
king in order to handle the country's sacrifices.
28 Dec 1416: As the envoys from the various countries of
Calicut, Java, Melaka, Champa, Sri Lanka, Mogadishu, Liu-
shan, Nan-bo-li, Bu-la-wa, Aden, Samudera, Ma-lin, La-sa,
Hormuz, Cochin, Nan-wu-li, Sha-li-wan-ni and Pahang, as well
as from the Old Port Pacification Superintendency, were
departing to return home, suits of clothing made from patterned
fine silks were conferred upon all of them. The eunuch Zheng
He and others were sent with Imperial orders as well as

3. embroidered fine silks, silk gauzes, variegated thin silks and
other goods to confer upon the kings of these countries, to
confer a seal upon Ke-yi-li, the king of the country of Cochin,
and to enfeoff a mountain in his country as the "Mountain
Which Protects the Country". The Emperor personally composed
and conferred an inscription for the tablet, as follows: "The
civilizing influences and Heaven and Earth intermingle.
Everything which is covered and contained has been placed in
the charge of the Moulder, who manifests the benevolence of
the Creator. The world does not have two ultimate principles
and people do not have two hearts. They are sorrowful or happy
in the same way and have the same feelings and desires. How
can they be divided into the near and the distant! One who is
outstanding in ruling the people should do his best to treat the
people as his children. The Book of Odes says: `The Imperial
domain stretches for thousands of li, and there the people have
settled, while the borders reach to the four seas.' The Book of
Documents says: "To the East, extending to the sea, to the West
reaching to the shifting sands and stretching to the limits of
North and South, culture and civilizing influences reach to the
four seas.' I rule all under Heaven and soothe and govern the
Chinese and the yi. I look on all equally and do not differentiate
between one and the other. I promote the ways of the ancient
Sagely Emperors and Perspicacious Kings, so as to accord with
the will of Heaven and Earth. I wish all of the distant lands and
foreign regions to have their proper places. Those who respond
to the influences and move towards culture are not singular. The
country of Cochin is far away in the South-west, on the shore of
the vast ocean, further distant than the other fan countries. It
has long inclined towards Chinese culture and been accepting of
civilizing influences. When the Imperial orders arrived, the
people there went down on their hands and knees and were
greatly excited. They loyally came to allegiance and then,
looking to Heaven, they bowed and all said: `How fortunate we
are that the civilizing influences of the Chinese sages should
reach us. For the last several years, the country has had fertile

4. soil, and the people have had houses in which to live, enough
fish and turtles to eat, and enough cloth and silk to make
clothes. Parents have looked after their children and the young
have respected their elders. Everything has been prosperous and
pleasing. There has been no oppression or contention. In the
mountains no savage beasts have appeared and in the streams no
noxious fishes have been seen. The sea has brought forth
treasures and the forests have produced excellent woods.
Everything has been in bountiful supply, several times more
bountiful than in ordinary times. There have been no destructive
winds, and damaging rains have not occurred. Confusion has
been eliminated and there is no evil to be found. This is all
indeed the result of the civilizing influences of the Sage.' I
possess but slight virtuous power. How could I have been
capable of this! Is it not the elders and people who brought this
about? I am now enfeoffing Ke-yi-li as king of the country and
conferring upon him a seal so that he can govern the people. I
am also enfeoffing the mountain in the country as "Mountain
Which Protects the Country". An engraved tablet is to be
erected on this mountain to record these facts forever. It will
also be engraved as follows: The high peak which rules the
land, guards this ocean state, It spits fire and fumes, bringing
great prosperity to the country below, It brings rain and
sunshine in a timely way, and soothes away troubles, It brings
fertile soil and drives off evil vapors, It shelters the people, and
eliminates calamities and disharmony, Families are joyful
together, and people have plenty throughout the year, The
mountain's height is as the ocean's depths! This poem is
inscribed to record all for prosperity."
3 Sep 1422: The eunuch Zheng He and other envoys who had
been sent to the various fan lands, returned. The envoys who
had been sent by Siam, Samudera, Aden (哈丹) and other
countries, who had accompanied He on his return, offered
tribute of local products.
29 Jun 1430: The Eunuch Director Zheng He and others were

5. sent with an Imperial proclamation to go and instruct the
various fan countries. The proclamation read: "I have
respectfully taken on the mandate of Heaven and reverently
inherited the Great Rule from the Tai-zu Gao Emperor, the Tai-
zong Wen Emperor and the Ren-zong Zhao Emperor. I rule over
the ten thousand states, manifest the supreme benevolence of
my ancestors and spread peace to all things. I have already
issued a general amnesty to all under Heaven and declared the
commencement of the Xuan-de reign. All has begun anew. You,
the various fan countries far across the ocean, will not yet have
heard. Now I am especially sending the Eunuch Directors Zheng
He and Wang Jing-hong carrying this proclamation with which
to instruct you. You must all respect and accord with the Way
of Heaven, care for your people and keep them in peace. Thus
will you all enjoy the prosperity of Great Peace." Variegated
silks, as appropriate, were to be conferred upon the rulers or
chiefs of all 20 countries through which the eunuchs were to
pass, including Hormuz, Sri Lanka, Calicut, Melaka, Cochin,
Bu-la-wa, Mogadishu, Nan-bo-li, Samudera, La-sa, Liu-shan,
Aru, Gan-ba-li, Aden, Zuo-fa-er, Zhu-bu, Jia-yi-le and so on, as
well as the Old Port Pacification Superintendency.
20 Mar 1431: The chieftain Wu-bao-chi-na and others from the
country of Melaka, arrived at the Court. They advised that the
king of their country wanted to personally come to Court and
offer tribute, but that he had been obstructed by the king of the
country of Siam. They also said that Siam had long wanted to
invade their country and that their country wanted to
memorialize but had had no one who could write the memorial.
At this time, the king had ordered that these three ministers
secretly attach themselves to a Samuderan tribute ship and come
to Court. They requested that the Court send people to instruct
the king of Siam to no longer oppress or mistreat their country
and that thereby they would be unendingly grateful for the
Court's grace. The Emperor ordered the Auxiliary Ministry of
Rites to confer rewards upon Wu-bao-chi-na and the others and

6. to send them back to their country with the ships of the eunuch
director Zheng He. Zheng He was ordered to take Imperial
orders of instruction for the king of the country of Siam as
follows: "I rule all under Heaven and look on all equally. You
have been able to respect the Court and have repeatedly sent
envoys to come to Court and offer tribute. I am pleased with
your service. However, recently, it has been heard that the king
of the country of Melaka wanted to personally come to Court,
but was obstructed by you. In my opinion, this certainly cannot
have been your will, king. Rather, it must have been some of
your attendants, who are unable to think deeply about things,
who have obstructed avenues and started strife with neighboring
states. How can such actions be a way to long maintain
prosperity? You, king should respect my orders, develop good
relations with your neighbors, examine and instruct your
subordinates and not act recklessly or aggressively. Then it will
be seen that you are able to respect Heaven and serve the
superior, protect the country and the people's peace and
maintain good relations with neighboring states. This will
accord with my will of looking on all equally." The Ministry of
Rites said: "There are precedents for conferring rewards on
tribute envoys from the various fan. However, Wu-bao-chi-na
did not bring any tribute and there is no precedent on which to
base rewards." The Emperor said: "This distant person has come
tens of thousands of li from abroad to complain of injustice.
How can we not reward him!" Accordingly, ramie-silk clothing,
biao-li of variegated silks, silks and cotton cloth were conferred
upon him in the same quantities as those conferred upon tribute
envoys from other countries.