Zheng He's Inscription This inscription was carved on a stele erected at a temple to the goddess the Celestial Spouse at Changle in Fujian province in 1431. Message written before his last voyage. The Imperial Ming Dynasty unifying seas and continents, surpassing the three dynasties even goes beyond the Han and Tang dynasties. The countries beyond the horizon and from the ends of the earth have all become subjects and to the most western of the western or the most northern of the northern countries, however far they may be, the distance and the routes may be calculated. Thus the barbarians from beyond the seas, though their countries are truly distant, "have come to audience bearing precious objects and presents. The Emperor, approving of their loyalty and sincerity, has ordered us (Zheng) He and others at the head of several tens of thousands of officers and flag-troops to ascend (use) more than one hundred large ships to go and confer presents on them in order to make manifest (make it happen) the transforming power of the (imperial) virtue and to treat distant people with kindness. From the third year of Yongle (1405) till now we have seven times received the commission (official permission) of ambassadors to countries of the western ocean. The barbarian countries which we have visited are: by way of Zhancheng (Champa Cambodia), Zhaowa (Java), Sanfoqi (Palembang- Indonesia) and Xianlo (Siam/Thailand) crossing straight over to Xilanshan (Ceylon- Sri Lanka) in South India, Guli (Calicut) [India], and Kezhi (Cochin India), we have gone to the western regions Hulumosi (Hormuz Between Oman and Iran), Adan (Aden), Mugudushu (Mogadishu- Somalia), altogether more than thirty countries large and small. We have traversed more than one hundred thousand li (distance of 500 meters) of immense water spaces and have beheld in the ocean huge waves like mountains rising sky-high, and we have set eyes on barbarian regions far away hidden in a blue transparency of light vapours, while our sails loftily unfurled like clouds day and night continued their course (rapid like that) of a star, traversing those savage waves as if we were treading a public thoroughfare. Truly this was due to the majesty and the good fortune of the Court and moreover we owe it to the protecting virtue of the divine Celestial Spouse. The power of the goddess having indeed been manifested in previous times has been abundantly revealed in the present generation. When we arrived in the distant countries we captured alive those of the native kings who were not respectful and exterminated those barbarian robbers who were engaged in piracy, so that consequently the sea route was cleansed and pacified (to make someone or something peaceful) and the natives put their trust in it. All this is due to the favours of the goddess. We have respectfully received an Imperial commemorative composition (essay/piece of writing) exalting the miraculous favours, which is the highest recompense and.

1. Zheng He's Inscription
This inscription was carved on a stele erected at a temple to the
goddess the Celestial Spouse at Changle in Fujian province in
1431. Message written before his last voyage.
The Imperial Ming Dynasty unifying seas and continents,
surpassing the three dynasties even goes beyond the Han and
Tang dynasties. The countries beyond the horizon and from the
ends of the earth have all become subjects and to the most
western of the western or the most northern of the northern
countries, however far they may be, the distance and the routes
may be calculated. Thus the barbarians from beyond the seas,
though their countries are truly distant, "have come to audience
bearing precious objects and presents.
The Emperor, approving of their loyalty and sincerity, has
ordered us (Zheng) He and others at the head of several tens of
thousands of officers and flag-troops to ascend (use) more than
one hundred large ships to go and confer presents on them in
order to make manifest (make it happen) the transforming power
of the (imperial) virtue and to treat distant people with
kindness. From the third year of Yongle (1405) till now we have
seven times received the commission (official permission) of
ambassadors to countries of the western ocean. The barbarian
countries which we have visited are: by way of Zhancheng
(Champa Cambodia), Zhaowa (Java), Sanfoqi (Palembang-
Indonesia) and Xianlo (Siam/Thailand) crossing straight over to
Xilanshan (Ceylon- Sri Lanka) in South India, Guli (Calicut)
[India], and Kezhi (Cochin India), we have gone to the western
regions Hulumosi (Hormuz Between Oman and Iran), Adan
(Aden), Mugudushu (Mogadishu- Somalia), altogether more
than thirty countries large and small. We have traversed more
than one hundred thousand li (distance of 500 meters) of
immense water spaces and have beheld in the ocean huge waves
like mountains rising sky-high, and we have set eyes on
barbarian regions far away hidden in a blue transparency of
light vapours, while our sails loftily unfurled like clouds day

2. and night continued their course (rapid like that) of a star,
traversing those savage waves as if we were treading a public
thoroughfare. Truly this was due to the majesty and the good
fortune of the Court and moreover we owe it to the protecting
virtue of the divine Celestial Spouse.
The power of the goddess having indeed been manifested in
previous times has been abundantly revealed in the present
generation. When we arrived in the distant countries we
captured alive those of the native kings who were not respectful
and exterminated those barbarian robbers who were engaged in
piracy, so that consequently the sea route was cleansed and
pacified (to make someone or something peaceful) and the
natives put their trust in it. All this is due to the favours of the
goddess.
We have respectfully received an Imperial commemorative
composition (essay/piece of writing) exalting the miraculous
favours, which is the highest recompense and praise indeed.
However, the miraculous power of the goddess resides wherever
one goes. As for the temporary palace on the southern mountain
at Changle I have, at the head of the fleet, frequently resided
there awaiting the (favorable) wind to set sail for the ocean.
We, Zheng He and others, on the one hand have received the
high favour of a gracious commission of our Sacred Lord, and
on the other hand carry to the distant barbarians the benefits of
respect and good faith (on their part). Commanding the
multitudes on the fleet and (being responsible for) a quantity of
money and valuables in the face of the violence of the winds
and the nights our one fear is not to be able to succeed; how
should we then dare not to serve our dynasty with exertion of
all our loyalty and the gods with the utmost sincerity? How
would it be possible not to realize what is the source of the
tranquility of the fleet and the troops and the salvation on the
voyage both going and returning? Therefore we have made

3. manifest the virtue of the goddess on stone and have moreover
recorded the years and months of the voyages to the barbarian
countries and the return in order to leave (the memory) for ever.
I. In the third year of Yongle (1405) commanding the fleet we
went to Guli (Calicut- India) and other countries. At that time
the pirate Chen Zuyi had gathered his followers in the country
of Sanfoqi (Palembang- Indonesia), where he plundered the
native merchants. When he also advanced to resist our fleet,
supernatural soldiers secretly came to the rescue so that after
one beating of the drum he was annihilated. In the fifth year
(1407) we returned.
II. In the fifth year of Yongle (1407) commanding the fleet we
went to Zhaowa (Java), Guli (Calicut), Kezhi (Cochin India)
and Xianle (Siam- Thailand). The kings of these countries all
sent as tribute precious objects, precious birds and rare animals.
In the seventh year (1409) we returned.
III. In the seventh year of Yongle (1409) commanding the fleet
we went to the countries (visited) before and took our route by
the country of Xilanshan (Ceylon Sri Lanka). Its king
Yaliekunaier (Alagakkonara) was guilty of a gross lack of
respect and plotted against the fleet. Owing to the manifest
answer to prayer of the goddess (the plot) was discovered and
thereupon that king was captured alive. In the ninth year (1411)
on our return the king was presented (to the throne) (as a
prisoner); subsequently he received the Imperial favour of
returning to his own country.
IV. In the eleventh year of Yongle (1413) commanding the fleet
we went to Hulumosi (Ormuz between Oman and Iran) and other
countries. In the country of Sumendala, Indonesia) there was a
false king who was marauding and invading his country. Its
king had sent an envoy to the Palace Gates in order to lodge a
complaint. We went thither with the official troups under our

4. command and exterminated some and arrested (other rebels),
and owing to the silent aid of the goddess we captured the false
king alive. In the thirteenth year (1415) on our return he was
presented (to the Emperor as a prisoner). In that year the king of
the country of Manlajia (Malacca) came in person with his wife
and son to present tribute.
V. In the fifteenth year of Yongle (1417) commanding the fleet
we visited the western regions. The country of Hulumosi
(Ormuz) presented lions, leopards with gold spots and large
western horses. The country of Adan (Aden) presented qilin
(giraffe) as well as the long-horned. The country of Mugudushu
(Mogadishu) presented huafu lu ("striped" zebras) as well as
lions. The country of Bulawa (Brava) (near Kenya) presented
camels which run one thousand li as well as camel-birds
(ostriches). They all vied in presenting the marvellous objects
preserved in the mountains or hidden in the seas and the
beautiful treasures buried in the sand or deposited on the
shores. Some sent a maternal uncle of the king, others a paternal
uncle or a younger brother of the king in order to present a
letter of homage written on gold leaf as well as tribute.
VI. In the nineteenth year of Yongle (1421) commanding the
fleet we conducted the ambassadors from Hulumosi (Ormuz)
and the other countries who had been in attendance at the
capital for a long time back to their countries. The kings of all
these countries prepared even more tribute than previously.
VII. In the sixth year of Xuande (1431) once more commanding
the fleet we have left for the barbarian countries in order to read
to them (an Imperial edict) and to confer (give) presents.
We have anchored in this port awaiting a north wind to take the
sea, and recalling how previously we have on several occasions
received the benefits of the protection of the divine intelligence
we have thus recorded an inscription in stone.
Sources: Teobaldo Filesi. David Morison trans. China and

5. Africa in the Middle Ages. (London: Frank Cass, 1972). 57-61.
ONE PAGE FOR EACH, Please!
For the Zheng He document:
What does the inscription suggest about the importance of
overseas exploration to the Ming Dynasty?
Describe the relationship between the Chinese explorers and
the local populations that they encountered. How did the
Chinese treat these populations? How did these people respond
to Chinese presence?
For the Columbus document:
How does Columbus describe the people of the New World and
their customs?
What seems to be Columbus’s motivations for exploring these
islands? What does he believe were the results of his
explorations? Why were they important?
Bring the Documents together:
Compare both Zheng He’s and Christopher Columbus’s thoughts
and treatment of “natives” encountered during their voyages.
Taking both into consideration, what motivated explorers of
both the Western and Eastern worlds? What impact did this
exploration have on the areas that they visited?
Christopher Columbus, “Letter from Third Voyage” (1494)
Narrative of the Voyage which Don Christopher Columbus
made the third time that he came to the Indies, when he
discovered terra firma, as he sent it to their Majesties from the
Island of Hispaniola.
Most serene and most exalted and powerful Princes, the King
and Queen, our Sovereigns: The Blessed Trinity moved your
Highnesses to this enterprise of the Indies ; and of His Infinite
goodness has chosen me to proclaim it to you ; wherefore as
His ambassador I approached your royal presence, moved by

6. the consideration that I was appealing to the most exalted
monarchs in Christendom, who exercised so great an influence
over the Christian faith, and its advancement in the world.
Those who heard of it looked upon it as impossible, for they
fixed all their hopes on the favours of fortune and pinned their
faith solely upon chance. I gave to the subject six or seven years
of great anxiety, explaining, to the best of my ability, how great
service might be done to our Lord, by this undertaking, in
promulgating His sacred name and our holy faith among so
many nations; — an enterprise so exalted in itself, and so
calculated to enhance the glory and immortalise the renown of
great sovereigns. It was also requisite to refer to the temporal
prosperity, which was foretold in the writings of so many
trustworthy and wise historians, who related that great riches
were to be found in these parts. At the same time I thought it
desirable to bring to bear upon the subject the sayings and
opinions of those who have written upon the geography of the
world, and finally your Highnesses came to the determination
that the undertaking should be entered upon. In this your
Highnesses exhibited the noble spirit which has been always
manifested by you on every great subject; for all others who had
thought of the matter or heard it spoken of, unanimously treated
it with contempt, with the exception of two friars, who always
remained constant in their belief of its practicabilty. I, myself,
in spite of fatiguing opposition felt sure that the enterprise
would nevertheless prosper, and continue equally confident of it
to this day, because it is a truth, that though everything will
pass away, the Word of God will not, and everything that he has
said will be fulfilled; who so clearly spoke of these lands, by
the mouth of the prophet Isaiah, in so many places in Scripture,
that from Spain the holy name of God was to be spread abroad.
Thus I departed in the name of the Holy Trinity, and returned
very soon, bringing with me an account of the practical
fulfilment of everything I had said. Your Highnesses again sent
me out, and in a short space of time, by God’s mercy, I
discovered three hundred and thirty-three leagues of terra firma

7. on the eastern side, and seven hundred islands, besides those
which I discovered on the first voyage; I also succeeded in
circumnavigating the island of Espanola, which is larger in
circumference than all of Spain, the inhabitants of which are
countless, and all of whom may be laid under tribute. It was
then that complaints arose, disparaging the enterprise that I had
undertaken, because, forsooth, I had not immediately sent the
ships home laden with gold, no allowance being made for the
shortness of the time, and all the other impediments of which I
have already spoken. On this account (either as a punishment
for my sins, or, as I trust, for my salvation), I was held in
detestation, and had obstacles placed in the way of every thing I
said, or for which I petitioned. I therefore resolved to apply to
your Highnesses, to inform you of all the wonderful events that
I had experienced, and to explain the reason of every
proposition that I made, making reference to the nations that I
had seen, among whom, and by whose instrumentality, many
souls may be saved. I related how the natives of Espanola had
been laid under tribute to your Highnesses, and regarded you as
their sovereigns. And I laid before your Highnesses abundant
samples of gold and copper, proving the existence of extensive
mines of those metals. I also laid before your Highnesses many
sorts of spices, too numerous to detail; and I spoke of the great
quantity of Brazilian wood, and numberless other articles found
in those lands.On the following day a large canoe came from the
eastward, containing twenty-four men, all in the prime of life,
and well provided with arms, such as bows, arrows, and wooden
shields; they were all, as I have said, young, well-proportioned,
and not dark black, but whiter than any other Indians that I had
seen, of very graceful gesture and handsome forms, wearing
their hair long and straight, and cut in the Spanish style. Their
heads were bound round with cotton scarfs elaborately worked
in colours, which resembled the Moorish headdresses. Some of
these scarfs were worn round the body and used as a covering in
lieu of trousers. The natives spoke to us from the canoe while it
was yet at a considerable distance, but none of us could

8. understand them; I made signs to them, however, to come nearer
to us, and more than two hours were spent in this manner, but if
by any chance they moved a little nearer, they soon pushed off
again. I caused basins and other shining objects to be shown to
them to tempt them to come near; and after a long time, they
came somewhat nearer than they had hitherto done, upon which,
as I was very anxious to speak with them and had nothing else
to show them to induce them to approach, I ordered a drum to
be played upon the quarter-deck, and some of our young men to
dance, believing the Indians would come to see the amusement.
No sooner, however, did they perceive the beating of the drum
and the dancing, than they all left their oars, and strung their
bows, and each man laying hold of his shield, they commenced
discharging their arrows at us; upon this, the music and dancing
soon ceased, and I ordered a charge to be made from some of
our crossbows; they then left us, and went rapidly to the other
caravel, and placed themselves under its poop. The pilot of that
vessel received them courteously, and gave to the man who
appeared to be their chief, a coat and hat; and it was then
arranged between them, that he should go to speak with him on
shore. Upon this the Indians immediately went hither and waited
for him; but as he would not go without my permission, he came
to my ship in a boat, whereupon the Indians got into their canoe
again and went away, and I never saw any more of them or of
any of the other inhabitants of the island.