https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Zhenghemap.jpg
Growing up in the West, I learned that the 15th century was the “age of exploration”. I marvelled at the stories of Christopher Columbus, Fernando Magellan, and Vasco de Gama and imagined myself as a member of their crews. I devoured Robinson Crusoe, Gulliver’s Travels, and Homer’s Odyssey. It wasn’t until adulthood that I first discovered Zheng He (pronounced Jung Huh). When I began learning about him, the word “marvel” took on a whole new dimension. It was like jumping from little leagues into the majors. Zheng He didn’t explore with a small fleet of ships like European explorers. He commanded an armada of over 200 ships and more than 25,000 men. His largest ship about the size of a professional football pitch. The Santa Maria (Columbus’ flagship) on the other hand, was a mere 36 metres in length. I wonder what maps and other information about the rest the world Zheng He used when he and other explorers from different parts of the world explored their world during the “age of exploration”.
Born near Kunming, Yunnan in southwestern China into a Muslim family, Zheng He’s original name was Ma He. As a young boy, he was captured by soldiers of the Ming Dynasty. Like many boys of a similar age who were captured, Zheng He was castrated so he could serve the Ming Court and not pose a threat to the women of the imperial court. Not only did Zheng He became a loyal member of the Ming court, his outstanding service was rewarded by his being sent to Beijing (then known as Beiping), where he gained favor with Zhu Di, the 4th son of the founder of the Ming Dynasty. Zhu Di later went on to become the Yong Le emperor. Ma He proved to be a great warrior and respected commander, and after fighting fiercely in several military campaigns for the Ming, he became a favorite of Yong Le. Emperor Yong Le showed him great honor by bestowing upon him the surname of Zheng. There are several stories as to the origin of the name, but my favorite is that “Zheng” was the name of Yong Le’s beloved horse who had been killed during a seige in Nanjing. Maybe since the “Ma” in Ma He’s name meant “horse”, Emperor Yong Le was honoring him by giving him the name of his favorite horse. At any rate, his new name, “Zheng He” was the name that stuck.
In his sea voyages, Admiral Zheng He, traveled south through what is now Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines and west to India continuing south down the eastern coast of Africa. Five of Zheng He’s seven long voyages occurred during the reign of the Emperor, Yong Le. Some writers and historians believe that Zheng He could have sailed even well beyond Africa but evidence for that is a bit sketchy.
Chinese Odyssey 7
Years later while rummaging
through some old boxes
I heard a soft clink
amongst shorts, shirts, and soxes.
The jar, I remembered.
Inside was a map —
still cryptic, yet clearly
a beckoning trap.
The Panda in the Room PD 
