# Zheng He’s First Voyage, 1405–1407

> Follow Zheng He’s first expedition from Ming China to Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean. Explore diplomatic gifts, Calicut, shipbuilding, and the confrontation with Chen Zuyi at Palembang, keeping the first voyage distinct from later expeditions.

Canonical URL: https://aristotree.com/dlin27/zheng-he-s-first-voyage-1405-1407
Language: en
Creator: dlin27
Last modified: 2026-10-07T08:37:21.337Z
Concepts: 26
Relationships: 38

This is a public, user-curated knowledge graph. Follow the cited sources when verifying claims.

## Concepts

### Maritime Silk Road

The **Maritime Silk Road** or Maritime Silk Route is an ancient **maritime** trade route in the Indian Ocean and the Western Pacific that connected Southeast Asia, East Asia, the Indian subcontinent, the Arabian Peninsula, eastern Africa, and Europe.

Topics: history

Sources:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maritime_Silk_Road
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maritime_Silk_Road?action=history
- https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

### Ming Veritable Records

The **Ming Veritable Records** or Ming Shilu, contains the imperial annals of **the emperors** of the Ming dynasty .

Topics: history

Sources:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ming_Shilu
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ming_Shilu?action=history
- https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ming_treasure_voyages
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yongle_Emperor

### Yingya Shenglan

The **Yingya Shenglan**, written by **Ma Huan**, is a book about the countries visited by the Chinese over the course of the Ming treasure voyages led by Zheng He.

Topics: history

Sources:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yingya_Shenglan
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yingya_Shenglan?action=history
- https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ming_treasure_voyages
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ma_Huan

### Fei Xin

**Fei Xin** was a member of the military personnel of the fleet of the Ming dynasty admiral **Zheng He**, known as the author of a book about the countries visited by Chinese ships.

Topics: history

Sources:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fei_Xin
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fei_Xin?action=history
- https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ming_treasure_voyages

### Monsoon

A monsoon is traditionally a seasonal reversing wind accompanied by corresponding changes in **precipitation**, but now used to describe seasonal changes in **atmospheric** circulation and precipitation associated with annual latitudinal oscillation of the Intertropical Convergence Zone, specifically between its limits to the north and south of the equator.

Topics: history

Sources:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monsoon
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monsoon?action=history
- https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ming_treasure_voyages
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_treasure_ship
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strait_of_Malacca

### Samudera Pasai Sultanate

The **Samudera Pasai Sultanate**, also known as Samudera or Pasai or Samudera Darussalam or Pacem, was a Muslim kingdom on the north coast of **Sumatra** from the 13th to the 16th centuries.

Topics: history

Sources:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semudera
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semudera?action=history
- https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ming_treasure_voyages

### Malacca

**Malacca**, officially the Historic State of Malacca, is a state in Malaysia located in the southern region of the Malay Peninsula, facing the **Strait of Malacca**.

Topics: history

Sources:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malacca
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malacca?action=history
- https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ming_treasure_voyages

### Java

**Java** is one of the **Greater Sunda Islands** in the South East Asian country of Indonesia.

Topics: history

Sources:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Java
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Java?action=history
- https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ming_treasure_voyages
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ma_Huan

### Champa

**Champa** was a collection of independent Cham polities that extended across the coast of what is present-day **central** and southern Vietnam from approximately 2nd century AD until 1832.

Topics: history

Sources:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Champa
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Champa?action=history
- https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ming_treasure_voyages
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ma_Huan

### Changle, Fuzhou

**Changle** is one of 6 urban districts of the prefecture-level city of **Fuzhou**, the capital of Fujian Province, China.

Topics: history

Sources:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Changle
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Changle?action=history
- https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ming_treasure_voyages

### Hong Bao

**Hong Bao** was a Chinese eunuch sent on overseas diplomatic missions during the reigns of the **Yongle Emperor** and Xuande Emperor of the Ming dynasty.

Topics: history

Sources:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hong_Bao
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hong_Bao?action=history
- https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_treasure_ship

### Hou Xian

**Hou Xian** was a Ming dynasty eunuch and imperial envoy active during the reigns of the **Yongle Emperor** and Xuande Emperor.

Topics: history

Sources:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hou_Xian
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hou_Xian?action=history
- https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chen_Zuyi

### Chinese treasure ship

A **Chinese treasure ship** is a type of large wooden Chinese junk in the fleet of admiral **Zheng He**, who led seven voyages during the early 15th-century Ming dynasty.

Topics: history, historical episode

Sources:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_treasure_ship
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_treasure_ship?action=history
- https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zheng_He
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yongle_Emperor

### Nanjing

**Nanjing** is the capital of Jiangsu, East **China**. The city, which is located in the southwestern corner of the province, has 11 districts, an administrative area of 6,600 square kilometres (2,500 sq mi), and as of 2021 a population of 9,423,400.

Topics: history, historical episode

Sources:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanjing
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanjing?action=history
- https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

### Palembang

**Palembang** is the **capital city** of the Indonesian province of South Sumatra. 34 square kilometres on both banks of the Musi River in the eastern lowlands of southern Sumatra.

Topics: history, historical episode

Sources:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palembang
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palembang?action=history
- https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

### Yongle Emperor

The **Yongle Emperor**, personal name Zhu Di, was the third emperor of the Ming dynasty of **China**, reigning from 1402 to 1424. He was the fourth son of the Hongwu Emperor, the founder of the dynasty.

Topics: history, historical episode

Sources:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yongle_Emperor
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yongle_Emperor?action=history
- https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zheng_He
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ming_treasure_voyages

### Kozhikode

**Kozhikode**, also known as Calicut, is a historic city along the **Malabar Coast** in the state of Kerala in India. The city is also known as the City of Spices.

Topics: history, historical episode

Sources:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kozhikode
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kozhikode?action=history
- https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

### Chen Zuyi

**Chen Zuyi** ; died 2 October 1407) was a 15th-century **Chinese** pirate from Guangdong, and was one of the most feared pirates to infest the seas of Southeast Asia.

Topics: history, historical episode

Sources:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chen_Zuyi
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chen_Zuyi?action=history
- https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

### Tributary system of China

The tributary **system** of **China**, or Cefeng system at its height was a network of loose international relations centered around China which facilitated trade and foreign relations by acknowledging China's hegemonic role within a Sinocentric world order.

Topics: history, historical episode

Sources:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tributary_system_of_China
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tributary_system_of_China?action=history
- https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

### Zheng He’s First Voyage, 1405–1407

Follow **Zheng He**’s first expedition from Ming China to Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean. Explore diplomatic gifts, Calicut, shipbuilding, and the confrontation with **Chen Zuyi** at Palembang, keeping the first voyage distinct from later expeditions.

Topics: history, historical episode

Sources:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ming_treasure_voyages
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ming_treasure_voyages?action=history
- https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
- https://exploration.marinersmuseum.org/subject/zheng-he/

### Zheng He

**Zheng He** was a Chinese admiral and diplomat from the early Ming dynasty. His extensive explorations along the Indian Ocean led to a major increase in **China**'s political and commercial influence.

Topics: history, historical episode

Sources:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zheng_He
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zheng_He?action=history
- https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

### Strait of Malacca

**Palembang**’s maritime setting linked the anti-piracy campaign to trade routes through the **Strait of Malacca**.

Topics: history

Sources:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strait_of_Malacca
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strait_of_Malacca?action=history
- https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ming_treasure_voyages

### Shi Jinqing

**Shi Jinqing** cooperated with **Zheng He** against Chen Zuyi and received Ming recognition after the Palembang campaign.

Topics: history

Sources:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shi_Jinqing
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shi_Jinqing?action=history
- https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zheng_He

### Battle of Palembang

The **Battle of Palembang** was a battle of the **Pacific theatre** of World War II. It occurred near Palembang, on Sumatra, on 13–15 February 1942.

Topics: history, historical episode

Sources:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Palembang
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Palembang?action=history
- https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chen_Zuyi

### Ma Huan

**Ma Huan** accompanied later voyages of **Zheng He** and recorded places visited; he was not an eyewitness to the first voyage.

Topics: history

Sources:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ma_Huan
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ma_Huan?action=history
- https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ming_treasure_voyages
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kozhikode

### Liuhe, Taicang

Liujiagang was a major departure and assembly point for **Zheng He**’s **treasure** fleets.

Topics: history

Sources:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liuhe%2C_Taicang
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liuhe%2C_Taicang?action=history
- https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

## Relationships

- Maritime Silk Road — related_to → Palembang: Maritime Silk Road: Palembang
- Zheng He’s First Voyage, 1405–1407 — related_to → Maritime Silk Road: Maritime Silk Road: Zheng He’s First Voyage, 1405–1407
- Yongle Emperor — related_to → Ming Veritable Records: Ming Veritable Records: Yongle Emperor
- Zheng He’s First Voyage, 1405–1407 — related_to → Ming Veritable Records: Ming Veritable Records: Zheng He’s First Voyage, 1405–1407
- Yingya Shenglan — related_to → Ma Huan: Yingya Shenglan: Ma Huan
- Zheng He’s First Voyage, 1405–1407 — related_to → Yingya Shenglan: Yingya Shenglan: Zheng He’s First Voyage, 1405–1407
- Fei Xin — related_to → Zheng He: Fei Xin: Zheng He
- Zheng He’s First Voyage, 1405–1407 — related_to → Fei Xin: Fei Xin: Zheng He’s First Voyage, 1405–1407
- Strait of Malacca — related_to → Monsoon: Monsoon: Strait of Malacca
- Zheng He’s First Voyage, 1405–1407 — related_to → Monsoon: Monsoon: Zheng He’s First Voyage, 1405–1407
- Samudera Pasai Sultanate — related_to → Strait of Malacca: Samudera Pasai Sultanate: Strait of Malacca
- Zheng He’s First Voyage, 1405–1407 — related_to → Samudera Pasai Sultanate: Samudera Pasai Sultanate: Zheng He’s First Voyage, 1405–1407
- Malacca — related_to → Strait of Malacca: Malacca: Strait of Malacca
- Zheng He’s First Voyage, 1405–1407 — related_to → Malacca: Malacca: Zheng He’s First Voyage, 1405–1407
- Ma Huan — related_to → Java: Java: Ma Huan
- Zheng He’s First Voyage, 1405–1407 — related_to → Java: Java: Zheng He’s First Voyage, 1405–1407
- Ma Huan — related_to → Champa: Champa: Ma Huan
- Zheng He’s First Voyage, 1405–1407 — related_to → Champa: Champa: Zheng He’s First Voyage, 1405–1407
- Zheng He’s First Voyage, 1405–1407 — related_to → Changle, Fuzhou: Changle, Fuzhou: Zheng He’s First Voyage, 1405–1407
- Hong Bao — related_to → Yongle Emperor: Hong Bao: Yongle Emperor
- Zheng He’s First Voyage, 1405–1407 — related_to → Hong Bao: Hong Bao: Zheng He’s First Voyage, 1405–1407
- Hou Xian — related_to → Yongle Emperor: Hou Xian: Yongle Emperor
- Zheng He’s First Voyage, 1405–1407 — related_to → Hou Xian: Hou Xian: Zheng He’s First Voyage, 1405–1407
- Zheng He’s First Voyage, 1405–1407 — related_to → Tributary system of China: Tributary system of China: people, places, and context for the episode.
- Zheng He’s First Voyage, 1405–1407 — related_to → Battle of Palembang: Battle of Palembang: people, places, and context for the episode.
- Zheng He’s First Voyage, 1405–1407 — related_to → Chen Zuyi: Chen Zuyi: people, places, and context for the episode.
- Zheng He’s First Voyage, 1405–1407 — related_to → Palembang: Palembang: people, places, and context for the episode.
- Zheng He’s First Voyage, 1405–1407 — related_to → Kozhikode: Kozhikode: people, places, and context for the episode.
- Zheng He’s First Voyage, 1405–1407 — related_to → Nanjing: Nanjing: people, places, and context for the episode.
- Zheng He’s First Voyage, 1405–1407 — related_to → Chinese treasure ship: Chinese treasure ship: people, places, and context for the episode.
- Zheng He’s First Voyage, 1405–1407 — related_to → Yongle Emperor: Yongle Emperor: people, places, and context for the episode.
- Zheng He’s First Voyage, 1405–1407 — related_to → Zheng He: Zheng He: people, places, and context for the episode.
- Battle of Palembang — related_to → Chen Zuyi: Zheng He defeated and captured the pirate leader Chen Zuyi at…
- Battle of Palembang — related_to → Strait of Malacca: Palembang’s maritime setting linked the anti-piracy campaign to trade routes through the…
- Battle of Palembang — related_to → Shi Jinqing: Shi Jinqing cooperated with Zheng He against Chen Zuyi and received Ming…
- Zheng He — related_to → Yongle Emperor: The Yongle Emperor commissioned Zheng He’s…
- Zheng He — related_to → Ma Huan: Ma Huan accompanied later voyages of Zheng He and recorded places visited;…
- Zheng He — related_to → Liuhe, Taicang: Liujiagang was a major departure and assembly point for Zheng…