The Untold Tale of the Sea

“Not that he is famous in the West, even in China, there are a lot that don’t know him” – Micheal Yamashita, National Geographic Photographer, describing Zheng He, arguably the most well-known Chinese mariner and explorer.

I’m not surprised. Perhaps the only time his name - “Zheng He” or his Arabic name, Haji Mahmud, or better-known to most Malaysians as Laksamana Cheng Ho – ever mentioned was when he led Princess Hang Li Po entourage to Malacca to marry Sultan of Malacca, Sultan Mansur Shah in 15th century. That’s it.

While I was 15, the usually mundane history class gradually began to be more exciting as we cover world history. Despite the languid speech of Mr Vijayan, my beer-bellied History teacher. names like Vasco Da Gamma, Ferdinand Magellan, Christopher Columbus surfaced, to signify humankind most glorious journey. Sadly, nothing on this Muslim-born Zheng He. The fact is, Zheng He led seven epic voyages to more than 30 countries between 1405- 1433AD, 59 years before Columbus makes landfall in the New World and much way before Vasco Da Gama’s journey. Alas, he was conveniently left out from all records of this extraordinary seafarer. Perhaps it was those years when ruthless Europeans franticly sought to be known as being the first in everything, even if it means concealing history. His death en route home from Africa diminished hope of reaching China to tell his tales and possibly be honored as one of the greatest explorer in history.

Quick facts
Fleet size : 300 ships
Naval force : 30,000 men
Most famous ship: Ming Treasure ship 400ft (Vasco Da Gama’s Sao Garbriel 74ft)
Destinations : Qui Nhon (Vietnam), Surabaya, Palembang, Samudera, Galle (Sri Lanka), Cochin, Calicut (India); Hormuz (Iran), Dhofar (Aman), Aden (Yemen), Baraawe (Somalia), Swahili (Kenya).

To Micheal Yamashita, the world appreciates. Thank you.