Zheng He's Voyages to the West Seas (52 x 22')

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Six hundred years ago, before Columbus sailed to the New World (the Americas) and well before Magellan circumnavigated the Earth, Chinese Emperor Yongle (Zhu Di) of the Ming Dynasty ordered a vast fleet of ships to set sail to the Western Seas (we now call the Indian Ocean) to spread his imperial influence. Placed as the admiral in control of the armada and army that undertook the many expeditions was Zheng He, one of the greatest mariners and explorers in history, a great diplomat - and a true hero.



His first voyage consisted of 300 gigantic six-masted ships holding 28,000 crewmen who were sailors, soldiers, workers,navigators,explorers and doctors. This unprecedented event impressed all of China and the sight of the vessels off a foreign shore would have been a majestic and awesome spectacle.



With his trusted companions, Commander Wu Baisheng and footman, He Bi, tens of thousands of crewmen, countless cattle, sheep and poultry, and bearing stores of rice, gifts and treasures, Admiral Zheng He embarked on a glorious mission that would take him to the far-flung corners of the world - to journey to distant lands and set foot on new shores and to see and befriend different peoples - whilst facing the challenges and dangers of navigating treacherous waters and stormy seas, fighting vicious pirates and dealing with unfriendly rulers.



Not just an interesting lesson in history or geography but the true story of a great man.