Why Did the Ming Dynasty Decide on Ceasing Zheng He's Maritime Voyages?
HH1002
Final Paper Submission
Why did the Ming dynasty decide on ceasing Zheng He 's maritime voyages?
The cessation of Zheng He’s maritime voyages by the Ming dynasty is multi-faceted.
Each facet can be broadly classified as the political factors, economic factors and defence factors. Nevertheless, each reason is interdependent on one another which led the Ming dynasty to eventually terminate Zheng He’s voyages. On the other hand, hypothetically it may be asserted that China could have been a dominant power of Asian seas routes, somewhat effortlessly surpassing America and Europe in technological advancement and innovation. Hence, though Zheng He’s voyages were terminated on sound economic premises, instead of total cessation, the Ming dynasty could have tweaked the political motive and economic structure of the voyages in view of a more advanced China in the long run.
Firstly, the political facet. Zheng He’s voyages had, to a large extent, accomplished their intended objective of incorporating other countries into the Ming tributary system by securing a declaration of loyalty and submission from the incorporated Tributary States to the greatness of the Ming Court’s Emperor. As most of the countries visited over the seven (7) voyages were already a Tributary State of the Ming Court, it somewhat, invalidated the need to further continue any more maritime voyage. For instance, (Yamashita, 2006) “though from the 1st voyage to the 4th voyage, the number of newly discovered states was progressive (i.e. 1 new state (Siam) discovered during the 2nd voyage; 4 new states (Quilon, Kayal, Coimbatore and Puttanapur) discovered during the 3rd voyage; 11 new states (Pahang, Kelantan, Aru, Hormaz, Maldives, Mogadishu, Barawa, Malindi, Aden, Muscat and Dhofar) discovered during the 4th voyage), the 5th voyage onwards, however, the number of newly discovered states started regressing (i.e. 1 new state (Sharwayn) discovered during the 5th voyage; 2 new states
Final Paper Submission
Why did the Ming dynasty decide on ceasing Zheng He 's maritime voyages?
The cessation of Zheng He’s maritime voyages by the Ming dynasty is multi-faceted.
Each facet can be broadly classified as the political factors, economic factors and defence factors. Nevertheless, each reason is interdependent on one another which led the Ming dynasty to eventually terminate Zheng He’s voyages. On the other hand, hypothetically it may be asserted that China could have been a dominant power of Asian seas routes, somewhat effortlessly surpassing America and Europe in technological advancement and innovation. Hence, though Zheng He’s voyages were terminated on sound economic premises, instead of total cessation, the Ming dynasty could have tweaked the political motive and economic structure of the voyages in view of a more advanced China in the long run.
Firstly, the political facet. Zheng He’s voyages had, to a large extent, accomplished their intended objective of incorporating other countries into the Ming tributary system by securing a declaration of loyalty and submission from the incorporated Tributary States to the greatness of the Ming Court’s Emperor. As most of the countries visited over the seven (7) voyages were already a Tributary State of the Ming Court, it somewhat, invalidated the need to further continue any more maritime voyage. For instance, (Yamashita, 2006) “though from the 1st voyage to the 4th voyage, the number of newly discovered states was progressive (i.e. 1 new state (Siam) discovered during the 2nd voyage; 4 new states (Quilon, Kayal, Coimbatore and Puttanapur) discovered during the 3rd voyage; 11 new states (Pahang, Kelantan, Aru, Hormaz, Maldives, Mogadishu, Barawa, Malindi, Aden, Muscat and Dhofar) discovered during the 4th voyage), the 5th voyage onwards, however, the number of newly discovered states started regressing (i.e. 1 new state (Sharwayn) discovered during the 5th voyage; 2 new states
Bibliography: Chung, T. L.-n. (2004, 04 12). Zheng He Studies. 19th Chinese Culture Symposium. Harvard University . Dryer, E. L. (2007). Zheng He: China and the Oceans in the Early Ming Dynasty. New York : Pearson Longman. Murphey, R. (2009). A History of Asia. New Jersey : Pearson Education Incorporation. Rhoads, M. (2009). A History of Asia. New York: Pearson Education Incorporation. Yamashita, M. (2006). Zheng He : Tracing the Epic Voyages of China’s Greatest Explorer . Vercelli, Italy: White Star Publishers.