Unveiling the Ancestry of Zheng He: The Legacy of a Great Navigator

Dianchi Lake (滇池), a shimmering gem in the Red Earth Plateau, holds a deep connection to Zheng He (郑和), one of the world’s greatest explorers. Located in the southern part of Yunnan Province (云南省), the Jinning (晋宁) district not only boasts a rich history but also serves as the birthplace of Zheng He, the legendary navigator who made seven groundbreaking voyages to the Western world.

While Zheng He is widely celebrated for his maritime achievements, little was known about his early life and family lineage. Over the past century, historical research has unearthed important details about his ancestry, revealing a fascinating connection to Islamic culture and a family rooted in the ancient history of Yunnan. This journey to uncover Zheng He’s family history reflects the unique fusion of cultures that shaped him into the man who would bridge the East and the West.

The Mystery of Zheng He’s Family Origins

The Early Historical Records

The historical text "Zheng He’s Biography" (《明史·郑和传》), part of the Ming Dynasty records, only briefly mentions that Zheng He was from Yunnan, without offering further details about his family background. Despite Zheng He’s global fame, the specifics of his origins were shrouded in mystery. The Ming Dynasty accounts of his voyages, such as "Yingya Shenglan" (《瀛涯胜览》) and "Xiyang Fangguo Zhi" (《西洋番国志》), primarily focused on his maritime expeditions but failed to provide any meaningful insight into his early life and lineage.

This gap in the historical records left scholars curious about his ancestry, leading them to delve deeper into the past to piece together the missing parts of his story.

Discovering Zheng He’s Ancestry

In the 20th century, historians, particularly those based in Jinning, made significant strides in uncovering Zheng He’s family history. The breakthrough came in 1894, when Su Xiaoqian (苏晓荃), a scholar from Kunyang (昆阳), discovered a tombstone inscription near Yuanshan (月山) dedicated to Mahazi (马哈只), Zheng He’s father. This inscription revealed important details about Zheng He’s paternal lineage and provided the first solid clue about his family’s Islamic heritage. Mahazi, a prominent figure in the Kunyang region, was described as an Islamic pilgrim who had journeyed to Mecca. The discovery of this tombstone was a game-changer in the study of Zheng He’s ancestry, offering the first tangible connection to his Islamic roots.

The Mahazi Tomb Inscription: A Key Discovery

The inscription on the tombstone, discovered by Su Xiaoqian, was later examined by Li Zhigang (李至刚), a prominent Ming Dynasty scholar. Li Zhigang, a friend of Zheng He, was commissioned by the explorer to write a memorial inscription for his father’s tomb. The inscription, written in small seal script (小篆), provides crucial details about Zheng He’s family and background. It notes that Mahazi came from a respected family of Islamic pilgrims, and the term "Haji" was used to denote their status as those who had made the pilgrimage to Mecca.

This discovery was pivotal, not just because it confirmed Zheng He’s Islamic heritage but also because it connected him to a lineage of respected individuals, further enriching his legacy.

Connecting Zheng He to Sadiq

One of the most remarkable revelations from the tombstone was the mention of Baiyan (拜颜), Zheng He’s paternal grandfather. Historical records from the Yuan Dynasty (元朝), particularly the "Yuan History" (《元史》), trace the lineage of Sadiq (赛典赤), a prominent Persian nobleman, to Zheng He’s family. According to these accounts, Sadiq was a direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad and played a significant role in the Mongol Empire (蒙古帝国) under Genghis Khan (成吉思汗).

Sadiq’s descendants were highly respected in Central Asia and Yunnan, with Zheng He being his sixth-generation descendant. This new understanding of Zheng He’s heritage adds a fascinating layer to his life story, showing how his family lineage was intertwined with the powerful legacies of both Islamic and Mongol histories.

The Zheng He Family Tree: A Valuable Discovery

The Family Tree and Key Documents

In 1936, Li Hongxiang (李鸿祥), a figure from Yunnan’s revolutionary history, gathered extensive materials on Zheng He's family while compiling a local history of Yuxi (玉溪). Among the materials, he uncovered a detailed Zheng He Family Tree (郑和家谱), which included records of Zheng He’s ancestry, his voyages, the people involved in his expeditions, and even official documents like decrees from Emperors Yongle (永乐帝) and Xuande (宣德帝).

This family tree not only expanded on the previously unknown aspects of Zheng He’s family but also provided valuable records that were absent from earlier historical accounts. The documents recorded Zheng He’s voyages, the officials he interacted with, and the political and cultural environment during his time, making it an indispensable resource for understanding his life.

The Family Tree’s Revelation

The Zheng He Family Tree records a crucial detail: Zheng He’s elder brother, Ma Wenming (马文铭), adopted his own son and passed the family name to Zheng He. This helps explain the continued lineage of Zheng He’s descendants, which can still be traced to modern-day regions like Yuxi, Jinning, Nanjing, and even Thailand.

The family tree is a significant source, as it provides unprecedented insight into Zheng He’s familial and official ties, offering a more comprehensive understanding of his historical context.

The Role of Jinning and Dianchi Lake in Zheng He’s Legacy

Jinning: The Birthplace of a Great Navigator

The historic district of Jinning (晋宁), where Zheng He was born, provided the ideal environment for the explorer to grow and develop. Located on the southern shore of Dianchi Lake (滇池), Jinning was a prosperous region with abundant natural resources. This district served as the political, cultural, and economic heart of Yunnan Province for centuries. The favorable geography, mild climate, and fertile lands made it a central hub for maritime trade and navigation, which would play a pivotal role in Zheng He’s later success.

The Thriving Waterways of Dianchi Lake

Dianchi Lake was a bustling hub of trade during the Ming Dynasty. The ports at Kunming and Kunyang saw significant traffic, with a variety of vessels facilitating trade and communication. Zheng He’s exposure to this thriving maritime industry from a young age undoubtedly fostered his lifelong connection to ships and navigation. The lake’s vital role in local commerce and its significance as a water transport route laid the foundation for Zheng He’s future voyages.

The Prosperity of Dianchi Lake: A Gateway for Zheng He’s Voyages

During the Yuan Dynasty, Dianchi Lake became one of the busiest trade routes in Southwest China, with over a thousand ships regularly plying its waters. The presence of these ports, such as Kunming Port (昆明港) and Kunyang Port (昆阳港), ensured that Dianchi Lake was crucial to the region's economic development and maritime trade. The importance of this region’s waterways cannot be overstated, as they played a vital role in Zheng He’s formation and his connection to both Chinese and Islamic maritime traditions.

Zheng He’s Legacy as a Global Navigator

The story of Zheng He is not just one of exploration but also a testament to the unique cultural and familial foundations that shaped him. Born in Jinning (晋宁), surrounded by the thriving maritime commerce of Dianchi Lake (滇池), and with a lineage tracing back to Sadiq through his Islamic roots, Zheng He was destined for greatness. His voyages to the West were not only a groundbreaking achievement in global exploration but also a symbolic bridge between different cultures and civilizations.

Through the discoveries of Zheng He’s family tree, tombstone inscriptions, and historical records, we are able to better understand the complex and remarkable life of this legendary figure. The contributions of Jinning and Dianchi Lake to his development as a navigator and explorer are essential chapters in the larger story of his legacy as one of the world’s greatest maritime pioneers.
Chinese Version: http://union.china.com.cn/txt/2020-07/10/content_41215518.html