Olin College of Engineering
DigitalCommons@Olin
2007 AHS Capstone Projects
AHS Capstone Projects
10-1-2007
Naval Power in Ming China
Dewi Harjanto
Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering, [email protected]
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Recommended Citation
Harjanto, Dewi, "Naval Power in Ming China" (2007). 2007 AHS Capstone Projects. Paper 7.
http://digitalcommons.olin.edu/ahs_capstone_2007/7
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Naval Power in
Ming China
Dewi Harjanto
AHS Capstone
Fall 2007
Overview
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The Ming Dynasty
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The Voyages
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The Admiral Zheng He
The Treasure Fleet
The Seven Expeditions
The End of the Voyages
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Background
The Yongle Emperor
Economics
Growing Focus on the North
Political Conflict
Conclusions
http://www.artsmia.org/art-of-asia/history/ming-dynasty-map.cfm
The Ming Dynasty (1368-1644)
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Founded in 1368 by the Hongwu
emperor
Period of great stability with notable
accomplishments in the arts
Zenith of Chinese maritime power
http://www.artsmia.org/art-of-asia/history/ming-dynasty-map.cfm
The Yongle Emperor (r. 1402-1424)

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Ruled as Prince of Yan in
Beiping while father in
power
Took throne in rebellion
Sought to assert his
legitimacy and power
through voyages
http:// www.fsmitha.com/h3/h12china.htm
The Admiral Zheng He
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http://www.time.com/time/asia/features/journey2001/intro.html
Captured and
castrated as a boy in
Yunnan
Served Yongle from
youth
Grew into imposing
military figure
Led seven voyages
from 1405-1433
The Treasure Fleet

Each fleet consisted of 249-317 ships:
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Treasure ships
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Flagships of fleet
Carried diplomats and tribute
Supply boats
Horse and troop transports
Battleships
The Treasure Fleet

Each fleet included over 28,000 men:
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Soldiers and eunuchs
Blacksmiths, sailmakers, and caulkers
Astrologers and geomancers
Translators and protocol advisors
Doctors and pharmacologists
Some perspective…
Levathes L. (1994) When China Ruled the Seas. New York: Simon & Schuster.
The Voyages
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Primarily tributary
exchanges to expand
Chinese sphere of
influence
Included occasional
violent conflicts
Levathes L. (1994) When China Ruled the Seas. New York: Simon & Schuster.
www.chinapage.com/images/mapchengho.gif
The End of the Voyages:
Economics
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Expeditions not motivated by profit
Fleet expensive to stock and maintain
Too many competing projects:
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Moving capital further north to Beijing
Ongoing war with Vietnam
Military campaigns into Mongolia
The End of the Voyages:
Growing Focus on North

Northern borders became a priority:
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Capital moved north to Beijing
Mongols an immediate, viable threat
Took court away from Longjiang
shipyards
Completion of Grand Canal
The End of the Voyages:
Political Conflict
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Two factions: officials versus eunuchs
Scholar officials opposed voyages
from the outset:
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Enabled eunuchs
Waste of resources
Promoted interest in exotica
Took focus away from agriculture
Officials prevailed in 1435
Conclusions
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Chinese were a major maritime
presence but withdrew quickly
Withdrawal created power vacuum in
Indian Ocean
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Immediately filled by Arab merchants
Later by European explorers
Questions?