Louise Levathes - When China ruled the seas : the treasure fleet of the Dragon Throne, 1405-1433

When China Ruled the Seas

The Treasure Fleet of the Dragon Throne 14051433

Louise Levathes

For Peter George Levathes and Christine Chakeres Levathes

Contents

Pronunciation Guide to Major Figures

Early Ming Imperial Family

Reign is divided because he was captured by the Mongols in 1449. His younger brother replaced him on the throne until he was restored to power in 1457.

Chinese Dynasties

Dates based on Wan Guoding, Zhongguolishi jinian biao (Chronological tables of Chinese history), Hong Kong, Shangwu, 1958.

We have traversed more than one hundred thousand li of immense waterspaces and have beheld in the ocean huge waves like mountains rising sky high, and we have set eyes on barbarian regions far away hidden in a blue transparency of light vapors, while our sails, loftily unfurled like clouds day and night, continued their course, [as rapidly as] a star, traversing those savage waves as if we were treading a public thoroughfare

Tablet erected by Zheng He, Changle, Fujian, 1432

Prologue: Phantoms in Silk

Alarm spread quickly through the East African town of Malindi. Across the sea, beyond the coral reef, strange storm clouds appeared on the horizon. Fishermen hastily dragged their outriggers to safety on dry land. As the clouds gathered, it suddenly became clear that they were not clouds at all but sailssails piled upon sails, too numerous to count, on giant ships with large serpents eyes painted on the bows. Each ship was the size of many houses, and there were dozens of these serpent ships, a city of ships, all moving rapidly across the blue expanse of ocean toward Malindi. When they came near, the colored flags on the masts blocked the sun, and the loud pounding and beating of drums on board shook heaven and earth. A crowd gathered at the harbor, and the king was summoned. Work ceased altogether. What was this menacing power, and what did it want?