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Zheng He, whose name is sometimes romanized as
Cheng Ho, was born to a Moslem family in Yunnan province in about 1371.
His family was originally surnamed Ma, and his father’s name bore the designation
Haji, indicating that he had gone on a pilgrimage to Mecca. When Zheng
He was about ten years old, he was selected as to serve as a eunuch
in the court and was castrated. Zheng He played an important role in the
civil war which placed the Yongle emperor on the
throne, thereby gaining the emperor's trust. Because of his military and
other skills, he was selected by the Yongle emperor to lead the great naval
expeditions from 1405 to 1421.
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Reference Page for Online Illustrations
© 1996 by the Regents of the
University
of Minnesota.
Department of History. All rights
reserved.
Comments to: Robert Jeremy Fish
Last updated:12/23/98
