The Ming Dynasty: Zheng He and Li Shizhen
FoundationIn the prosperous Ming dynasty, Zheng He led treasure fleets on seven voyages along the Maritime Silk Road, while Li Shizhen spent 27 years writing the great herbal, the Compendium of Materia Medica.
- The Ming was strong, leading the world in shipbuilding.
- Zheng He sailed west seven times, reaching Africa's east coast.
- The Maritime Silk Road boosted trade and cultural exchange.
文體小知識：說明文介紹歷史知識。這一篇帶你回到明朝，認識七下西洋的鄭和，和寫成《本草綱目》的李時珍。
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1The Ming dynasty, founded by Zhu Yuanzhang in 1368 and ending in 1644, is an important era of Chinese history. In its early years the nation was strong, with flourishing farming and crafts and world-leading shipbuilding. The Forbidden City in Beijing and the main parts of the Great Wall we see today were built or rebuilt by the Ming — monuments to its glory.
2Zheng He was a famous Ming navigator. He entered the palace as a youth and won the trust of Emperor Chengzu with his talent and loyalty. In 1405 the emperor sent him at the head of a fleet to the Western Seas; over the next twenty-eight years Zheng He made seven voyages, of a scale and duration unmatched anywhere in the world at that time.
3His fleet had more than two hundred ships, the largest treasure ships about 150 metres long, carrying compasses, sea charts and over twenty thousand sailors. Sailing from Jiangsu through South-East Asia and the Indian Ocean, they reached as far as the east coast of Africa and visited more than thirty lands. Carrying silk, porcelain and tea and bringing back spices and rare animals, they exchanged peacefully with every country, opening the flourishing Maritime Silk Road.
4The Ming also had a great physician, Li Shizhen. Finding many errors in old books on medicines, he resolved to write a new one. He travelled through famous mountains and rivers, gathered herbs himself, learned from farmers, fishermen and hunters, and even tasted herbs to test their effects. After twenty-seven years he finished the Compendium of Materia Medica, over 1.9 million characters recording more than 1,800 medicines, later translated into many languages.
5Zheng He and Li Shizhen left precious spiritual wealth. Facing storms and unknown seas, Zheng He completed his missions with courage and wisdom and dealt with other lands in peace and friendship; Li Shizhen persisted and verified everything himself, showing the scientific spirit of seeking truth. Their perseverance and devotion still inspire us to study earnestly and explore the unknown bravely.
1Summary 重點摘要
In the prosperous Ming dynasty, Zheng He led treasure fleets on seven voyages along the Maritime Silk Road, while Li Shizhen spent 27 years writing the great herbal, the Compendium of Materia Medica.
2Vocabulary cards Vocabulary
The Chinese dynasty from 1368 to 1644, founded by Zhu Yuanzhang.
The Ming navigator who led seven voyages and visited over thirty lands.
The largest ships of Zheng He's fleet, about 150 metres long.
An instrument showing direction, vital for ancient sailors.
Zheng He's seven great voyages across South-East Asia and the Indian Ocean.
The sea trade route linking China with other lands.
The Ming physician who spent 27 years writing the Compendium of Materia Medica.
The great medical work recording more than 1,800 medicines.
Medicines made from plants to treat illness and keep health.
The spirit of never giving up until the end.
3Step by step Steps
- Step 1: Get to know the Ming dynastyThe Ming was founded in 1368 by Zhu Yuanzhang and ended in 1644, lasting over 270 years. In its early years the nation was strong: farming recovered, handicrafts thrived, and silk and porcelain were exquisitely made, while shipbuilding and navigation led the world. The grand palaces of the Forbidden City in Beijing and the main body of the Great Wall we see today were Ming constructions. Keep this background in mind, and Zheng He and Li Shizhen are easier to understand.
- Step 2: Meet Zheng He and his treasure fleetZheng He entered palace service as a boy; capable, loyal and dependable, he won Emperor Chengzu's trust and was charged with the great mission. In 1405 he led the fleet on its first voyage west: more than two hundred ships, the largest treasure ships about 150 metres long, carrying over twenty thousand sailors, translators and doctors, equipped with compasses and sea charts. Such a fleet six hundred years ago shows how advanced Ming shipbuilding was.
- Step 3: Trace the routes of the seven voyagesFrom 1405 to 1433 Zheng He sailed west seven times. The fleet usually left Taicang in Jiangsu, prepared at Fujian, then sailed to Champa, Malacca and beyond, crossed the Indian Ocean, and visited more than thirty lands such as Java, Ceylon and Calicut, reaching the east coast of Africa at the farthest. Each voyage took two or three years; facing storms, sickness and unknown seas, the fleet completed every mission with careful planning and rich sailing experience — a marvel of navigation history.
- Step 4: Understand the Maritime Silk RoadZheng He's fleet carried silk, porcelain and tea, trading fairly for spices, medicines and rare animals. Treating every land with courtesy and helping settle local disputes, yet seizing no land and no treasure, the fleet was welcomed everywhere — some kings even sailed to China to visit. This peaceful sea passage, the Maritime Silk Road, promoted trade and cultural exchange and carried Chinese civilisation far and wide.
- Step 5: Follow Li Shizhen's path of seeking truthLi Shizhen came from a family of doctors and practised with his father while young. Finding many errors and confusions in the medicine books handed down, so that doctors following them might go wrong, he resolved to write an accurate new compendium. He left his study, travelled famous mountains gathering specimens, learned from farmers, fishermen, hunters and herb growers, and even tasted herbs himself to learn their effects. Such tireless, hands-on verification is exactly the scientist's spirit of truth-seeking.
- Step 6: Know the value of the Compendium of Materia MedicaAfter twenty-seven years Li Shizhen finished the Compendium of Materia Medica: about 1.9 million characters recording more than 1,800 medicines with over a thousand illustrations, describing each medicine's form, origin, taste and usage, and correcting many old errors. The book spread to Japan, Korea and Europe and was translated into many languages, deeply influencing the study of medicines worldwide; Li Shizhen is honoured as a great ancient physician.
- Step 7: Learn the spirit of these figuresZheng He and Li Shizhen lived about a century apart yet shared one spirit: once the goal was set, they persisted to the end. Zheng He sailed seven times over twenty-eight years, never giving up before storms; Li Shizhen wrote for twenty-seven years, crossing a thousand mountains until his wish was done. Both also planned and verified carefully rather than relying on luck. In study we can do the same: set a goal, make a plan, and never flinch at difficulty — move forward step by step.
5Worked example Example
Example: Suppose you are a young sailor on Zheng He's fleet, heading for an unfamiliar port. What goods do you bring to trade, and if fog hides the way, how do you cope?
- Goods aboard: silk, porcelain and tea were Ming's most famous products, exchanged for spices, medicines and rare animals.
- Peaceful exchange: follow Zheng He's courtesy and fair trade, taking nothing by force — every land then welcomes the fleet.
- Finding direction: compasses show the bearing, together with sea charts and the sun and stars; in heavy fog, slow down or anchor and wait.
- Attitude: on unknown seas success rests on thorough preparation, cooperation and courage — just as we stay calm and think of ways when facing hard problems.
- Answer: The fleet carries silk, porcelain and tea, trading fairly with lands along the way for spices and treasures, opening the Maritime Silk Road. At sea the compass, charts and the sky tell direction; in fog the ships slow down or anchor to wait, never rushing blindly. Courage, preparation and cooperation are the keys to a successful voyage.
6Common mistakes Mistakes
7Quick check Quick check
Q1How many voyages did Zheng He make to the Western Seas?
Q2What instrument did Zheng He's fleet use to find direction?
Q3What famous goods did the fleet trade with other lands?
Q4How many years did Li Shizhen take to write the Compendium?
Q5What spirit did Zheng He and Li Shizhen share?
8Recap Recap
- The Ming was strong, leading the world in shipbuilding.
- Zheng He sailed west seven times, reaching Africa's east coast.
- The Maritime Silk Road boosted trade and cultural exchange.
- Li Shizhen spent 27 years writing the Compendium of Materia Medica.
- Learn their perseverance and truth-seeking — never flinch at difficulty.