The Chinese Fleet
Size of the Chinese Fleet
“In its heyday, about + 1420, the Ming navy probably outclassed that of any other Asian nation at any time in history, and would have been more than a match for that of any contemporary European State or even a combination of them. Under the Yung-Lo Emperor [Zhu Di] it consisted of some 3,800 ships in all, 1,350 patrol vessels and 1,350 combat ships attached to guard stations (wei and so) or island bases (chai), A main fleet of 400 large warships stationed at Hsin-chiang-khou near Nanking and 400 grain-transport freighters. In addition there were more than 250 long-distance ‘Treasure ships’ or galleons (Pao chuan), the average complement of which from 450 men in +1403 to over 690 in 1431 and certainly overstepped 1,000 in the largest vessels. A further 3,000 merchantmen were always ready as auxiliaries, and a host of small craft did duty as despatch-boats and police launches. But the peak of the development which had started in 1130 came in 1433, and after the great reversal of policy the navy declined much more rapidly than it had grown, so that by the middle of the +16th century almost nothing was left of its former grandeur.” – Needham, Vol 3, p. 484 (Martin Tai evidence).
Gary A Brewer informed us of this interesting website regarding Asia’s Undersea Archeology – shipwrecks and possibilities of treasure. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sultan/archeology2.html
The Chinese Fleet arriving at Calicut
“More than eight hundred sail of large and small ships had come to India from the ports of Malacca and China and the Lequeos [Ryuku Islands], with people of many nations, and all laden with merchandise of great value which they brought for sale… they were so numerous that they filled the country and settled as dwellers in all of the towns of the sea coast.” (Chaudhuri, p. 154) (Evidence provided by Professor James Finlay of Arkansas University.)
Bases
In parallel with Zheng He’s development of his fleet went that of overseas bases. By 1421 the Chinese had bases around the Indian Ocean and down the East African coast to Sofala. They already had an extensive network across Indonesia, the South China Sea and in New Zealand.
Experience
Since 1405 there had been five voyages becoming progressively more adventurous as the years went by. During the fourth voyage the Chinese had separated their fleets and sailed far down the East African coast.
Where the Chinese Fleet Went
“Chinese . . . with Tartairs, Japanese and Koreans . . . crossed the Maritime Stretch . . . into the Kingdoms of Quivira populating Mexico, Peru and other eastern countries of the Indies [America]” – Carlos Prince (Annex XXVI).
SUMMARY
The whole world had been charted before Europeans set sail. Only the Chinese could have done so.
Related galleries: Shipwrecks
