In the early 1400s, a towering figure rose through the ranks of China’s empire. His name was Zhang He. His story is one of war, loyalty, and the largest ships the world had ever seen—or so they claimed.
From Captive to Commander
Zhang He was born in 1371 in what is now northern China. When he was just 10 years old, the Ming army invaded his hometown. His father was killed, and Zhang He was taken prisoner. He was brought to the city of Beijing, then called Beiping. There, he became a servant to one of the emperor’s sons.
But Zhang He wasn’t just any servant. He stood nearly seven feet tall and quickly proved himself to be a valuable asset in military service. His loyalty and strength impressed the prince, who later became the emperor. Zhang He earned a new name, “San Bao,” and was trusted like a member of the family.
Zhang He and the Ship That Shocked the World
The emperor wanted to make history. He asked Zhang He to build a fleet of ships unlike anything that had ever been seen. Zhang He delivered. He led the construction of a massive armada, according to some records, comprising over 700 boats.
The largest was called the “treasure ship.” It was said to be 400 feet long and 170 feet wide. That’s longer than a football field. These ships carried gold, goods, and even horses. Zhang He and his fleet sailed across Asia and Africa. Their mission was to demonstrate China’s power to the world and to amass riches for the emperor.
A Floating Empire of Fear and Respect
Imagine this: hundreds of massive ships rolling into your harbor. No gunfire, no war, just presence. That’s how Zhang He made nations bow. His fleet flexed power without destroying cities. Along the way, they also mapped the ocean and brought foreign leaders to meet the emperor.
Zhang He and the ships became legends. They showed that China wasn’t just a land power. It ruled the seas, too.
When the Lightning Struck
Then, everything changed. After the emperor died, a lightning strike hit the Forbidden City. Many saw it as a sign. The new emperor ended the voyages. The fleet was docked, and Zhang He faded into history.
Years later, scholars and builders tried to recreate one of the giant ships. What they found was strange. The materials described in ancient records didn’t make sense. The wood needed didn’t exist in China at that time. Some now believe the ships were much smaller than reported. They think the stories were heavily exaggerated, more legend than fact.
A Ship, A Story, A Shift in History
Zhang He’s story may not be 100% true. But his impact was tangible. His voyages marked the closest China ever got to a global empire. If things had gone differently, China might have colonized much of the world before Europe did.
The legacy of Zhang He and his ship lives on. Whether fact or fiction, it reminds us how one person, and one fleet, can change the course of history.
Things I Learned Last Night is an educational comedy podcast where best friends Jaron Myers and Tim Stone talk about random topics and have fun all along the way. If you like learning and laughing a lot while you do, you’ll love TILLN. Watch or listen to this episode right now!
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