Zheng He’s Voyages to the West

This film (drama)Also known as郑和下西洋，is aMainland ChinaProducerbeauty live，At2009Released in year 。The dialogue language isMandarin Chinese，Current Douban rating7.9(For reference only)。

During the Hongwu period of the Ming Dynasty, a young boy named Ma He was recruited from Yunnan to the palace as a eunuch, assigned to serve in the princely residence of the Yanzhao King. The ambitious Yanzhao King Zhu Di, having endured hardships during his time on the borders, particularly after befriending the eminent monk Yao Guangxiao, greatly expanded his horizons. He increasingly found himself at odds with his father, Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang, regarding the maritime prohibition policy. During his time accompanying Zhu Di to guard Beiping and the borders, Ma He gradually matured, and his excellent qualities laid the foundation for future achievements. The crown prince Zhu Yunwen ascended to the throne and began to reduce the power of the vassals to consolidate imperial authority, with the Yanzhao King Zhu Di being the first target. For his survival, Zhu Di was compelled to feign madness, suffering much humiliation. Zhu He’s sworn sister, Song Lianxin, also fell victim to the schemes of treacherous ministers. In a desperate situation, Zhu Di resolutely rallied 800 brave soldiers to rise up and launched the "Jingnan" campaign to seize the imperial throne. During the war, Ma He distinguished himself alongside Yao Guangxiao, Zhang Yu, and others, especially during the Battle of Zhengcun, where he valiantly rescued Zhu Di from danger, thereby becoming Zhu Di's trusted confidant. After Zhu Di ascended the throne as the Yongle Emperor, to clear his name of "usurpation," he was determined to pursue the greatness of the Han and Tang Dynasties and create a prosperous era. Upon his ascension, he granted Ma He the surname "Zheng" and quietly changed Zhu Yuanzhang’s maritime prohibition policy, appointing the 35-year-old Zheng He as the Chief Envoy and Commander of the Ming treasure fleet to sail to the Western seas. On July 11, the third year of Yongle (1405), Zheng He led over 27,800 people from Nanjing and Taicang to set sail from the Taiping Port in Changle, Fujian. From that point on, the vast Ming fleet began its 28-year voyage to promote national prestige and seek trade overseas. Zhu Di was the decision-maker and organizer of the great maritime expeditions. From the first day the fleet set sail, he commanded, controlled, and supported this remarkable journey from land. He ordered shipbuilding in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangdong, and Hubei, and expanded the production of export goods such as ceramics, silk, and tea throughout the country. Simultaneously, he seized the opportunity of these great voyages to implement the Yongle Restoration, beginning the compilation of the "Yongle Encyclopedia," and dredging the Grand Canal. He even visited in disguise with Yao Guangxiao to restore production and allow the people to rest. Empress Xu also practiced thrift and, despite illness, personally urged for mulberry cultivation. Thus, the nation rapidly achieved rejuvenation, providing a continuous material foundation for the voyages to the Western seas. On his first voyage to the Western seas, Zheng He restored the Ming Dynasty’s jurisdiction over the islands of the South Seas, naming places such as Jinghong Island and the Yongle Islands. An important mission of Zheng He’s fleet during this time was to combat the notorious pirate Chen Zuoyi, who had long wreaked havoc in the South Sea region and had proven uncontainable, disrupting maritime trade with the Ming. Zheng He and his fleet engaged him in a battle of wits and bravery, ultimately ridding the South Sea nations of this menace. The Ming treasure fleet visited countries and regions such as Champa, Java, Sumatra, Ceylon, Guli, and Old Port, where they promoted peaceful diplomacy and rapidly expanded the Ming Dynasty's influence overseas, especially forging an extremely close relationship with the people of what is now Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and the southern seas of India. Upon the fleet's return, Zhu Di was not intoxicated by victory. His focus no longer lingered on "promoting national prestige" or secretly seeking the whereabouts of the Jianwen Emperor, but instead was determined to support an unprecedented maritime venture with a more open mindset. This shift transformed the concepts of both the emperor and the common people, accelerating the emergence of a commodity economy. In that era, the maritime navigational strength represented a nation’s comprehensive national power. The prosperity of sea vessels symbolized the nation's wealth, technological advancement, and cultural progress. As Zheng He’s fleet ventured into the overseas world, this monarch not only pursued the goal of "all nations submitting to the Four Seas” but also earnestly sought to open up the maritime Silk Road, which had appeared since the Tang and Song dynasties, to widely disseminate the achievements of Chinese civilization to Southeast Asia and the Asian-African continent. On this basis, Zhu Di initiated a series of larger undertakings. One of them was the decision to change the name of Beiping to Beijing and ordered large-scale construction of a new capital, including what is today the Forbidden City, which largely rests on the foundations established in the early Ming period. Zhu Di instructed Zheng He to consistently adhere to the principle of winning over others through virtue in interactions with Western nations, rather than exploiting their weaknesses. Economically, he favored exchanges, providing many benefits to other countries, thereby establishing the demeanor of a great power. In the contemporary world, the Ming fleet effectively played the role of a major power in maintaining regional peace. During this period, Zheng He led his fleet to establish warehouses in nations such as Malacca and Hormuz, engaging in extensive trade with Arabs, Persians, and Europeans. When the usurper of Ceylon, Arya Kunar, betrayed his country and attempted to hijack the Ming fleet, Zheng He, left with no choice, was forced to retaliate. However, he consistently adhered to the belief that "knowing how to use weapons doesn’t mean being warlike," using wisdom and tolerance, justice and power, to resolve the crisis between the two countries. The death of Empress Xu left Zhu Di heartbroken. Fortunately, the Ming fleet returned from their voyage, especially when Zheng He brought the rebellious Arya Kunar to the Ming Dynasty for the emperor to adjudicate his fate, Zhu Di resolved this case with the principles of Chinese civilization, ultimately persuading this brutal king.