The fleet of Zheng He (active 1405–1433) under the Ming Dynasty was one of the most ambitious maritime efforts in pre-modern history. While its primary aims were diplomatic and commercial, the fleet also played a significant role in the
distribution of crop varieties across Asia and parts of Africa.
It was not until 1431 that Zheng He found himself in command of the large Treasure Fleet for his seventh voyage (1431-1433). They sailed to Java, Sumatra and several other Asian ports before arriving in Calicut, India. Zheng He’s voyages to western oceans expanded China’s political influence in the world. He was able to expand new, friendly ties with other nations, while developing relations between the east-west trade opportunities. Unfortunately, the official imperial records of his voyages were destroyed.
This movement of biological and agricultural resources was part of a broader phenomenon often referred to as the Old World Columbian Exchange (pre-dating Columbus's voyage by decades).
Zheng He's massive naval expeditions did facilitate the exchange of goods and knowledge, including some agricultural products, they were not a primary focus.
Zheng He's family estate in Yunnan is preserved in Jinning County, Kunming City, where Zheng He was born. The main site is Zheng He Park, which includes a memorial hall, a former residence, and other attractions related to Zheng He and his family.
The most recent major academic conference in Kunming dedicated to Zheng He studies was held in December 2002. This event, titled "Zheng He Belongs to the Whole World," took place from December 9 to 13 and was organized by the Yunnan Society for Zheng He Studies in collaboration with local universities and cultural institutions. Studies haveexamined how Zheng He's legacy is commemorated in places like Zheng He Park in Jinning District, Kunming, through statues, cultural relic halls, and educational initiatives. Such events not only honor Zheng He's historical significance but also promote cultural heritage tourism and international scholarly exchange, reinforcing Kunming's role as a center for maritime history studies
Here’s a detailed overview of how Zheng He’s voyages contributed to the spread of crop varieties:
Geographic Reach and Agricultural Exchange
Zheng He's fleet visited over 30 regions and countries, including:
- Southeast Asia (Vietnam, Thailand, Java, Sumatra, Malacca)
- South Asia (Sri Lanka, India)
- West Asia (Persian Gulf)
- East Africa (Somalia, Kenya)
At each port, tribute missions and local exchanges often involved the giving and receiving of agricultural products, including seeds, fruits, spices, and herbs.
Chinese Crops Exported Abroad
Zheng He’s fleet likely carried Chinese staple crops and horticultural plants that were introduced or popularized abroad:
- Rice varieties from southern China (especially those adapted to specific climates)
- Tea plants, which were prized by some trading partners
- Mulberry trees, important for silk production but also with secondary uses
- Soybeans, already a key protein crop in China, may have been introduced to Southeast Asia
These crops would have been highly valued for both agricultural and medicinal purposes.
Crops Introduced to China
Zheng He’s voyages also brought foreign crops back to China, broadening the country's agricultural biodiversity. These included:
- Black pepper from India and Sumatra
- Cloves, nutmeg, and cinnamon from the Spice Islands (Maluku)
- Tamarind and mango from South and Southeast Asia
- Coconuts and banana varieties from tropical regions
- Medicinal herbs and aromatic plants from Africa and the Arabian Peninsula
Some of these crops were previously known but became more widely cultivated or better understood due to the increased contact.
Botanical Gardens and Imperial Records
The Ming court reportedly documented foreign plants brought back by Zheng He’s envoys. Some were cultivated in imperial botanical gardens for study and potential domestication. These gardens served as centers of experimentation and dissemination, where crops could be evaluated for climate compatibility and propagated.
Facilitation of Agro-Biodiversity Through Diplomacy
Zheng He’s voyages often involved tribute exchanges, where agricultural products were symbolic of cooperation and mutual respect. The diplomatic framework allowed for intentional crop exchanges that were more structured and reciprocal than informal trade. Some states, eager to gain favor with the Ming emperor, sent rare and exotic seeds or fruits as tribute. In return, China would gift high-yield or resilient crops that were valuable to smaller or less agriculturally advanced polities.
Indirect Effects on Local Agriculture
As Zheng He's fleet integrated regions into the larger Indian Ocean trading system, local merchants and farmers were exposed to new market demands and foreign crops. The voyages encouraged horticultural experimentation, especially in multicultural port cities like Malacca, Calicut, and Aden.
Legacy and Lasting Impact
Although the Ming voyages were halted after 1433 and China adopted a more isolationist posture, the crops exchanged during these voyages took root (literally and figuratively) in many areas. Some became staples or cash crops in their new environments. For example:
- Sugarcane varieties, possibly transferred or refined via these exchanges, became more widely cultivated in Southeast Asia.
- The diversity of banana cultivars in Southeast Asia and southern China may owe something to these maritime connections.
- Pepper and spices, essential to later European exploration motives, were made more available via enhanced trade links.
Zheng He’s fleet acted as a conduit for agricultural biodiversity, enabling the intentional and unintentional transfer of crops across vast regions. This early form of biological globalization:
- Improved diets and agricultural resilience
- Enhanced cultural and economic links
- Set the stage for later, more intensive exchanges of plants and foodstuffs during the Age of Exploration
Though not often highlighted, this agricultural diffusion is one of the most tangible and lasting legacies of Zheng He's maritime expeditions.
Resource
In 1421, the largest fleet the world had ever seen set sail from China under the command of Emperor Zhu Di's loyal eunuch admirals. But by the time they returned home, Zhu Di had lost control and China was turning inwards, leaving the records of their discoveries to be forgotten for centuries.
