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Zheng He's treasure ships

Type Object Region China Time c. 1403–1433

Large ocean-going treasure ships built during the Yongle reign for Zheng He's seven voyages to the Western Oceans, the core vessels of the world's la…

Timeline

  1. c. 1405–1415Longjiang Treasure Shipyard, Nanjing · NanjingThe Yongle Emperor ordered the Ministry of Works to establish a treasure shipyard at Longjiang in Nanjing, concentrating on building large treasure ships and supporting grain-transport vessels, forming the Ming official ocean-going shipbuilding center that supplied the main ships for the first four voyages.
  2. 1421–1422Liujiagang, Taicang · TaicangZheng He led the treasure ship fleet out from Liujiagang at Taicang, passing Champa and Java to reach Hormuz and beyond; the treasure ships served as flagships and troop transports, undertaking ocean voyages and escorting tribute missions.
  3. 1424–1430Longjiang, Nanjing · NanjingAfter the Yongle Emperor's death, ocean voyages were temporarily suspended and the treasure ships anchored at Longjiang in Nanjing. In the early Xuande reign the court revived maritime activity, and the Longjiang shipyard repaired the surviving treasure ships in preparation for the seventh voyage, set to depart in 1431.

Sources