In the West, legendary explorers like Christopher Columbus, Ernest Shackleton and Sir Edmund Hillary are a recognized part of our history. But in China, that legend belongs to the great explorer Zheng He (1371–1433), who lived during China's renowned Ming Dynasty. Zheng He, the Great Chinese Explorer is a bilingual (English and Chinese) tale of his adventures.
When he was a child, Zheng He dreamed of foreign lands, his imagination was inspired by the travels of his father and grandfather and the wonderful items they brought back from trading trips to the West. A simple but exotic porcelain vase in cobalt, a color not found in China at the time, drove Zheng He to discover the origins of this unique color—and become one of the most famous explorers in China's history.
From military brilliance to sea captain and diplomat, Zheng He's life was never quiet! After serving the Emperor in the military and helping China achieve peace and prosperity, Zheng He was chosen to command great sea voyages, engaging in trade and establishing relations with foreign governments.
Over the course of 28 years, Zheng He made seven major expeditions by sea to South and Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and even reaching as far as the east coast of Africa. And after all that travel, his childhood dream finally came true. On the Arabian Peninsula he discovered the beautiful color for which he had been searching, and this unique shade of blue became a trademark of the porcelain of the Ming Dynasty.
Li Jian used to be a middle school art teacher, an editor for kid's books, and a partner in an illustration studio. Currently he owns his own illustration studio.