Admiral Zheng-He's Voyages - 580th Anniversary

(Click stamps to view larger picture)

Date of Issue: July 11, 1985
Scott #: 1992 - 1995

Thanks to Ms. Jia Caixu, China for sending these stamps on exchange.

Zheng-He (1377 - 1433), Chinese mariner, explorer, diplomat and fleet admiral, who made the voyages collectively referred to as the travels of "Eunuch Sanbao to the Western Ocean" or "Zheng He to the Western Ocean", from 1405 to 1433.

There are claims that Persian stories of Sinbad the Sailor are based on the voyages of Zheng He.

China Post issued commemorative stamps for "The 580th Anniversary of Zheng-He's Maritime Expeditions."

The first stamp shows Zheng-He standing in front of a map of the Indian Ocean. In the margins are pictures of his fleet. The second one presents the scene of Zheng-He 's first meeting with the Champa Empire (in modern-day Vietnam). Local people sing and dance cheerfully to welcome Zheng-He' visit. The third stamp shows Zheng-He's fleets arriving at Arabia, where envoys of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) offer silk and porcelain in exchange for the local products. The last one depicts Zheng-He's fleets reaching Africa. The king welcomes Zheng-He in a full dress. Zheng-He embraces his fist and expresses thanks to the local people.

Click here to read more about Zheng-He and his seven voyages in Wikipedia.

Click here to see 600th Anniv. stamps of Zheng-He by China.

Source: chinaculture.org, wikipedia.