Zheng He in the news
Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2004 3:01 pm
The latest issue of U.S. News & World Report (Feb. 23Mar. 1, 2004), the one with Historys Great Explorers on the cover, has a fine short article on Zheng He, the great Chinese eunuch admiral. With pictures, the article is 3-1/2 pages long. There is absolutely NO whitewashing of the fact that he was a eunuch very unusual for a popular magazine. Schoolteachers often order classroom sets for their junior high or high school classes.
While Zheng Hes castration figures elsewhere in the article as well and eunuchs are mentioned throughout, Ill post the central part of his life story here. BUY THE MAGAZINE for the rest of the article, and for its other fine articles on exploration.
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In 1381, when Zheng He was 10 years old, the imperial Army attacked his province, an isolated area on Chinas lawless southwestern border that was a hideout for outlaws from the ousted Mongol regime. Zhengs father was killed in the fighting. As was the custom in times of war, young male children of the enemy were castrated. (Survivors of the brutal procedure were sometimes handed their preserved genitals in a jar, which they would keep with them throughout their lives in the hope that after burial they would be made whole in the afterlife.)
Zhengs castration had historical reverberations. As a eunuch, he was taken as a servant into the household of his enemy, Zhu Di, the emperors fourth son. Though robbed of a family, he was well cared for and educated in fact, given advantages that he probably never would have received otherwise.
Eunuch power. Though the custom of castration seems bizarre today, eunuchs were actually a powerful force in the society of imperial China. Part of their power came from their intimate access to powerful women and their children. Child eunuchs often grew up with future princes and emperors. Indeed, eunuchs garnered so much wealth and political influence from their close contact with royal families that commoners sometimes had their sons castrated in the hopes of improving the family lot.
Zheng He grew up strong and intelligent, apparently impressing his young master, Zhu Di. In short order he went from houseboy to right-hand man, plotting strategies with the prince and riding next to him in battle. He later assisted Zhu Di in a brilliant and bloody coup to usurp the throne. When Zhu Di became the third Ming emperor of China in 1402, he soon named his loyal eunuch and friend admiral and commander in chief of the huge treasure fleet.
This is only a small part of an excellent article. Well worth the price of the magazine!
While Zheng Hes castration figures elsewhere in the article as well and eunuchs are mentioned throughout, Ill post the central part of his life story here. BUY THE MAGAZINE for the rest of the article, and for its other fine articles on exploration.
**********
In 1381, when Zheng He was 10 years old, the imperial Army attacked his province, an isolated area on Chinas lawless southwestern border that was a hideout for outlaws from the ousted Mongol regime. Zhengs father was killed in the fighting. As was the custom in times of war, young male children of the enemy were castrated. (Survivors of the brutal procedure were sometimes handed their preserved genitals in a jar, which they would keep with them throughout their lives in the hope that after burial they would be made whole in the afterlife.)
Zhengs castration had historical reverberations. As a eunuch, he was taken as a servant into the household of his enemy, Zhu Di, the emperors fourth son. Though robbed of a family, he was well cared for and educated in fact, given advantages that he probably never would have received otherwise.
Eunuch power. Though the custom of castration seems bizarre today, eunuchs were actually a powerful force in the society of imperial China. Part of their power came from their intimate access to powerful women and their children. Child eunuchs often grew up with future princes and emperors. Indeed, eunuchs garnered so much wealth and political influence from their close contact with royal families that commoners sometimes had their sons castrated in the hopes of improving the family lot.
Zheng He grew up strong and intelligent, apparently impressing his young master, Zhu Di. In short order he went from houseboy to right-hand man, plotting strategies with the prince and riding next to him in battle. He later assisted Zhu Di in a brilliant and bloody coup to usurp the throne. When Zhu Di became the third Ming emperor of China in 1402, he soon named his loyal eunuch and friend admiral and commander in chief of the huge treasure fleet.
This is only a small part of an excellent article. Well worth the price of the magazine!