中国航海日 | 620年前，这位云南人让世界看见中国
China Navigation Day | 620 years ago, this person from Yunnan made the world see China
今天是7月11日，第二十个中国航海日。620年前，1405年7月11日，即明永乐三年六月十五，郑和率领一支空前的舰队起航，带着和平的使命驶向未知的海域和国度，开启了七下西洋的世界文明壮举，在海洋上书写了震撼世界的传奇。
Today is July 11th, the 20th China Navigation Day. 620 years ago, on July 11th, 1405, which was the 15th day of the sixth lunar month in the third year of the Yongle era of the Ming Dynasty, Zheng He led an unprecedented fleet to set sail. With a mission of peace, the fleet headed for unknown seas and countries, initiating the magnificent feat of seven voyages to the Western Seas that contributed to world civilization, and writing a world-shaking legend on the oceans.
郑和，正是从云南这片土地走出，踏上了改变世界航海史的征程。
Zheng He set forth from the land of Yunnan and embarked on a journey that changed the history of world navigation.
郑和出生于云南省昆阳州宝山乡和代村（今昆明市晋宁区昆阳街道办事处和代村）的一个回族家庭。他原姓马，名和，小字三宝。郑和自幼便从长辈口中听闻了许多关于远方世界的奇闻轶事，这在他幼小的心灵中种下了对外面世界探索的种子。
Zheng He was born into a Hui family in Hedaicun, Baoshan Township, Kunyang Prefecture, Yunnan Province (now Hedaicun under the jurisdiction of Kunyang Sub-district Office, Jinning District, Kunming City). His original surname was Ma, given name He, and courtesy name Sanbao. From a young age, Zheng He heard many interesting stories about the distant world from his elders, which planted in his young heart the seed of exploring the outside world.
1381年，郑和的命运发生重大转折，他被明军俘虏后进入燕王府当差。在燕王府中，郑和凭借自身的聪慧与勤奋，逐渐崭露头角。尤其是在朱棣发起的“靖难之役”中，郑和跟随朱棣南征北战，立下赫赫战功，深受朱棣信任。朱棣称帝后，为表彰郑和的功绩，于1404年赐他“郑”姓，从此马和便成为了郑和。
In 1381, Zheng He's fate took a major turn. He was captured by the Ming army and then served in the Prince of Yan's residence. In the Prince of Yan's residence, Zheng He gradually stood out with his intelligence and diligence. Especially in the "Jingnan Campaign" launched by Zhu Di, Zheng He followed Zhu Di in battles across the land, made remarkable military achievements, and gained deep trust from Zhu Di. After Zhu Di ascended the throne as emperor, he bestowed the surname "Zheng" on Zheng He in 1404 to commend his merits, and from then on, Ma He became Zheng He.
1405年，郑和肩负着宣扬国威、加强对外交流的使命，率领着庞大的船队从南京启航，开启了第一次下西洋的壮举。此后的28年间，郑和率领船队七次远渡重洋，访问了亚非30多个国家和地区。
In 1405, Zheng He, shouldering the mission of showcasing national prestige and strengthening foreign exchanges, led a huge fleet to set sail from Nanjing, embarking on the magnificent feat of his first voyage to the Western Seas. Over the next 28 years, Zheng He led the fleet to cross the oceans seven times, visiting more than 30 countries and regions in Asia and Africa.
郑和的船队规模空前，其中最大的宝船，长四十四丈四尺，宽十八丈，宛如一座移动的海上城堡。船上不仅搭载着大量的士兵、船员，还满载着丝绸、瓷器、茶叶等中国的特产，这些物品成为了中国与世界交流的名片。
The scale of Zheng He's fleet was unprecedented. Among them, the largest treasure ship was 44 zhang and 4 chi in length （about 146 meters）and 18 zhang in width（about 60 meters）, resembling a mobile sea castle. The ship carried not only a large number of soldiers and crew members, but also a full load of Chinese specialties such as silk, porcelain and tea, which became the calling cards for exchanges between China and the world.
郑和船队利用牵星术、罗盘等当时先进的航海技术，在茫茫大海中确定方向，克服了狂风巨浪、暗礁险滩等重重艰难险阻，勇敢地驶向远方。
Zheng He's fleet used advanced navigation technologies of the time such as qianxingshu (celestial navigation using star altimeters) and compasses to determine directions in the vast ocean. They overcame numerous difficulties and obstacles like violent storms, huge waves, hidden reefs and dangerous shoals, and sailed bravely into the distance.
郑和的航海，不仅是勇敢的探索之旅，更是一场文化的交流盛宴。每到一处，郑和都会与当地的统治者和民众进行友好的交流，送上精美的礼物，展示中国的文化和科技。中国的丝绸、瓷器让外国友人惊叹不已，而外国的香料、珠宝等也传入了中国。文化、艺术、科技等方面的交流也在悄然进行，中国的造船技术、农业技术等传播到了海外，而外国的天文知识、医学知识等也被引入中国。
Zheng He's voyages were not only bold exploration journeys but also a grand feast of cultural exchanges. Everywhere he went, Zheng He would conduct friendly exchanges with local rulers and people, present exquisite gifts, and showcase China's culture and technology. Chinese silk and porcelain amazed foreign friends, while foreign spices, jewelry, and other items were introduced to China. Exchanges in culture, art, science, and technology also quietly took place: China's shipbuilding technology and agricultural techniques were spread overseas, and foreign astronomical knowledge and medical expertise were introduced to China.
郑和船队就像一座文化的桥梁，连接了东方和西方，促进了不同文明之间的相互了解和融合。更为重要的是，郑和的航海之旅始终秉持着和平的理念，船队所到之处，没有侵略和掠夺，只有友好与合作，赢得了亚非各国的尊重和信任。
Zheng He's fleet was like a cultural bridge, connecting the East and the West and promoting mutual understanding and integration between different civilizations. What's more important is that Zheng He's maritime voyages always adhered to the concept of peace. Wherever the fleet went, there was no aggression or plunder, only friendship and cooperation, which earned the respect and trust of countries in Asia and Africa.
郑和七下西洋的壮举，揭开了世界大航海时代的序幕，打通了东南亚海上丝绸之路。千百年来，丝绸之路传承着和平合作、开放包容、互学互鉴、互利互赢的文化精神，在人类文明进步中，薪火相传。
Zheng He's magnificent feat of seven voyages to the Western Seas opened the prelude to the era of great maritime exploration in the world and opened up the Maritime Silk Road in Southeast Asia. For thousands of years, the Silk Road has carried forward the cultural spirit of peace and cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, mutual learning and mutual benefit, which has been passed down from generation to generation in the progress of human civilization.
如今，纪念郑和、研究郑和、宣传郑和、弘扬郑和精神已成为海内外的文化现象，“敢为人先、敬业奉献、睦邻友好、开放包容”的郑和精神在海内外被广泛传播。
Today, commemorating, studying, publicizing Zheng He and carrying forward the spirit of Zheng He have become a cultural phenomenon at home and abroad. The spirit of Zheng He, which features "daring to be the first, dedication to work, good-neighborliness and friendship, and openness and inclusiveness", has been widely spread at home and abroad.
今天，建设21世纪海上丝绸之路，中国走向世界，继承和发扬古代丝绸之路航海外交和平对话与合作发展的价值理念，赋予了古老丝绸之路以崭新的时代内涵：以和平合作、开放包容、互学互鉴、互利共赢的丝绸之路精神，打造与海上丝绸之路相关各国互利共赢的“利益共同体”和共同发展繁荣的“命运共同体”。
Today, in building the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, as China steps into the world, it inherits and carries forward the values of peaceful dialogue and cooperative development embodied in the maritime diplomacy of the ancient Silk Road, endowing this age-old route with brand-new connotations of the times: adhering to the Silk Road spirit of peace and cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, mutual learning and mutual benefit, we strive to forge a "community of shared interests" for mutually beneficial outcomes and a "community of shared future" for common development and prosperity with all countries involved in the Maritime Silk Road.
郑和是云南的、是中国的、更是世界的，郑和的伟大航程已载入世界史册，让我们继续传承和发扬郑和精神，续写新时代新征程的辉煌篇章。
Zheng He belongs to Yunnan, to China, and even more so to the world. His great voyages have been inscribed in the world's annals. Let us continue to inherit and carry forward the spirit of Zheng He, and write a brilliant new chapter in the new era and new journey.
2025年7月12日于经典龙苑
