Yingya shenglan (The Overall Survey of the Ocean's Shore)

Written by Ma Huan
First published in 1451
On loan from the National University of Singapore's Chinese Library

This is a first-hand account of Zheng He's voyages, written by a translator called Ma Huan. Ma Huan sailed with Zheng He on the fourth (1413-15), sixth (1421-22) and seventh (1431-33) expeditions.

《瀛涯胜览》

（明）马欢撰
《纪录汇编》本
1451年初版
新加坡国立大学中文图书馆借展

《瀛涯胜览》是郑和下西洋航程的第一手资料，由一名叫马欢的通译员所著。马欢曾在郑和第四次（1413-15）、第六次（1421-22）、及第七次（1431-33）下西洋时随行。

Xingcha shenglan (The Overall Survey of the Star Raft)

Written by Fei Xin, 1433
On loan from the National University of Singapore's Chinese Library

Fei Xin was a military man who participated in Zheng He's third (1409-11), fifth (1417-19) and seventh (1431-33) voyages. After his return to China in 1433 he wrote Xingcha shenglan (The Overall Survey of the Star Raft). The first part of the book is based on his experiences, but the second part is largely hearsay.

The 'star raft' refers to the ship that carried the imperial ambassador.

《星槎胜览》

（明）费信撰, 1433年
《纪录汇编》本
新加坡国立大学中文图书馆借展

费信是参与郑和第三（1409-11）、五（1417-19）及七次（1431-33）下西洋航程的一名军人。1433年回国后，他写了一部《星槎胜览》。书的前半部内容主要是根据自身所见，后半部则是道听途说的轶闻。

“星槎”指的是朝廷大使的专用船只。

Xiyang fanguo zhi (Records of Foreign Countries in the Western Ocean)

Written by Gong Zhen
On loan from the National University of Singapore's Chinese Library

Gong Zhen was a soldier who sailed on Zheng He's seventh voyage (1431-33). He became a private secretary to the voyage's commander-in-chief, and wrote a first-hand account of the expedition called Xiyang fanguo zhi (Records of Foreign Countries in the Western Ocean). Much of the content follows Ma Huan's book. Appended to the book are three imperial edicts providing information on the ships, compasses, navigation charts and provisions on board the ships.

《西洋番国志》

（明）巩珍撰
（彭氏） 知圣道斋钞校书籍
新加坡国立大学中文图书馆借展

巩珍在郑和第七次（1431-33）下西洋充当总制（即总指挥官）的幕僚，并记下他在航程旅途中的所见所闻，写成《西洋番国志》。书中附上了三道敕令，提供有关船艇、罗盘、航海图及船上用品的资料。

Xiyang chaogong dianlu (Records of Tributes from the Western Ocean Countries)

Written by Huang Shengzeng, 1520
On loan from the National University of Singapore's Chinese Library

This was written by a scholar from Suzhou called Huang Shengzeng. He based his book on Ma Huan and Fei Xin's accounts as well as Zhenwei bian (《针位编》), a now defunct treatise on navigation by compass. The book contains valuable information on the various tributary items, in which much of the sources are derived from imperial records.

《西洋朝贡典录》

（明）黄省曾撰, 1520年
《指海》本
新加坡国立大学中文图书馆借展

《西洋朝贡典录》是苏州儒士黄省曾的著作。他根据马欢和费信的记录以及已失传的航海针簿《针位编》写成了这部书。书中记载了许多有关外国贡品的珍贵资料，其中大部分取自宫廷纪录。

Dong xi yang kao (Studies on the Ocean East and West)

Written by Zhang Xie, 1618
On loan from the National University of Singapore's Chinese Library

In 1618, Zhang Xie, from the province of Fujian, wrote a book called Dong xi yang kao (Studies on the Ocean East and West). The book contains records of Southeast Asian countries in the sixteenth century and refers to ports and temples in Siam linked to Zheng He.

《东西洋考》

（明）张燮撰, 1618年
惜阴轩丛书
新加坡国立大学中文图书馆借展

1618年，来自福建漳州的张燮写了一部《东西洋考》。书中主要记录了16世纪东南亚国家的情况，并提到暹罗国内与郑和有关的港口和寺庙。

Replica of the Tianfei Tablet in Changle

Original erected in 1431

On the eve of his seventh and last voyage, Zheng He erected a stone tablet to the goddess Tianfei in Changle. On the tablet Zheng He thanked Tianfei for her protection of the voyages, and listed the dates and achievements of each expedition. Today the tablet is housed in the Tianfei Temple in Changle.

《天妃灵应之记碑》（复制品）

原碑立于 1431年

在郑和第七次，也即是最后一次下西洋的前夕，他在长乐立了块《天妃灵应之记碑》。碑文感谢天妃保佑航程一帆风顺，并列下每个航程的日期及其成就。现石碑藏于长乐天妃庙内。

Rhinoceros horn

On loan from Mr Wong Pui Fatt

Rhinoceros horn was a unique traded commodity in Champa. Chinese physicians used it as an antidote for snake poison.

犀牛角

黄沛发先生借展

犀牛角是占城特有的贸易商品。中医师用它来解蛇毒。

Sandalwood

On loan from Mr Wong Pui Fatt

Sandalwood was a popular trade item. Commonly found in Java, its medicinal uses included treating pains in the chest and abdomen. It was also popular for burning as incense.

檀香

黄沛发先生借展

檀香是项广受欢迎的商品。它遍布爪哇，能治疗胸腹疼痛，并可制成熏香。

Javanese Majapahit "magic coin"

15th century
On loan from Mr Loo Say Chong

Although Java was part of the kingdom of Majapahit (c.1293 - 1520) in the 15th century, Ma Huan noted that the people of Java used Chinese copper coins in all trade transactions. This Javanese coin shows the influence that Chinese coins, with their square holes, had on local currency design. This coin was used as a magical charm to ward off evil. A scene from a puppet show was inscribed on it to enhance its magical power.

爪哇满者伯夷王朝铜币

15世纪
吕世聪先生借展

虽然15世纪的爪哇是满者伯夷王国（约1293-1520）的一部分，马欢记载当时的爪哇人在所有交易中都会用到中国铜币。这枚中带方孔的爪哇铜币具有中国货币设计的影响，在当地被用作驱邪的灵符。币上铸有皮影戏里的一幕，从而增加其灵性。

Javanese Majapahit silver coins

14th century
On loan from Mr Loo Say Chong

The coins, bearing a characteristic floral emblem, were widely circulated in the Majapahit empire until the advent of Islam.

爪哇满者伯夷银币

14世纪
吕世聪先生借展

直至回教到来以前，印有典型花卉标记的银币在满者伯夷王国广为流通。

Tin ingot

15th century, Malacca Sultanate (1402 - 1511)
On loan from Mr Loo Say Chong

Tin ingots were a trading currency unique to Malacca. Cast in the shape of a peck, or dou in Chinese, each block weighs just over one pound. Ten blocks made up one unit called a 'small bundle', and 40 blocks made up one 'large bundle'.

马六甲王朝（1402 - 1511）斗锡

15世纪
吕世聪先生借展

斗锡是马六甲特有的货币。铸成斗状的锡锭每枚重约一斤有余。十枚合为“一把”，四十枚则为“一大把”。

Siamese silver coins

17th century, Ayutthaya period (1350 - 1767)
On loan from Mr Loo Say Chong

Siam was ruled by the Ayutthaya kingdom when it was visited by Zheng He. The standard coinage of Ayutthaya was struck with a weight of 15.3 g and was commonly used in daily transactions.

暹罗阿尤陀耶王朝（1350 – 1767）银币

17 世纪
吕世聪先生借展

郑和到访时的暹罗（今泰国）隶属于阿尤陀耶王朝。阿尤陀耶的标准硬币重15.3克，普遍用于日常的交易。

Eaglewood

On loan from Mr Phua Teck Leng

On one voyage Zheng He sent men into the mountains of Pulau Sembilan, in Malaysia, to collect eaglewood. Eaglewood was an important building material for the construction of the Jinghai Temple in Nanjing.

沉香

潘锝树先生借展

郑和在一次航程中派人进入马来西亚的九洲山中去觅取沉香木。沉香木是建造南京静海寺的重要材料。

Coral

On loan from Mr Loo Say Chong

Ma Huan, a translator who accompanied Zheng He on his later voyages, described how local craftsmen in Cochin and Calicut shaped coral stems into beads to sell.

珊瑚

吕世聪先生借展

在后几次航程随行的通译员马欢形容柯枝和古里（今印度境内）的工匠如何把珊瑚磨成珠子来出售。

Delhi Sultanate (1210 - 1526) silver coins

14th century
On loan from Mr Loo Say Chong

In 1412, China sent a mission to the Delhi Sultanate in India. The party was led by Yang Min, and continued onto India after a successful visit to Bangladesh. The lack of any further missions probably suggests that Emperor Yongle did not find the Sultanate to be an important trading partner.

印度德里苏丹国（1210 - 1526）银币

14世纪
吕世聪先生借展

1412年，中国派使团到印度的德里苏丹国去。使团由杨敏带领，在成功地访问榜葛剌（今孟加拉）以后继续前往印度，之后就鲜有中国使团到访。这大概表示永乐帝并不把其视为重要的贸易伙伴。

Iranian gold coins

Ilkhanate dynasty, 14th century
On loan from Mr Loo Say Chong

Ilkhanate was one of the four divisions within the Mongol Empire centred in Persia (Iran). During the 14th century, the Venetian traveller Marco Polo visited Hormuz, describing it as a bustling port visited by Indian traders. Hormuz remains an international entrepot in the early 15th century that connected China with the Islamic world.

伊朗伊利汗国金币

14世纪
吕世聪先生借展

伊利汗国是蒙古帝国的四大汗国之一，以波斯（今伊朗）为中心。14世纪，威尼斯旅行家马可波罗来到了忽鲁谟斯，称其为印度商旅聚集的繁忙港口。忽鲁谟斯到了15世纪仍是联系中国与回教世界的国际转口贸易港。

Glass bottles for holding rose-water

Yuan dynasty
Discovered in coastal waters off Riau Archipelago.
On loan from Mr Loo Say Chong and Mr Wong Pui Fatt

Ma Huan, a translator on Zheng He’s later voyages, recorded seeing people in Dhufar rubbing rose water and lign-aloes over their faces and limbs before entering mosques on the day of prayers.

元代用于盛装蔷薇露的琉璃瓶

自印尼廖内群岛海域内寻获
吕世聪与黄沛发先生借展

在后几次航程随行的通译员马欢记录了佐法尔（今阿曼境内）人在进入回教堂做礼拜之前会用蔷薇露涂在脸上和四肢。

Glass beads

Discovered in a Yuan dynasty shipwreck off the coast of Riau Archipelago
On loan from Mr Loo Say Chong

Chinese glass beads – also known as 'melted beads' to Fei Xin, a soldier who accompanied Zheng He on three voyages – were a common export to Southeast Asian countries in the fifteenth century.

元代琉璃珠

自印尼廖内群岛海域内的一艘元代沉船内寻获
吕世聪先生借展

中国出产的琉璃珠 -- 也即是三次随行的军人费信所谓的“烧珠” -- 是15世纪东南亚国家的普遍出口商品。

Blue and white porcelain dish with phoenix motif

Made in Jingdezhen
Ming dynasty, 16th century
On loan from Mr Loo Say Chong

Chinese porcelain was a highly sought-after trade item. This dish was made in Jingdezhen, in the province of Jiangxi, the city responsible for producing the finest blue and while porcelain for export. This made Jingdezhen one of the most important industrial cities during the Ming dynasty.

明代江西景德镇窑祥云双凤纹青花大盘

16世纪
吕世聪先生借展

中国的瓷器是非常抢手的贸易商品。这个大盘产自江西景德镇。那里以盛产最精致的外销青花瓷器闻名。这使景德镇成为明代最重要的工业城市之一。

Blue and white porcelain dish

Made in Zhangzhou, Fujian
Ming dynasty, 16th century
On loan from Mr Loo Say Chong

In the centre of this dish is a picture of a qilin, a mythical creature that appears on earth only in times of great peace and prosperity. When Zheng He brought giraffes to the imperial court, Chinese officials identified them as qilin – a powerful tribute to the Emperor.

明代福建漳州窑青花大盘

16世纪
吕世聪先生借展

盘中央绘有麒麟的图案。麒麟是一种传说中只在盛世时才会出现的瑞兽。当郑和将长颈鹿带回朝廷时，大臣们以为它就是麒麟 – 这正好显示了永乐帝是位贤明的君主。

Gold coins from Aceh

16th century
On loan from Mr Loo Say Chong

These coins are from Aceh, a strategic port in the 15th and 16th centuries. At the time of Zheng He's voyages, Aceh was regarded as the place dividing the Eastern and Western Oceans from one another. When the Portuguese invaded Malacca in 1511, Aceh replaced Malacca as the area's great maritime centre, controlling trade between China and Gujerat, India.

16世纪亚齐金币

吕世聪先生借展

这些货币来自亚齐。亚齐在15及16世纪曾是重要的贸易港。郑和下西洋时期，亚齐是东洋和西洋的分界线。1511年，葡萄牙人侵略马六甲，亚齐取而代之成为本区域的海事中心，控制着中国及印度固加拉特之间的贸易。

Bencao gangmu (Great Pharmacopoeia)

Written by Li Shizhen, 1596
On loan from the National University of Singapore's Chinese Library

It was written in 1596 by a pharmacist called Li Shizhen, who spent time at the Jinghai Temple studying the medicinal properties of plants and animals that Zheng He brought to China. The part of the book on display recommends consuming ostrich's faeces if a person accidentally consumes metal and stone – the faeces would dissolve the dangerous substances!

（明）李时珍撰《本草纲目》

1596年
新加坡国立大学中文图书馆借展

明朝医学家李时珍曾花过一段时间在静海寺研究郑和所带回来的动植物的药性。所展示的这部分内容建议人们在误吞铁或石的时候可以服用鸵鸟粪，因为鸵鸟粪能化解那些有毒物质！

Tea leaves

Sponsored by Eu Yan Sang

China was the world's primary producer of tea leaves in the fifteenth century. Large amount of tea leaves were exported to foreign states through trade.

茶叶

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15世纪的中国是世界主要的茶叶生产国。大量的茶叶通过海上贸易出口到国外。

Areca nut

Sponsored by Eu Yan Sang

Ma Huan, a sailor on Zheng He's voyages who recorded his impressions, noted that people in Java liked to chew on areca nuts and betel-leaf mixed with lime made of clam-shells. They liked it so much that they would never let it leave their mouths! The only concession made to eating other foods was to rinse the dregs from their mouths with water before dining.

槟榔

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通译员马欢注意到爪哇人爱嚼槟榔的习惯。他们把槟榔果和荖叶与蚌壳石灰混在一起嚼，可以说几乎每时每刻都在嚼！

Nutmeg

Sponsored by Eu Yan Sang

Nutmeg was easily available in the markets of Java. It originally came from the Moluccas, also known as the Spice Islands. It was a common ingredient in traditional Chinese medicine for treating abdominal pain and diarrhoea.

肉豆蔻

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肉豆蔻在爪哇市场上很容易买得到。它原本来自有香料群岛之称的摩鹿加群岛。肉豆蔻是传统中医药治疗腹痛及腹泻的常用药。

Long pepper

Sponsored by Eu Yan Sang

Most pepper in Southeast Asia was distributed from Java. The Chinese sought long pepper in particular because it was a flavouring in Chinese food and was used medicinally to treat headaches and toothache.

荜茇

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东南亚的胡椒多数来自爪哇。中国人尤其喜欢荜茇，因为它可用作中餐的调味料，也能用来治疗头痛和牙痛。

Sapanwood

Sponsored by Eu Yan Sang

The hard heart-wood of sapanwood yielded a red dye, used by the Chinese to colour materials.

In his records of Zheng He's voyages, Ma Huan wrote that he believed sapanwood from Siam to be superior to that from other countries.

苏木

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苏木所分泌的红色液体常被中国人当染料使用。

马欢在《瀛崖胜览》中相信最优质的苏木产于暹罗（今泰国）。

Cardamom

Sponsored by Eu Yan Sang

Cardamom was a common tributary item sent from Java and Siam. Chinese physicians used it to treat abdominal pain and stop vomiting.

白豆蔻

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白豆蔻是爪哇和暹罗的主要贡品。中医用它来治疗腹痛及止呕。

Sulphur

Sponsored by Eu Yan Sang

Sulphur was an important ingredient in the Chinese's manufacture of gunpowder. It came from the volcanically active island of Sumatra.

硫磺

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硫磺是中国制造火药的主要原料。它来自火山活跃的苏门答腊岛。

Ambergris ("Dragon-spittle perfume")

Sponsored by Eu Yan Sang

Ambergris is the concretion in the intestine of the sperm-whale. Ming dynasty Chinese believed that ambergris was the spittle of dragons that visited the island of Pulau Rondo, northwest of Sumatra. It was used in perfumes, incense and medicine, and was so rare that it commanded an exceptionally high price on the international market. Fei Xin, a sailor on three of Zheng He's voyages, recorded that one liang (or tael) of ambergris was worth more than 40,000 Chinese copper coins in Samudera, Indonesia!

龙涎香

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龙涎香是抹香鲸肠内的结石。明朝人相信龙涎香是苏门答腊西北部龙涎屿上龙的唾液。它可制成香水，熏香及药物。物以稀为贵，龙涎香在国际市场上叫价特别高。据三次随行下西洋的费信所记载，一两龙涎香在苏门答剌（今印尼境内）叫价超过四万枚中国铜钱！

Pearls

Sponsored by Eu Yan Sang

Zheng He's crew was astonished at the abundance of pearls in Ceylon (Sri Lanka). The King of Ceylon even had a pond where he cultivated pearls for his personal use! However, due to the luxurious trading in pearls between China and the Middle Eastern countries, the pearls were often stolen and sold to other countries.

珍珠

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郑和的部下惊叹于珍珠在锡兰（今斯里兰卡）的普遍。锡兰国王甚至有自己的珍珠池，专培植珍珠供自己享用！然而，由于中国和中东之间珍珠贸易的繁盛，许多珍珠都被偷运到外国去售卖。

Sassurea root

Sponsored by Eu Yan Sang

Sassurea root was a common tributary item from Samudera, Siam, Calicut and Ceylon. Chinese physicians used it to treat diarrhoea and stomach pain.

木香

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木香是苏门答剌、暹罗、古里（今印度境内）和锡兰等国的主要贡品。中医用来治疗腹痛和腹泻。

Amber

Sponsored by Eu Yan Sang

Traders from all over the world gathered at Hormuz, Iran, to source for ambers. The Chinese believed amber was the soul of tigers that had turned into rock, and used it to help with the circulation of blood.

琥珀

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15世纪的忽鲁谟斯（今伊朗境内）聚集了来自世界各地前来购买琥珀的商人。中国人相信琥珀是老虎魂魄的化石，并用它来活血化淤。

Frankincense

Sponsored by Eu Yan Sang

Frankincense is a gum-resin that came from Dhufar, home to the rare species of tree called Boswellia that produces the special gum. It was used to treat rheumatism and reduce swelling.

乳香

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乳香是一种产于佐尔法（今阿曼境内）稀有乳香树Boswellia的树脂。它具有治疗风湿、消肿等功效。

'Dragon's blood resin'

Sponsored by Eu Yan Sang

'Dragon’s blood resin' is a red resin from the Dracaena schizantha and Dracaena cinnabari tree species, commonly found in East Africa and the southern part of the Arabian peninsular. It is used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat fractures and stop bleeding.

血竭

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血竭是阿拉伯龙血树Dracaena schizantha及叶龙血树Dracaena cinnabari 的红树脂，普遍见于东非和阿拉伯半岛南部。传统中医用它来治疗骨折及止血。

Momordica Cochinchinensis

Sponsored by Eu Yan Sang

The Momordica seed is known to prescribe in the form of paste for treating wounds and ulcers. It could be found in Calicut and Dhufar.

木别子

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木别子常被炮制成胶状使用，以治疗创伤及溃疡。木别子在古里和佐法尔都能找得到。

Myrrh

Sponsored by Eu Yan Sang

Myrrh is a fragrant gum-resin. It is produced by the Commiphora species of trees and shrubs that are found only in East Africa and the southern part of the Arabian peninsular. Dhufar was the main distribution centre for myrrh. Chinese physicians used it as a painkiller and to treat blood clots.

没药

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没药是芳香的油胶树脂。它可从产自东非和阿拉伯半岛南部的橄榄科灌木或乔木没药树Commiphora找到。佐法尔是没药的批发中心。中医用没药来活血止痛。

Bird's nest

Sponsored by Eu Yan Sang

It is believed that the consumption of bird's nest began when Zheng He brought back the unique product when he visited Borneo. Bird's nest is well known in traditional Chinese medicine for its ability to fortify the body from various ailments such as common cold and degenerative diseases.

燕窝

由余仁生赞助

据说吃燕窝的传统是从郑和把它从婆罗州带回中国的时候开始的。燕窝在传统中医药里具有提高免疫力，防范流行性感冒及退化性疾病的功能。