- Ma Huan
Ma Huan (Chinese 马欢), courtesy name Chung-dao 宗道, pen name Mountain-woodcutter, born in Hui Ji county of
Zhejiang province. He was aMuslim voyager and translator who accompanied AdmiralZheng He on three of his seven expeditions to the Western Oceans.In the
1413 expedition (the 3rd), he visitedChampa , Java,Sumatra ,Palembang ,Siam , Kochi andHormuz .In the
1421 expedition, he visitedMalacca ,Aru ,Sumatra ,Ceylon , Kochi,Calicut ,Zufar andHormuz .In the
1431 expedition, he visitedBengal ,Chittagong ,Sonargaon ,Gaur , Calicut. From Calicut, he was sent by EununchHong Bao as emissary toMecca .During his expeditions, Ma Huan took notes about the geography, politics, weather conditions, environment, economy, local customs, even method of punishment for criminals. Returned home on his first expedition, he began writing a book about his expedition, the first draft of which was ready around
1416 . He expanded and modified his draft during later expeditions, the final version was ready around1451 . The title of his book was "Ying-yai Sheng-lan " (The Overall Survey of the Ocean's Shores).During the
Ming dynasty andQing dynasty , there were many printed and handcopied editions. The latest authentic text of a printed version was edited and annotated by historianFeng Chen jun . A newer edition, based on Ming dynasty handcopied editions, was recently published by Ocean Publishing House in China. There is an English translation by J.V.G. Mills for theHakluyt Society in 1970, reprinted in1997 by The White Lotus Press in Bangkok. Mills's translation was based on the edition by Feng Cheng jun.The Ying-yai Sheng-lan is considered by sinologists worldwide as a primary source for the history of Ming dynasty naval exploration, history of
South East Asia andhistory of India .Scholars who have done research work on Ma Huan: J.J.L. Duyvendak, F. Hirth,
Paul Pelliot ,Feng Chen jun ,Xiang Da .References
* Ying-yai Sheng-lan, The Overall Survey of the Ocean's Shores
1433 by Ma Huan, translated by J.V.G. Mills, with foreword and preface, Hakluty Society, London 1970; reprinted by the White Lotus Press 1997 ISBN 974-8496-78-3
* Paul Pelliot, Les grands voyages maritimes chinois au début du 15ème siècle。Further reading
* Gordon, Stewart. "When Asia was the World: Traveling Merchants, Scholars, Warriors, and Monks who created the "Riches of the East" Da Capo Press, Perseus Books, 2008. ISBN 0-306-81556-7.
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