The famous Chinese admiral who led voyages in the early 15th century was Zheng He.
Born Ma He around 1371 in Yunnan, Zheng He was a Muslim eunuch who entered the service of the Ming imperial court. After helping Prince Zhu Di seize the throne, he was rewarded with the name Zheng He and appointed to command the imperial treasure fleets.
Between 1405 and 1433, Zheng He led seven major expeditions during the reigns of the Yongle and Xuande emperors. His fleets traveled through Southeast Asia and across the Indian Ocean to India, Arabia, and the eastern coast of Africa. The voyages carried gifts, trade goods, diplomats, and military forces, projecting Ming influence far beyond China.
A common mix-up is confusing Zheng He with Zhang Qian, another celebrated Chinese explorer. Zhang Qian traveled westward during the Han dynasty, centuries earlier, and helped open connections with Central Asia. Zheng He’s voyages were maritime expeditions, conducted with enormous fleets of specialized ships.