Ma Huan
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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 a Muslim voyager and translator who accompanied Admiral Zheng He in three of his seven expeditions to the Western Oceans.
In the 1413 expedition (the 3rd), he visited Champa, Java, Sumatra, Palembang, Siam, Kochi and Hormuz.
In the 1421 expedition he visited Malacca, Aru, Sumatra, Ceylon, Kochi, Calicut, Zufar and Hormuz.
In the 1431 expedition, he visited Bengal, Chittagong, Sonargaon, Gaur, Calicut. From Calicut, he was sent by Eununch Hong Bao as emissary to Mecca.
During his expeditions, Ma Huan took notes about the geography, politics, weather condition, environment, economy, local customs, even method of punishment for crimals. 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 around 1451. The title of his book was "Ying-yai Sheng-lan" (The Overall Survey of the Ocean's Shores).
During the Ming dynasty and Qing dynasty there were many printed and handcopied editions. The latest authentic text of a printed version was edited and annotated by historian Feng Chen jun. A newer edtion 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 the Hakluyt Society in 1970, reprinted in 1997 by The White Lotus Press in Bangkok. Mills's tranlstion was based on the edition by Feng Cheng jun.
The Ying-yai Sheng-lan is considered by sinologists world wide as a primary source for the history of Ming dynasty naval exploration, history of South East Asia and history of India.
Scholars who had 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
- Paul Pelliot, Les grands voyages maritimes chinois au début du 15ème siècle。
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