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A UNIQUE exhibition provides an opportunity for visitors to learn about the adventures of Chinese explorer Zheng He about 600 years ago.

Sailing West: Admiral Zheng He's Voyages is jointly presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and the National Museum of China and organised by the Hong Kong Museum of History.

It highlights a remarkable chapter in China's maritime history.

The exhibition is  being held at the Hong Kong Museum of History  until May 15.

More than 60 artefacts and 100 photographs, including historical relics from Zheng's voyages, are on display.

The most prized relics include an 11-metre wooden rudder, remains of the Ming dynasty ship-building yard in Nanjing , a bronze bell inscribed with Zheng's  name and the famous Buddhist text 'Lotus Sutra'. Visitors can also see a model of Zheng's  flagship and books about his voyages to the Western Sea (a term used during the Ming dynasty for the seas and lands west of  Borneo).

Zheng  (1371-1433), known as the Sanbao Eunuch (Sanbao means 'three treasures'),  was  born to a Hui family in Kunming , Yunnan province  .

In the 14th year of the Hongwu reign (1382),  he served as a palace eunuch and was given the new surname 'Zheng'. He was later promoted to  head the directorate of palace eunuchs.

Zheng was an intelligent man, with a good knowledge of military affairs. But, most importantly,  the emperor, Chengzu (1360-1421), trusted him  so he was seen as the  best commander to sail to the west.

The purpose of Zheng's voyages has sparked debate among scholars. According to the book Ming Shi (History of the Ming Dynasty), Chengzu sent Zheng  to search for the emperor's missing predecessor Huidi (Emperor Jianwen).

The emperor also wanted to use the journeys  to show off China's military power.  The journeys were also aimed at boosting  China's economy by developing international trade, promoting friendship with foreigners, destroying the naval power  of the leaders of the previous Yuan dynasty,  and establishing maritime alliances with  other countries.

From 1405 to 1433, Zheng  led seven voyages to the Western Sea.

Evidence shows that Zheng went to Southeast Asia, the Indian Ocean and Africa, travelling as far as the Red Sea and the east African coast.

But some people believe that Zheng might have gone even to the Americas, much earlier than Christopher Columbus' voyage to the New World in 1492.

In his 2002 book, 1421: The Year China Discovered the World,  retired Royal Navy submarine commander Gavin Menzies suggests  Zheng  set foot on the Americas in 1421. His claim has aroused controversy among academics.

In January, Shanghai antique collector Liu Gang claimed he found  a map dated 1763, which is said to be a copy of a 1418 map from the Zheng era. Mr Liu believes the map featuring the Americas may prove that Chinese sailors first discovered the continent.

But critics  question whether the 1418 map is genuine because of its concept of a circular world, the location of the North Pole (which was discovered much later) and some obvious mistakes in it.

The Museum of History's chief curator, Joseph Ting Sun-pao, is not convinced by Menzies' book or the map. But he said the debate had put the spotlight  on Zheng.

'Before this, everyone, whether  a westerner or Chinese, knew about Vasco da Gama, but few westerners had heard Zheng's name. Now more people are eager to learn about Zheng and Chinese history,' he said.

Mr Ting encourages students to visit the exhibition and discuss the reasons behind Zheng's voyages and their influence on the world.

'This is no doubt a more colourful  way to study history [than only relying on textbooks],' he said.

The Museum of History in Tsim Sha Tsui is open Monday to Saturday, 10am to 6pm, and on Sundays and public holidays, 10am to 7pm. It is closed on Tuesdays. Admission is $5 for students ($10 for adults) but free  on Wednesdays. For more details, visit hk.history.museum  or call 2724 9042.



Ancient mariner