郑和航海与穆斯林文化

15世纪,中国明代的郑和七下西洋是政府行为,影响广远。郑和与其从官马欢系穆斯林出身,遂使郑和航海得益于穆斯林文化。由于马欢通晓阿拉伯语、波斯语等穆斯林国家的语言,因此,郑和一行同中国南海与印度洋沿岸上的各国穆斯林进行了较为广泛的交流,对明代中国认识了解当地的民族及其迁徙、宗教生活与民俗、物产与经济提供了真实的情况。这对中国与不同文化底蕴的其他国家日后和平交往,奠定了良好的基础。本文拟借纪念郑和航海600周年之机,讲一下穆斯林文化与郑和航海的密切关系,兼及郑和航海史料的研究、整理。

Zheng He''''s Navigation and Muslim Culture

In the 15th century,the Ming Dynasty official Zheng He visited the Indian Ocean under the sponsorship of the Chinese government. The effects of these journeys were broad and long-lasting. Zheng He and his accomplice Ma Huan were both Muslims by birth, and Zheng He's navigations profited from the influence of Islamic culture. Due to Ma Huan's acquaintance with the Islamic languages of Arabic and Persian, they were able to interact well with the Muslims of the South China Sea and the coast of the Indian Ocean. This provided a real chance for the Chinese Ming Dynasty to get to know the various local peoples, their religion, life-style, folk customs, and the products of their economy. This established a nice basis for China future peaceful interactions with other cultures.