中国传统文化与郑和下西洋

“天子有德四海来归”的传统文化资源,对于通过武力夺得皇帝宝座但却缺乏政治权威的朱棣来说,提供了一个通过对外交往来改变自己“篡逆者”形象的行动指南。而郑和使团面对着不同宗教信仰所坚持的“和而不同”立场,和对某些海外势力的挑衅行为所采取的“以德服人”方针,也确保了朱棣赋予他们的外交使命的成功实现。

Traditional Chinese Culture and Zheng He's Westward Voyages

The ancient Chinese believed that “If an emperor has good virtue,then the whole world will submit to him”.Based on this belief,traditional Chinese culture resources offered Zhu Di,who obtained the sovereign power by force but lacked the political authority,a guide to change his image as “usurper” by diplomacy.Zheng He’s diplomatic corps persisted in the standpoint of “a gentleman get along with others but not necessarily agrees with them”,and the guideline of “subduing men by virtue” when they were faced with different religious belief and some overseas provocations.All of this ensured the success of their diplomatic mission endowed by Zhu Di.