Appendix: Major Events During Zhang He’s Lifetime-part one
 
1371
 
1. Zheng He was born in Kunyang Prefecture, Yunnan Province in the 4th year (1371) of the Hongwu reign period of the Ming Dynasty.
 
2. In the same year, Annam, Boni, Sanfoqi, Siam and Zhenla (Cambodia) sent envoys to the Ming court.
 
1372

1. In the first month of the 5th year (1372) of the Hongwu reign period, when Zheng He was two years old, Palace Messenger Yang Zai announced the coronation of Emperor Taizu to the ruler of the Ryukyu Islands.
 
2. In the same year, Suoli, Champa and the Ryukyu Islands sent envoys to the Ming court.
 
1373
 
1. In the summer of the 6th year (1373) of the Hongwu reign period, when Zheng He was three years old, the inner city wall of Nanjing (the Ming capital) was completed, with a total circumference of 96 li (48 kin), and 13 gates. The outer city walls had a circumference of 180 li (90 km), with 16 gates.
 
2. In the same year, Siam, Champa, Zhenla and Sanfoqi sent envoys to the Ming court. The Ming emperor ordered Annam's Chen Shuming to take charge of state affairs on a temporary basis.
 
1374
 
1. In the 8th month of the 7th year (1374) of the Hongwu reign period, when Zheng He was four years old, the emperor dispatched the uncle of Prince Weishun of the Yuan Dynasty (which had been replaced by the Ming) to order the Prince of Liang in Yunnan Province to switch allegiance to the new dynasty.
 
2. In the same year, Siam, Ryukyu and Sanfoqi sent envoys  to the Ming court.
   
1375
 
1. In the 8th year (1375) of the Hongwu reign period, when Zheng He was five years old, the state of Boni offered sacrifices to the mountains and rivers of Fujian, to which its own mountains and rivers were regarded as secondary.
   
2. The same year, Champa, Siam, Java and Sanfoqi sent envoys to the Ming court.
   
1376
   
1. In the 9th month of the 9th year (1376) of the Hongwu reign period, when Zheng He was six years old, the emperor's second grandson Yunwen (later the Jianwen Emperor) was born.
 
2. In the same year, Lanbang, the Ryukyu Islands and Annam sent envoys to the Ming court.
 
1377
 
1. In the 10th year (1377) of the Hongwu reign period, when Zheng He was seven years old, Zhaolüqun, crown prince of Siam, was received in audience at the Ming court. The emperor bestowed on him robes and cloth as well as traveling expenses.
 
2. In the same year, Champa, Sanfoqi, Siam, Java and Zhenla sent envoys to the Ming court.
 
1378
 
1. In the 11th year (1378) of the Hongwu reign period, when Zheng He was eight years old, Siam, Shepo, the Ryukyu Islands, Champa, Sanfoqi, Pahang and Baihua sent envoys to the Ming court.
 
1379
   
1. In the 12th year (1379) of the Hongwu reign period, when Zheng He was nine years old, Champa, Java, Siam and Annam sent envoys to the Ming court.
 
1380
   
1. In the 3rd month of the 13th year (1380) of the Hongwu reign period, when Zheng He was ten years old, Beiping (later Beijing) was made the fiefdom of the Prince of Yan, Zhu Di.
 
2. In the same year, the Ryukyu Islands, Annam, Champa, Zhenla and Java sent envoys to the Ming court.