Образ Чжэн Хэ и раннеминских экспедиций в Западный океан (1405–1433) в речах, выступлениях и статьях Си Цзиньпина (2010-е – 2023)

Восток. Афро-азиатские общества: история и современность. 2024. № 5. С. 58–69.

Колнин И. С.

This article marks the first attempt of a complex analysis of appeals to the image of
Zheng He and early Ming maritime expeditions (1405–1433) in the present rhetoric of the head
of PRC. In the beginning, history of the formation and transformation of the image of Zheng He
and the early Ming naval expeditions prior to Xi Jingping’s coming to power was briefly analyzed;
later, the author collected a corpus of Xi Jinping’s speeches and articles from the 2010s to 2023,
in which Zheng He and the expeditions under his command were mentioned. After that, the author
outlined several main topics for illustration and argumentation where the image of the great
Chinese navigator is used (history of good neighborly relations between China and a particular
country; history of China’s international relations and the Maritime Silk Road; contrast between
Zheng He expeditions and the colonial policy of European powers). Finally, the evolution of the
portrayal of this image was outlined and its probable causes were designated. In addition, the
historical accuracy of some statements by Xi Jinping was assessed. Thus, it was demonstrated
that Zheng He’s voyages were not purely peaceful events, and the fleet’s visit to the Philippines is
not confirmed by the data from historical sources. In conclusion, one can presume that with the
further continuation of the current political and economic course of China, the name of Zheng
He will increasingly appear in the rhetoric of high-ranking political figures in China as well as
their foreign counterparts.

Keywords: soft power, мягкая сила, historical memory, историческая память, Си Цзиньпин, Xi Jinping, Zheng He, Чжэн Хэ, Ming Empire, Империя Мин