Image title: Zheng He' (biography)

English text:

Zheng He' (1371-1433) — Zheng He' was the Admiral of the Navy, during the period of Sung Shi, the third Emperor of The Ming Dynasty in China. He could be introduced as a great navigator, country explorer, trade delegate and an ambassador.

During the period 1405-1433 AD, Zheng He' undertook seven well known sea voyages on the advice of the Chinese Emperor, and was able to visit more than 30 countries belonging to the two continents included in South Asia, South-East Asia and East Asia.

Zheng He' undertook these naval voyages in 100-300 ships with a battalion as large as 28,000 soldiers. These ships had been manufactured to withstand any grave situations and were larger than the ships produced by the Europeans two centuries after. During these journeys, they were able to engage in trade activities, sea route exploration and mapping them. Thus, it becomes clear that the Chinese had been able to explore African and Eastern countries several centuries before their discoveries by the Europeans.

Zheng He' was the greatest navigator and explorer by the 14th century AD, and during this period, he had made five visits to Sri Lanka. During his second naval visit he arrived in Galle and installed an important stone slab inscription as well. This is now exhibited at the National Museum, Colombo. (See text on Trilingual Inscription).

Zheng He' had managed to maintain good rapport with the kings and administrators of the countries he visited, and during his last naval tour, he took ill and passed away in Calcutta.

Sinhala text (not proofread):

සොංග් හේ (ක්‍රි.ව. 1371 - 1433) — සොංග් හේ, චීනයේ මිංග් රජ පෙළපතේ තෙවන අධිරාජයා වූ සුංසි රජුගේ රාජකීය නාවික බල ඇණියේ ප්‍රධාන අණදෙන නිලධාරියා (අද්මිරාල්) විය. මීට අමතරව, ඔහු මුහුදු සංචාරකයෙකු, දේශ ගවේශකයෙකු, වෙළඳ නියෝජිතයෙකු හා තානාපතිවරයෙකු ලෙසද හැඳින්විය හැකිය.

ක්‍රි.ව. 1405 - 1433 අතර කාලය තුළ චීන අධිරාජයාගේ උපදෙස් මත සොංග් හේ සුප්‍රකට මුහුදු සංචාර හතක යෙදිණි. එහිදී ඔහු දකුණු ආසියාව, අග්නිදිග ආසියාව, නැගෙනහිර ආසියාව හා නැගෙනහිර අප්‍රිකාව ඇතුළත් මහද්වීප 2 කට අයත් හා රටවල් 30 කට අධික සංඛ්‍යාවක සංචාරය කර ඇත.

සොංග් හේ මෙම නාවුක ගමන්වල යෙදුනේ, නැව් 100 - 300 කින් හා නාවිකයන් 28,000 ක් පමණ සංඛ්‍යාවක් සහිත අති විශාල නාවික බල ඇණියක් සමඟය. මෙම නැව් මුහුදේ දී ඇතිවන ඕනෑම දරුණු තත්ත්වයකට ඔරොත්තු දීමට හැකිවන අයුරින් නිමවා තිබුණු අතර, යුරෝපීයයන් විසින් ඊට ශතවර්ෂ දෙකකට පමණ පසුව භාවිත කළ නැව්වලට වඩා විශාල විය. මෙම ගමන්වලදී රටවල් අතර වෙළඳ ගනුදෙනු ද සිදුකළ අතර, සාගර මාර්ග ගවේශනය හා ඒවා සිතියම්ගත කිරීම ද සිදු කෙරිණි.

මෙයින් පැහැදිලි වන්නේ යුරෝපීයයන් විසින් අප්‍රිකානු හා පෙරදිග රටවල් සොයා ගැනීමට ශතවර්ෂ කිහිපයකට පෙර චීන ජාතිකයින් එම ප්‍රදේශ සොයාගෙන තිබූ බවයි.

ක්‍රි.ව. 14 වන සියවසේ සිටි හොඳම සාගර හා දේශගවේශකයා ලෙස හැඳින්වෙන සොංග් හේ සිය සංචාර අතරතුර දී ස්වකීය නාවික කණ්ඩායම සමග පස් වතාවක් පමණ ශ්‍රී ලංකාවට ගොඩබට බවට සාධක තිබේ. ඔහුගේ දෙවෙනි නාවික සංචාරයේ දී ගාලු වරායට පැමිණ ශිලා ලිපියක් ද ස්ථාපනය කරන ලදී(ත්‍රෛභාෂා ශිලාලේඛනය බලන්න). එය දැනට කොළඹ ජාතික කෞතුකාගාරයේ ප්‍රදර්ශනය කෙරේ.

තමා සංචාරය කළ සියළු රටවල රජවරුන්, පාලකයන් සමඟ ඉතා සුහදශීලීව කටය

Transcription:

soṅg hē (kri.va. 1371 - 1433) — soṅg hē, chīnayē miṅg raja peḷapatē tevana adhirājayā vū suṅsi rajugē rājakīya nāvika bala æṇiyē pradhāna aṇadena niladhāriyā (admirāl) viya. mīṭa amatarava, ohu muhudu saṅchārakayeku, dēśa gavēśakayeku, veḷanda niyōjitayeku hā tānāpativarayeku lesada hændinviya hækiya.

kri.va. 1405 - 1433 atara kālaya tuḷa chīna adhirājayāgē upades mata soṅg hē suprakaṭa muhudu saṅchāra hataka yediṇi. ehidī ohu dakuṇu āsiyāva, agnidiga āsiyāva, nægenahira āsiyāva hā nægenahira aprikāva ætuḷat mahadvīpa 2 kaṭa ayat hā raṭaval 30 kaṭa adhika saṅkhyāvaka saṅchāraya kara æta.

soṅg hē mema nāvuka gamanvala yedunē, næv 100 - 300 kin hā nāvikayan 28,000 k pamaṇa saṅkhyāvak sahita ati viśāla nāvika bala æṇiyak samaṅgaya. mema næv muhudē dī ætivana ōnǣma daruṇu tattvayakaṭa orottu dīmaṭa hækivana ayurin nimavā tibuṇu atara, yurōpīyayan visin īṭa śatavarṣa dekakaṭa pamaṇa pasuva bhāvita kaḷa nævvalaṭa vaḍā viśāla viya. mema gamanvaladī raṭaval atara veḷanda ganudenu da sidukaḷa atara, sāgara mārga gavēśanaya hā ēvā sitiyamgata kirīma da sidu keriṇi.

meyin pæhædili vannē yurōpīyayan visin aprikānu hā peradiga raṭaval soyā gænīmaṭa śatavarṣa kihipayakaṭa pera chīna jātikayin ema pradēśa soyāgena tibū bavayi.

kri.va. 14 vana siyavasē siṭi hondama sāgara hā dēśagavēśakayā lesa hændinvena soṅg hē siya saṅchāra ataratura dī svakīya nāvika kaṇḍāyama samaga pas vatāvak pamaṇa śrī laṅkāvaṭa goḍabaṭa bavaṭa sādhaka tibē. ohugē deveni nāvika saṅchārayē dī gālu varāyaṭa pæmiṇa śilā lipiyak da sthāpanaya karana ladī(traĩbhāṣā śilālēkhanaya balanna). eya dænaṭa koḷaḅa jātika kautukāgārayē pradarśanaya kerē.

tamā saṅchāraya kaḷa siyaḷu raṭavala rajavarun, pālakayan samaṅga itā suhadaśīlīva kaṭaya

Transcription:

song he (kri.va. 1371 - 1433) — song he, chinaye ming raja pelapate tevana adhirajaya vu sunsi rajuge rajakiya navika bala aniye pradhana anadena niladhariya (admiral) viya. mita amatarava, ohu muhudu sancharakayeku, desha gaveshakayeku, velanda niyojitayeku ha tanapativarayeku lesada handinviya hakiya.

kri.va. 1405 - 1433 atara kalaya tula china adhirajayage upades mata song he suprakata muhudu sanchara hataka yedini. ehidi ohu dakunu asiyava, agnidiga asiyava, nagenahira asiyava ha nagenahira aprikava atulat mahadvipa 2 kata ayat ha rataval 30 kata adhika sankhyavaka sancharaya kara ata.

song he mema navuka gamanvala yedune, nav 100 - 300 kin ha navikayan 28,000 k pamana sankhyavak sahita ati vishala navika bala aniyak samangaya. mema nav muhude di ativana onama darunu tattvayakata orottu dimata hakivana ayurin nimava tibunu atara, yuropiyayan visin ita shatavarsha dekakata pamana pasuva bhavita kala navvalata vada vishala viya. mema gamanvaladi rataval atara velanda ganudenu da sidukala atara, sagara marga gaveshanaya ha eva sitiyamgata kirima da sidu kerini.

meyin pahadili vanne yuropiyayan visin aprikanu ha peradiga rataval soya ganimata shatavarsha kihipayakata pera china jatikayin ema pradesha soyagena tibu bavayi.

kri.va. 14 vana siyavase siti hondama sagara ha deshagaveshakaya lesa handinvena song he siya sanchara ataratura di svakiya navika kandayama samaga pas vatavak pamana shri lankavata godabata bavata sadhaka tibe. ohuge deveni navika sancharaye di galu varayata pamina shila lipiyak da sthapanaya karana ladi(traibhasha shilalekhanaya balanna). eya danata kolaḅa jatika kautukagaraye pradarshanaya kere.

tama sancharaya kala siyalu ratavala rajavarun, palakayan samanga ita suhadashiliva kataya

Automated translation (not verified):

Song He (1371 - 1433 AD) — Song He was the Commander-in-Chief (Admiral) of the Royal Navy of King Songzi, the third emperor of the Ming dynasty of China. In addition, he can also be called a seafarer, explorer, trade agent and ambassador. AD Between 1405 and 1433, Song He embarked on seven famous voyages at the behest of the Chinese emperor. There he has visited more than 30 countries belonging to 2 continents including South Asia, Southeast Asia, East Asia and East Africa. Song He embarked on these naval expeditions with an enormous fleet of 100 - 300 ships and about 28,000 sailors. These ships were built to withstand any harsh conditions at sea and were larger than the ships used by Europeans two centuries later. During these voyages, trade deals were also conducted between countries, and ocean routes were explored and mapped. This makes it clear that the Chinese discovered the African and Oriental countries a few centuries before the Europeans discovered them. AD There are evidences that Song He, who is known as the best ocean and land explorer of the 14th century, landed in Sri Lanka five times with his naval team during his travels. On his second naval visit, he arrived at the port of Galle and an inscription was also installed (see Trilingual Inscription). It is currently on display at the National Museum in Colombo. He spoke very cordially with the kings and rulers of all the countries he visited

Tamil text (not proofread):

செங்க் ஹே (கி.பி. 1371 1433) — செங்க் ஹே,சீனா நாட்டு மிங்க் அரச வழிவாரத்தின் மூன்றாவது பேரரசனான சுங்சி அரசனது அரச கடற்படையின் பிரதான தலபதியானார். இதற்கு மேலதிகமாக கடல் உல்லாசப் பயணியாக, சாண்டராக, வர்த்தக பிரதிநிதியாக மற்றும் தூதுவராக அறிமுகப் படுத்த முடியும்.

கி.பி. 1405-1433 க்கு இடைப்பட்ட காலத்தின் போது சீன பேரரசனின் ஆலோசனையின் படி செங்க் ஹே ஏழு மாபெரும் கடல் பயணங்களில் ஈடுபட்டுள்ளார். இதன் போது இவர் தென் ஆசியா, தென் கிழக்கு ஆசியா, கிழக்கு ஆசியா, ஆப்பிரிக்கா உட்படுவதாக இரு கண்டங்களை சார்ந்த 30 நாடுகளுக்கும் அதிகமான நாடுகளில் விஜயம் மேற்கொண்டுள்ளார்.

செங்க் ஹே, இவ் விஜயங்களின் போது 100 - 300 கப்பல்களை மற்றும் 28,000 கப்பல் படையினரைக் கொண்ட மாபெரும் படையுடனே பயணித்துள்ளார். கடலில் ஏற்படக்கூடிய எவ்விதமான தாக்கத்திற்கும் முகங்கொள்ளக் கூடியப்படியாக இக் கப்பல்களை நிர்மாணிக்கப்பட்டு இருந்ததோடு மேலத்தேயர்களால் இதற்கு இரு நூற்றாண்டுகளுக்கு பின்னர் பயன்படுத்திய கப்பல்களை விடவும் இவை விசாலமானதாக இருந்தன. இவ் விஜயங்களின் போது நாடுகளிடையில் வியாபார கொடுக்கல் வாங்கல்கள் இடம் பெற்ற தோடு கடல் வழிகள் தொடர்பான ஆராய்வுகளும் கண்டெடுக்கப்பட்ட கடல் வழிகளை வரைப்படமயமாக்கலும் மேற்கொள்ளப்பட்டுள்ளது. ஐரோப்பியர்களால் ஆப்பிரிக்க மற்றும் கீழத்தேய நாடுகளை கண்டு பிடிப்பதற்கு பல நூற்றாண்டுகளுக்கு முன்னரே சீன இனத்தவர்களால் இப் பிரதேசங்களை கண்டுபிடித்திருப்பதாக இதன் மூலம் தெளிவாகிறது.

கி.பி. 14ஆம் நூற்றாண்டில் இருந்த அதி சிறந்த கடல் மற்றும் தேச முற்றாய்வாளராக அறியப் படும் செங்க் ஹே தமது சஞ்சாரங்களிடையில் சுமார் ஐந்து முறைகள் தமது கப்பல் படையுடன் இலங்கைக்கும் வருகை தந்திருப்பதாக குறிப்பிடப்படுகிறது. இவரது இரண்டாவது கடல் பயணத்தின் போது காலி துறைமுகத்திற்கு வருகை தந்து சிலாசாசனமொன்றும் ஸ்தாபிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. அதனை தற்போது கொழும்பு தேசிய நூதனசாலையில் காட்சிக்கு வைக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

இவர் சஞ்சாரம் மேற்கொண்ட சகல நாடுகளின் அரசர்கள் மற்றும் ஆட்சியாளர்களுடன் மிக ஒத்துணர்வுடன் செயற்பட்டுள்ள செங்க ஹே அவரது இறுதி கடல் பயணத்தின் போது இந்தியாவில் கல்கத்தா நகரத்தில் மரணமடைந்தார்.

Transcription:

ceṅk hē (ki.pi. 1371 1433) — ceṅk hē,cīṉā nāṭṭu miṅk araca vaḻivārattiṉ mūṉṟāvatu pēraracaṉāṉa cuṅci aracaṉatu araca kaṭaṟpaṭaiyiṉ piratāṉa talapatiyāṉār. itaṟku mēlatikamāka kaṭal ullācap payaṇiyāka, cāṇṭarāka, varttaka piratinitiyāka maṟṟum tūtuvarāka aṟimukap paṭutta muṭiyum.

ki.pi. 1405-1433 kku iṭaippaṭṭa kālattiṉ pōtu cīṉa pēraracaṉiṉ ālōcaṉaiyiṉ paṭi ceṅk hē ēḻu māperum kaṭal payaṇaṅkaḷil īṭupaṭṭuḷḷār. itaṉ pōtu ivar teṉ āciyā, teṉ kiḻakku āciyā, kiḻakku āciyā, āppirikkā uṭpaṭuvatāka iru kaṇṭaṅkaḷai cārnta 30 nāṭukaḷukkum atikamāṉa nāṭukaḷil vijayam mēṟkoṇṭuḷḷār.

ceṅk hē, iv vijayaṅkaḷiṉ pōtu 100 - 300 kappalkaḷai maṟṟum 28,000 kappal paṭaiyiṉaraik koṇṭa māperum paṭaiyuṭaṉē payaṇittuḷḷār. kaṭalil ēṟpaṭakkūṭiya evvitamāṉa tākkattiṟkum mukaṅkoḷḷak kūṭiyappaṭiyāka ik kappalkaḷai nirmāṇikkappaṭṭu iruntatōṭu mēlattēyarkaḷāl itaṟku iru nūṟṟāṇṭukaḷukku piṉṉar payaṉpaṭuttiya kappalkaḷai viṭavum ivai vicālamāṉatāka iruntaṉa. iv vijayaṅkaḷiṉ pōtu nāṭukaḷiṭaiyil viyāpāra koṭukkal vāṅkalkaḷ iṭam peṟṟa tōṭu kaṭal vaḻikaḷ toṭarpāṉa ārāyvukaḷum kaṇṭeṭukkappaṭṭa kaṭal vaḻikaḷai varaippaṭamayamākkalum mēṟkoḷḷappaṭṭuḷḷatu. airōppiyarkaḷāl āppirikka maṟṟum kīḻattēya nāṭukaḷai kaṇṭu piṭippataṟku pala nūṟṟāṇṭukaḷukku muṉṉarē cīṉa iṉattavarkaḷāl ip piratēcaṅkaḷai kaṇṭupiṭittiruppatāka itaṉ mūlam teḷivākiṟatu.

ki.pi. 14ām nūṟṟāṇṭil irunta ati ciṟanta kaṭal maṟṟum tēca muṟṟāyvāḷarāka aṟiyap paṭum ceṅk hē tamatu cañcāraṅkaḷiṭaiyil cumār aintu muṟaikaḷ tamatu kappal paṭaiyuṭaṉ ilaṅkaikkum varukai tantiruppatāka kuṟippiṭappaṭukiṟatu. ivaratu iraṇṭāvatu kaṭal payaṇattiṉ pōtu kāli tuṟaimukattiṟku varukai tantu cilācācaṉamoṉṟum stāpikkappaṭṭuḷḷatu. ataṉai taṟpōtu koḻumpu tēciya nūtaṉacālaiyil kāṭcikku vaikkappaṭṭuḷḷatu.

ivar cañcāram mēṟkoṇṭa cakala nāṭukaḷiṉ aracarkaḷ maṟṟum āṭciyāḷarkaḷuṭaṉ mika ottuṇarvuṭaṉ ceyaṟpaṭṭuḷḷa ceṅka hē avaratu iṟuti kaṭal payaṇattiṉ pōtu intiyāvil kalkattā nakarattil maraṇamaṭaintār.

Transcription:

seng he (ki.pi. 1371 1433) — seng he,sina nattu ming arasa vazhivarathin munravathu perarasanana sungsi arasanathu arasa kadarpadaiyin pirathana thalapathiyanar. itharku melathigamaga kadal ullasap payaniyaga, sandaraga, varthaga pirathinithiyaga marrum thuthuvaraga arimugap padutha mudiyum.

ki.pi. 1405-1433 kku idaippatta kalathin pothu sina perarasanin alosanaiyin padi seng he ezhu maperum kadal payanangalil idupattullar. ithan pothu ivar then asiya, then kizhakku asiya, kizhakku asiya, appirikka udpaduvathaga iru kandangalai sarntha 30 nadugalukkum athigamana nadugalil vijayam merkondullar.

seng he, iv vijayangalin pothu 100 - 300 kappalkalai marrum 28,000 kappal padaiyinaraig konda maperum padaiyudane payanithullar. kadalil erpadakkudiya evvithamana thakkathirkum mugangollag kudiyappadiyaga ig kappalkalai nirmanikkappattu irunthathodu melatheyarkalal itharku iru nurrandugalukku pinnar payanpaduthiya kappalkalai vidavum ivai visalamanathaga irunthana. iv vijayangalin pothu nadugalidaiyil viyapara kodukkal vangalkal idam perra thodu kadal vazhigal thodarpana arayvugalum kandedukkappatta kadal vazhigalai varaippadamayamakkalum merkollappattullathu. airoppiyarkalal appirikka marrum kizhatheya nadugalai kandu pidippatharku pala nurrandugalukku munnare sina inathavarkalal ip pirathesangalai kandupidithiruppathaga ithan mulam thelivagirathu.

ki.pi. 14am nurrandil iruntha athi sirantha kadal marrum thesa murrayvalaraga ariyap padum seng he thamathu sancharangalidaiyil sumar ainthu muraigal thamathu kappal padaiyudan ilangaikkum varugai thanthiruppathaga kurippidappadugirathu. ivarathu irandavathu kadal payanathin pothu kali thuraimugathirku varugai thanthu silasasanamonrum sthapikkappattullathu. athanai tharpothu kozhumbu thesiya nuthanasalaiyil kadsikku vaikkappattullathu.

ivar sancharam merkonda sagala nadugalin arasarkal marrum adsiyalarkaludan miga othunarvudan seyarpattulla senga he avarathu iruthi kadal payanathin pothu inthiyavil kalkatha nagarathil maranamadainthar.

Automated translation (not verified):

Cheng He (1371 1433 AD) — Cheng He became the commander-in-chief of the Imperial Navy of the Third Emperor of China's Ming Dynasty, the Songxi Dynasty. In addition to this he can be introduced as a seafarer, sander, trade representative and ambassador. AD During the period between 1405-1433, Cheng He embarked on seven great sea voyages on the advice of the Chinese emperor. During this time, he has visited more than 30 countries in two continents including South Asia, South East Asia, East Asia and Africa. Cheng He traveled with a huge force of 100 - 300 ships and 28,000 sailors during these visits. These ships were built to withstand any impact at sea and were larger than the ships used by the Malays two centuries later. During these visits trade exchanges took place between the countries and studies related to sea routes and mapping of discovered sea routes were carried out. It is clear from this that the Chinese discovered these territories many centuries before the Europeans discovered the African and Lower Theatrical countries. AD Cheng He, who is known as the greatest sea and land explorer of the 14th century, is mentioned to have visited Sri Lanka with his fleet about five times during his travels. During his second sea voyage, he visited the port of Galle and a Silasasana was established. It is currently on display at the Colombo National Museum. Senga Hay, who was very friendly with the kings and rulers of all the countries he traveled through, died in Calcutta, India during his last sea voyage.

Gallery information:

These photos were taken at the Galle National Museum—one of the most significant heritage sites in Sri Lanka's southern half constructed in Dutch architectural design. The main objectives of the museum are to the acquisition, conservation, study and research of historical and cultural heritage of the Southern half of Sri Lanka and to exhibit those objects to encourage public knowledge and education.