Zheng He Cultural Relic Hall in Malacca

Outside Zheng He Cultural Relics Hall in Malacca stands a stone statue of Zheng He.

The year 2005 marks the 600th anniversary of Zheng He's voyages to the western seas. With a view to commemorate the historical relations between Zheng He and Malacca, Malaysia, the Malacca Historical Museum opened up "Zheng He Cultural Relic Hall" on the second floor, which is the first exhibition hall devoted to the commemoration of Zheng He in Malaysia and the Southeast Asian country's only cultural relic hall devoted to a historical figure. Outside the exhibition hall stands a stone sculpture of Zheng He.

Most of the exhibited items are contributions by cultural organizations and folk people, while some of the other items are from the museum's own collections. Among the collected items are over 20 ancient relics, some ancient historical books, and more than 80 pictures of cultural relics. In addition, duplicates of the ships used by Zheng He have been made, and are displayed in the exhibition hall.

According to the museum's president, there are not many materials about Zhen He's activities in the Southern Seas despite his close relationship with Malacca. Therefore, those historical materials exhibited in the hall mostly record Zheng He's activities in China and the places he went by during his seven voyages.

One of the most precious items is a seal presented to Parameswara, who discovered the island of Malacca, by Emperor Yongle of the Ming dynasty . It is said that Zheng He brought the seal to Malacca. The exhibition hall also boasts a collection of ancient "Zheng He" coins, which are similar to the square-hole copper coins in external shape and which were donated by a collector of ancient coins. However, there is no way of verifying the original source of these coins.

The Malaysians consider Zheng He as an indispensable part in the history of Malacca. During ancient times, he brought hope to the Kingdom of Malacca, which entered a period of brilliance with his help. Nowadays, Zheng He and his legacies have become a hot tourist attraction.

Editor: Maggie