Ma Huan's Yingya Shenglan (瀛涯勝覽, "The Overall Survey of the Ocean's Shores"), written around 1416–1451, is arguably the most vital eyewitness account of the 15th-century Malacca Sultanate. As a Muslim translator for Admiral Zheng He, Ma Huan provided a rare "street-level" view of Malacca during its formative years.
Below are the key observations he recorded regarding the kingdom:
1. The Transformation of Malacca
Ma Huan notes that Malacca was initially not a kingdom but a "stopping place" (anchorage) under the control of Siam.
- Tribute and Independence: He records how the local leader, Parameswara (called Bai-li-mi-su-la in the text), sought Ming protection to escape the heavy annual tribute of 40 taels of gold demanded by Siam.
- The Chinese Connection: He describes the 1409 visit where Zheng He formally invested the ruler as King of Malacca, giving him a silver seal and a robe, effectively establishing Malacca as a sovereign state under Ming suzerainty.
2. Social and Cultural Life
Ma Huan’s descriptions provide a vivid portrait of the Malay people and their lifestyle:
- Conversion to Islam: He specifically mentions that "the king and the people of the country all follow the religion of the Muslims," noting their observance of fasting and the reading of the Quran.
- Housing and Architecture: He describes houses built on stilts (the traditional Malay rumah panggung). He writes that floors were made of split coconut tree trunks tied with rattan, elevated about 4 feet off the ground to avoid dampness and animals.
- Appearance: The people were described as having "dark skin" and wearing their hair in a knot at the back. Men often wore a square handkerchief (a tengkolok or destar) on their heads and a colorful sarong around their waists.
3. Trade and Economy
Ma Huan highlights Malacca's strategic role as a global entrepôt:
- The "Bridge" Location: He recognized that Malacca was the key gathering point for ships from the "Western Ocean" (India, Arabia) and the "Eastern Ocean" (China, Java).
- Currency: He noted that for small transactions, they used "tin money" (small coins cast from local tin), while larger trades were conducted in gold or silver.
- Natural Resources: He mentioned the abundance of tin (found in the riverbeds), aromatic woods like ebony and gharuwood, and various tropical fruits (though he noted they lacked wheat and barley).
4. Governance and Security
- The City Wall: Ma Huan records that the king built a fortified wall with four gates and watchtowers. Within this enclosure, the royal storehouses were kept, particularly for the goods brought by the Ming treasure fleet.
- The Bridge: He famously mentions a bridge over the Malacca River that had roughly 20 booths where trade took place—an early example of the city’s commercial vibrancy.
Why it Matters
Ma Huan's account is unique because he wasn't just a visitor; as a fellow Muslim, he had better access to the social and religious nuances of the Malaccan court than most Chinese bureaucrats. His writings transformed Malacca's image in the Ming court from a "minor fishing village" to a "crucial strategic partner."
MA HUAN DESCRIPTION OF MALACCA
While Ma Huan provided the "soul" of the narrative through his personal observations, comparing him to Fei Xin (author of Xingcha Shenglan) and Gong Zhen (author of Xiyu Fanguo Zhi) reveals a fascinating "triangulation" of Ming-era Malacca.
Each author looked through a different lens based on their rank and background.
Comparison of Primary Accounts
Key Points of Divergence
1. Cultural Perception vs. Moral Judgment
Ma Huan was fascinated by the authenticity of Malaccan life. He wrote detailed descriptions of how they processed tin and the taste of their fruit.
In contrast, Fei Xin was much more concerned with how "civilized" the people were by Chinese standards. While Ma Huan noted the sincerity of their Islamic faith, Fei Xin famously described the people of Malacca as "fierce and prone to theft," reflecting a typical Ming official's wariness of non-Sinocentric cultures.
2. The "Ming Warehouse" (Guanchang)
Gong Zhen and Ma Huan provide the best details on the Guanchang, the massive fortified stockade the Chinese built in Malacca.
- Gong Zhen emphasizes it as a logistical hub where the fleet waited for the monsoon winds to change.
- Ma Huan describes it as a small city within a city, emphasizing that it was here the Ming stored the "tribute" (luxuries) from other nations.
3. Originality vs. Compilation
- Ma Huan is considered the "gold standard" because he was an eyewitness to almost everything he wrote.
- Fei Xin is sometimes criticized by historians for "borrowing" text from earlier Song Dynasty records (like the Zhu Fan Zhi) to fill in gaps.
- Gong Zhen’s work is often very similar to Ma Huan’s, leading some scholars to believe they shared notes or that Gong Zhen used Ma Huan’s manuscript as a template.
Why the Differences Matter
These accounts together give us a 360-degree view. Without Ma Huan, we wouldn't understand the social fabric of early Malacca. Without Fei Xin, we wouldn't have the official geopolitical stance of the Ming military. Without Gong Zhen, we would lack the logistical map of how the treasure fleet actually functioned as a floating corporation.
Google Gemini AI
29 January 2026: 6.29 p.m
