Kids in Ancient China: Zheng He (Part 1)

Here's another story in our Kids in Ancient China series. This is Part 1

 Finally Being a Sailor: Zheng He

Part 1

Oh, hello there! What brings you to this ship? Oh, you want to learn about Zhenghe? You’re asking me if I know him? Well, just because I’m a sailor that has worked on ships many times before, doesn’t mean that I personally know Zhenghe. Let me tell you what I know about him, and a little about myself. 

I guess first off I should tell you my name. I am Xu Bing. I’m now almost thirty years old and have been a sailor just about fifteen years. I was a young lad like yourself when I first stepped on a big ship like this. Ok, it wasn’t a huge ship like this. My first time onto ship was actually a fishing boat. I live in Yunnan and there’s a big lake where we go fishing. Yunnan? What is Yunnan? It’s a place- a province. It’s in the Southwestern part of China. Actually Zhenghe is from this part of the country as well, but we’ll get to his story in a little bit.

Growing up, I didn’t live close to water. Once a year we would take a big trip and walk for four days up a few mountains to see my distant relatives for a holiday. This was always my favorite time of the year because having such a big trip is always exciting for kids. My distant family lived close to a lake where  sometimes I would see a small boat. My family wouldn’t let me go on the boat as a kid because they said it was too dangerous. I was fascinated with the water and being able to go on top of it on a boat. Although some of my cousins who lived by the lake knew how to swim, I didn’t learn. I wish I did, because it’s always very great to learn to swim.

When I was fifteen my dad told me that I should start a job. I asked if I could go on a big boat to work there. After all, I heard that some people had jobs where they worked on big boats. I had never seen a big boat, a ship, before, but I really wanted to see and work on one! He said maybe I could work on a small fishing boat for a few years and see if I liked that first. That’s what I did. I had to move back to where my distant relatives lived to do it because that’s where they knew some fishermen who would let me work with them.

After a few months, some people came through the village talking about a guy named Zhenghe, who was called Ma He at the time. He  was going through a few villages in our part of the country (Yunnan) looking for people who would work on a big boat with him. When I heard this, I got so excited! I left my fishing job and my relatives to go to the place where everyone was supposed to go who wanted to work on the ship. When I got there, I was surprised because we weren’t by the ship at all! There was no water and no boat! How were we going to work on a boat when there wasn’t one?

It turned out that Zhenghe wanted all of his men to have two weeks of training to make sure they were strong before they went on the ship. If you couldn’t make it through these two weeks, then you weren’t allowed to work on the ship. Zhenghe led part of the training. I remember seeing him for the first time.  He was very tall and strong. His teeth were really white and his cheeks were very high. His nose was small but his eyes looked like they had lots of stories to tell. His voice was loud, which made me think, “Does he always talk like this?” There were about two hundred of us training for those two weeks, broken up in small groups of ten.

Kids in Ancient China: Xuanzong (Part 4)

I haven't posted in my Kids in Ancient China series in a while. Here's the last part of the story about Xuanzong. I've been reading a biography about CiXi, the empress of China in the late 1800s/early 1900s. I'm hoping to re-work on a children's biography about her later this year...and I hope to re-work a biography about either Fu Hao or Shao Kang (both from ancient Chinese history)...depending on how much time I have this year. We're moving sometime in May/June (not sure yet where), but it'll be a big move and adjustment. I enjoy writing, researching, and illustrating...hopefully I can do some of it this year in 2026. Until then, enjoy the last part of Xuanzong:

 Part 4

When I was 14 years old I was finally given the gift of going outside! My family and I were allowed to leave the palace and it was amazing. I wanted to go everywhere all at once, but Goo Goo reminded me that I had my whole life ahead of me to see everything.  

The first place we went to were the mountains. I had seem the mountains from a distance from the palace and always pictured what it would be like to see them up close. In fact, I often had dreams about them. When Goo Goo asked me where I’d like to go first, I said the mountains. 

The weather was clear and the sky was blue. I had always pictured the mountains as being small little hills, but as we got closer I was fascinated with how big they were!  The road going to the mountains had fields on both sides with little houses here and there. I asked Goo Goo what was growing there and she wasn’t so sure either but would always have a guess. I was so excited and wanted to get out of the carriage a few times on the way but Goo Goo always said no.

“Just wait. We’re not there yet. If we stop now we won’t ever make it there,” she would say.

“But I’m so excited and everything is so new to me! I want to see everything at one time!” I said.

I wondered why she wasn’t so excited about it like I was. I saw her smile from time to time but then remembered something my mom told me: “Older people don’t get excited about things as much as little kids do.” 

“Are we there yet?” I asked her again. “Can we stop now? It looks like we’re already in the mountains!”

“Not yet. Remember, I said that we have a specific place we’re going to for our picnic. We’ll sit there for a while and you can walk around, then we’ll go back.”

We finally arrived. I ran off to climb a tree, something I loved to do. I had climbed every tree that I could’ve climbed in the palace gardens already a few times each. It was nice to have new trees to climb. From the top I could get a view of the city and the palace. The palace looked small. I could see the road that took us up into the mountains. This was my first time of really going somewhere high to get a view like this. It was amazing. Our city had two towers in it: The Little Goose Pagoda and the Big Goose Pagoda, which were places for the Buddhist monks to keep their books and other important Buddhist things. However, we were never allowed to go there because we had to stay only in the palace. I told myself that the next place I wanted to go to was the Big Goose Pagoda, and then the Little Goose Pagoda. I started a long list of places I wanted to see, something I still do even now. 

Part 5

Last year was another big year in my life: my dad and uncle came back from exile! Before they came back, I went over and over in my mind the picture I had of them when they left. I asked Goo Goo if she thought that he would have grey hair by now. She didn’t think so. When he and my uncle came back, everyone was so happy. The reason they came back is because my grandmother was losing her mind. The other leaders of the country decided she couldn’t think clearly enough to rule the country so they had her give up the throne. They brought my uncle and my dad back so that my uncle could rule the country. 

When my uncle came back from exile, it was the first time I had ever seen him. I also finally got to see my cousins! I became instant best friends with one of them who was a year older than me and taught me how to play the game Wei Qi. He told me that one of the first emperors of China had made up the game. 

“Here, I’ll teach you how to play it. It’s a fun game. I play it with my dad  all the time.,” he said. “You start by putting the black and white pieces like this here and here.”

“How do you win?” I asked. 

“When someone either runs out of places to put their pieces on or when both sides agree that the game is over.” 

“You won’t have to worry about that because I’m sure I’ll win this one!” I joked with him. I knew I wouldn’t win! This was my first time ever to play a game and it was so much fun. After this my cousin and I played Wei Qi at least once a week, sometimes twice a week if we could find time for it. We were both busy because I still had my art, history, and poetry classes that Goo Goo said I had to go to. He also had a lot of studying and things to learn as well.

Having my dad back with us was so nice! I forgot how he was like. I forgot that he was funny and loved to tell jokes! Many times he made us all laugh. However, I also realized that in many ways I was a “lesser” son than my half-brother was. His mom was my dad’s wife and my mom was just a servant. We both had the same dad, but having different moms made such a big difference. Still, I got to spend a whole afternoon or at least part of an afternoon a week with my dad. Goo Goo was still the one I was closest with and I was thankful that she was still in my life.

Back to my grandmother. After my dad, uncle, and his family came back, things changed even more for the good. It was great having them around. I still thought it would only be a short time and they’d be gone again. It surprised me every day for a long time when I’d see them walking around the palace that they were still there. I was thankful to have them around. My grandmother died a few months ago. I am now 21 years old. Looking back over my short life so far, this year has been the best one so far: I have a new best friend in my cousin, my dad came back, and my grandmother died. 

Epilogue:  

Li Longji (685-762) started ruling the country when he was 27 years old and ruled for 43 years. When he became emperor, he changed his name to Xuanzong. The influence of his aunt in making sure that he learned about Chinese culture, art, history, and poetry, followed him throughout his life. He’s known as one of the best (if not the best) emperors of the Tang Dynasty, and brought in a time when the arts and culture flourished in China.

The forest and the beach

 A few weeks ago we went to the mountains to pick out and cut a Christmas tree. It was our first real tree and the first time I ever went to cut down a tree. The kids were a huge help! We also had a long drive in the rain with lots of waterfalls on the roadside. Then we went to the beach...it was beautiful.

Kids in Ancient China (Part 9): Xuanzong (Part 3)

Here's another installment in the story about Xuanzong (historical fiction):

 Part 3

The next big event in my life is another moment I won’t ever forget. I was eight years old at the time. My mother died. Well, she didn’t just die- my  grandmother had her killed! For some reason, my grandmother thought that my mom and my dad’s wife (my mom isn’t my dad’s wife- my mom was one of the servants in the palace) were working together to take over the country. My grandmother wanted to be the only one to rule the country so she had both of them killed. The sad part about it is that no one knew what was going on. I was having a history lesson when I heard the shouting. Then a few minutes later someone came and told me that my  mom died. I didn’t even get to say goodbye to her.

After that moment,  Goo Goo made sure that I was ok and that my grandmother  wouldn’t hurt me. I don’t remember ever talking with my grandmother, especially after this. I saw her being carried on a fancy carrier or in chariots getting ready to leave the palace to go out, but it was always from far away. She was a complainer and usually had something to gripe about: the carriage was too dirty for her or the horses didn’t look good or even the people driving the carriage were looking sloppy. Nothing ever seemed good enough for her! After she left, each time I could hear the servants complain about her. 

I remember one time in particular that was hilarious. I was walking from one building to another inside the palace walls when I heard her voice. Actually, just about everyone could’ve heard her that day because she was yelling at this person, and then that person. I stood next to the building, along with one or two of the servants, watching what was going on. 

“The steamed buns and baozi (filled steamed buns) were horrible this morning! I expect better!” She complained. It seemed that she was talking with one of the cooks. 

“Yes, your highness,” he said. The poor guy. You could tell, even from far away, that he was one of the newer cooks. 

“I expect all of my cooks to be the best cooks in this country and you are certainly not one of them!” She said. “Anyone can make steamed buns and baozi. I don’t know how to cook but even I can make them!” She said. Now, to be honest, steamed buns are actually quite hard to make. Baozi are even harder because you have to get the filling right and then wrap the dough around it before steaming it. I had never seen my grandmother enter the kitchen. I doubted she could even boil an egg!

“Yes, ma’am,” he said, looking at the ground.

“Don’t “ma’am” me- it’s “your highness” to you! Now, were you or were you not the one to make the steamed bun that I ate for breakfast?” She asked.

“Actually, your highness, I was only the one who delivered them to your room. I can pass along your message to the head cook if you’d like, your highness.” 

“No, I expect more. Go back to the kitchen and bring him in.” She said. 

Within a few minutes, the head cook came. 

“Your highness. I heard that something was wrong with your breakfast today.” 

“Yes, the baozi and the steamed buns were horrible today! I wanted bean  paste in the baozi and plain steamed buns but today I got bean paste on the steamed buns and vegetable baozi!”

“Yes, your highness. Yesterday you specifically requested to have bean paste on the baozi and plain steamed buns today for breakfast,” said the cook. The cook was one of the few people who weren’t afraid of my grandmother because he knew how hard it would be to find a replacement if he was fired.

“Did I?” She asked.

“Yes, you had one of your servants ask us specifically about this yesterday afternoon.” The cook explained.

“Did I? Oh, well, I forgot. Tomorrow I want better!” She said.

“Do you mean that you want to have bean baste in the baozi and plain steamed buns for breakfast tomorrow, your highness?” Asked the cook.

“Yes, yes, whatever you think best,” she said and looked around like she couldn’t be bothered about it anymore. 

My grandmother was like this, especially the few years before she died. You never knew what would get you in trouble or how quickly she changed. Many times I was thankful I wasn’t a servant. My strategy was to avoid her at all costs. 

Kids in Ancient China (Part 9): Xuanzong (Part 2)

Here's another post in the Kids in Ancient China series. This is part 2 of the story of Xuanzong. It's a historical fictional story. There are 5 parts total. Enjoy.

Part 2

Whenever my dad told me stories about my uncle, it made me miss having him around when I was growing up. If things had been different and we were just an ordinary family, he wouldn’t have had to go away. Everything would’ve been different, but I can’t change the family I was born into. 

After my uncle left, my dad became the emperor. My grandmother wanted  to rule through him too. When it didn’t work, she exiled him as well. This was one of the saddest days of my life. I was only 5 years old, but I still have a memory of him leaving the palace. Tears rolled down my face. There was a whole group of us waving goodbye to him as he left: me, my mom, some of the servants, and some other relatives. When the gates of the palace closed behind him, my mom and I just hugged each other for a long time because we knew our lives would be even more hard. 

Later on I found out that the reason I wasn’t exiled with my dad was because of my aunt, my grandmother’s daughter. Although her name was Princess Taiping, I just called her Goo Goo (“aunt”). She became like a  mom to me and made sure that I learned about China’s long history, art, and poetry. I loved learning about art and poetry because it let me have a picture of how life was like on the outside of the palace.

I had different tutors and teachers come to teach me. Some of them were very boring, but my favorite was my history teacher. He made history come to life and told story after story of all of the famous people that lived before us. I remember one class in particular when he was talking about Sima Qian, China’s great historian. 

“Sima Qian wrote about many people and wanted to remember not only the rich and famous, but also the everyday people. You are one of the famous people in China because of your family. If Sima Qian were alive today and he was going to write about you and your life, what would he say?”

This threw me off and challenged me. “What do you mean?” 

“How do you want people to remember you?” He asked. 

“Remember me? Why would they remember me at all? My family might be famous, but I’m not the next person to become the emperor. Most likely my half-brother will be the next emperor, not me!”

“Yes, he might be the next emperor, but no one knows what will happen. How do you want people to remember you?” He asked me again.

“I really don’t know.” Was my answer. 

“Yes, I know that it’s a big question. Just something for you think about. Class is over. Sometime down the road, I might ask you this question again.” He said. 

Thankfully, he never did ask me that question again because two years later I got a new history teacher. I was sad because the new teacher was boring and wasn’t as good of a story teller as my old teacher was. My old teacher made every emperor and every important person in history sound fascinating. However, his question about how I want people to remember me was something that stuck with me my whole life. 

Short trip and a book sale (black Friday)

 We went on a super short trip to the East Coast to see my husband graduate from boot camp. We are very proud of him. It was a long trip- 3 flights there and 3 flights back...all for 2 days with him! It was worth it though; we hadn't seen him in a good 2 months. He should be able to come back for Christmas, which will be nice. 

On another note, if you're looking for something for Christmas, I wrote a book that has the story behind (and words for most of them) 35 Christmas Carols. The publisher is offering 30% off. The book is called Discovering Christmas Carols; use the code BOOKGIFT30 to get 30% off that and all the other books I wrote, including the Chinese, geography, and other books (look for Rachel Bubb). 

Day at the beach

 We went to the beach with some friends; it was as super low tide (a minus tide) and good weather. We are so thankful to live so close to the beach for this season of life.