Chen Cheng (Ming dynasty)

Chen Cheng (陈诚; 陳誠; Chén Chéng; Ch'en Ch'eng) (1365–1457), courtesy name Zilu (子鲁), pseudonym Zhushan (竹山), was a Chinese diplomat known for his overland journeys into Central Asia during the Ming dynasty.

He obtained the positions of juren (举人) and jinshi (進士) in 1393 and 1394 respectively after taking the imperial examination.

[1][2][3] In 1396, Chen was sent on a diplomatic mission to the western region of Qaidam to establish border defence.

From 1406 to 1411, he served in the Wenyuange (文渊阁), the imperial library in the Forbidden City, as an editor of the Yongle Encyclopedia.

[4][5] In 1414, 1416 and 1420, Chen Cheng led a Ming mission to the court of the Timurid dynasty at Samarkand.

Chen's approximate land route (green, based on the list of destinations in Goodrich & Tay 1976 ), Zheng He 's maritime route (black) and Yishiha 's riverine route (blue).