In memory of Zheng He，s fourth voyage to the westernoceans， Emperor Yongle issued an order to build a steleat the Tianfei Palace outside Fengyi Gate of the city ofNanjing. He composed the inscription on the stele on thesixth day of April of 1416， according to the Chinese lunarcalendar.
The fourth voyage was a link between the previoustrips and the expeditions to come. The fleet，s trip toHormuz marked a great shift from the first three voyages
第四次下西洋历时一年半。郑和船队于1415年8月12日（农历七月八日）回到南京。
郑和向永乐皇帝详细汇报了这次出使的情况及战胜风暴的经过。永乐皇帝对郑和船队全体人员在平息苏门答剌内乱和搏击印度洋风浪中所表现出来的英勇精神大加赞赏。
为纪念郑和第四次下西洋，永乐皇帝下令在南京仪凤门外天妃宫内刻立《御制弘仁普济天妃宫之碑》，并于1416年农历四月初六日亲撰碑文。
郑和船队远航忽鲁谟斯是对前三次下西洋的一大发展，也是对其后三次下西洋的一大推进。第四次下西洋具有承上启下的性质。
第五次下西洋（1417-1419）
经过郑和四次下西洋，中国明朝在东南亚、南亚、西亚乃至东非的影响越来越大，许多国家派使臣前来中国访问。1417年初，古里、爪哇、占城、锡兰山、卜剌哇、阿丹、苏门答剌、麻林、剌撒、忽鲁谟斯、柯枝、南巫里、沙里湾泥、彭亨等18个国家及旧港宣慰使司的使臣向永乐皇帝辞行。永乐皇帝派郑和
to the western oceans and was a starting point for the nextthree expeditions further into the world.
The fifth voyage to the western oceans(1417-1419)
After Zheng He，s four trips to the western oceans， theMing Dynasty，s influence in Southeast Asia， South Asia，West Asia and even Eastern Africa was on the rise. Manycountries sent their envoys to China. In early 1417， envoysfrom 18 countries， including Calicut， Java， Champa，Ceylon， Brava， Aden， Sumatra， Malindi， Ra，s， Hormuz，Cochin， Indonesia， Singosari， and Pahang， along withenvoys from the Palembang Pacification Commission，bid their goodbyes to Emperor Yongle. Emperor Yongledispatched Zheng He to escort the envoys home andto present the kings of these countries with imperialedicts from the Ming Government and a variety of gifts.Therefore， Zheng He went on his fifth voyage to thewestern oceans in May of 1417， according to the Chineselunar calendar.
Before the fleet left the country， Zheng He paid a visit tothe tombs of Islamic sages in Lingshan Mountain outsidethe Renfeng Gate (East Gate) of Quanzhou， Fujian. On theone hand， he prayed for the blessings of Islamic sages；on the other hand， he wanted to pay tribute to the Arabsages who made contributions to the friendship between
护送各国使臣回国，并带明朝政府诏书及礼品，前往赏赐各国国王。于是，郑和奉命于1417年农历五月率领船队第五次出使西洋。
船队离国前，郑和一行曾去福建泉州仁凤门（东门）外灵山向伊斯兰教先贤墓行香，一方面祈求伊斯兰教先贤“灵圣庇佑”；另一方面，对曾为发展阿拉伯人民与中国人民之间的友谊作出贡献的阿拉伯先贤表示敬意。
此次远航任务是护送18国使臣安全回国，航路由近及远：占城、爪哇、旧港、满剌加、彭亨、苏门答剌、南巫里、锡兰山、柯枝、古里、忽鲁谟斯、阿丹、木骨都束、卜剌哇、麻林。
阿丹国（今阿拉伯也门共和国之亚丁），位于阿拉伯半岛西南角，处在红海口上，是古代重要的国际贸易大港。该国气候温和，四季如春，土地肥沃，物产丰富。阿丹人信仰伊斯兰教，性格刚强，国势强盛，为近邻
Arabian and Chinese people.
The mission of this voyage was to escort the envoysfrom 18 countries back home. The fleet sailed to Champa，Java， Palembang， Malacca， Pahang， Sumatra， Indonesia，Ceylon， Cochin， Calicut， Hormuz， Aden， Mogadishu，Brava and Malindi.
Aden (now in the Yemen Arab Republic) was located atthe southwest corner of the Arabian Peninsula， near themouth of the Red Sea. It was an important internationaltrade port in ancient times. The country enjoyed a mildclimate， warm weather， fertile land and rich products.The people in Aden believed in Islam and had a strongcharacter. Their country was so powerful that allneighboring countries were afraid of it. When Zheng He，sfleet arrived in Aden， the king and his ministers waited atthe seaside to greet Zheng He and held a grand welcomeceremony for him at the royal palace. Zheng He read outthe imperial edict of Emperor Yongle， and presented theking with coins and gifts. In return， the Aden king offeredEmperor Yongle a golden crown decorated with all kindsof pearl and precious stones.
Then， Zheng He，s mission visited Ra，s. The countrywas located to the west of Aden and the east of the RedSea， close to the Lasa village of Mukalla of the ArabianPeninsula. People there lived in stone houses and therewere three remarkable Islamic temples with round domes.
各国所畏惧。当郑和使团到达阿丹时，国王率领大臣到海边迎接，将郑和迎到王宫隆重接待。郑和宣读永乐皇帝国书，赠送彩币及礼品。阿丹国王回赠永乐皇帝一顶嵌有各种珍珠宝石的金冠。
接着，郑和使团访问剌撒。剌撒在阿丹以西，红海之东，阿拉伯半岛木卡拉（Mukalla）附近的Lasa村。其地倚海而居，垒石为屋，有三座引人注目的圆顶伊斯兰教寺院。郑和到此宣诏赐赏。1416年，该国曾遣使来中国进贡，以后又来中国三次，每次都与阿丹、卜剌哇使臣同行。郑和结束对剌撒的访问，过曼德海峡，向南航行，到达非洲东海岸的木骨都束、卜剌哇和麻林。
木骨都束（今索马里的摩加迪沙）山多地旷，雨量稀少，黄土赤石，田地贫瘠，收成很少。贫民出海捕鱼，富户则远出经商。这里产乳香、金钱豹、龙涎香。该国不产木材，居民多垒石为屋。
卜剌哇（今索马里东南岸布腊瓦）与木骨都束接壤，地多盐分，不能耕种，专靠捕鱼为生。
当郑和船队抵达非洲东部海域登岸踏上木骨都束和卜剌哇国土时，先后受到两国国王的热烈欢迎和盛
Zheng He announced the imperial edict there. In 1416，the country had sent envoys to China to pay tribute.Later， envoys from Ra，s paid three visits to China， allaccompanied by envoys from Aden and Brava. AfterZheng He finished his visit to Ra，s， his fleet passed the Babel Mandeb Strait， and sailed southward to Mogaadicio，Brava and Malindi on the east coast of Africa.
Magaadicio (now Mogadishu in Somalia) was amountainous country with little rainfall. With yellowsoil and red stones， the fields there were barren withlittle harvest. Poor people went fishing in the sea， whilethose who were better-off went for business in farawaylands. The country was rich in frankincense， leopards andambergris. Since it did not produce timber， most of theresidents lived in stone houses.
Brava (now Brava on the southeast coast of Somalia)neighbored Magaadicio. Its lands were too salty forcultivation and people there had to rely on fishing forfood and income.
When Zheng He，s fleet arrived in the east coast ofAfrica and set foot on Magaadicio and Brava， they werewarmly received by kings of the two countries. As usual，Zheng He announced the imperial edicts of EmperorYongle to the two kings， and presented them with gifts.Before parting， the kings sent their envoys and gifts toChina along with Zheng He，s fleet. Among the gifts were
情款待。郑和按例先后向两国国王宣读永乐皇帝的诏书，并赠送礼品。临别时，两国国王均派使臣携带礼物随郑和船队一道来中国访问。木骨都束国王还赠送瑞兽麒麟（长颈鹿）和狮子给明朝永乐皇帝。
郑和在东非的最后一站是麻林（即麻林地，今肯尼亚东岸马林迪)，受到麻林国王热情款待。1415年麻林曾遣使献瑞兽麒麟，永乐皇帝及官员于京师皇宫奉天门隆重举行接受仪式。郑和船队本想继续南行，由于前方已接近奔巴岛、奔巴海峡，那里深林密布，杳无人烟，在当地人的劝阻下，乃于1419年春由麻林
an auspicious beast kylin (giraffe) and a lion from the kingof Magaadicio to Emperor Yongle.