%A Ford, Graeme %D 2022 %T The Persian Translating College and Ming Tributary Communications with the Western Ocean %! The Persian Translating College and Ming Tributary Communications with the Western Ocean %X A small number of historical references to the Persian Translating College at the Ming Court indicate that Persian was used in tribute letters to the Emperor from countries along the sea route to Calicut and Hormuz, and in his replies to them. The greatest amount of tribute activity with those countries was associated with Zheng He’s seven voyages. The Galle Stone, a stele inscribed in Chinese, Tamil and Persian carried to Ceylon by Zheng He, is the only surviving Persian tributary text. %U %0 Journal Article %J Journal of Asian History %V 56 %N 1-2