1398 A.D.) of the Ming Dynasty, his descendents moved to Nanjing from Biandu. There were a tremendous number of professionals among the Hui Huis in the Yuan Dynasty, and the Liangs were just one of them. Besides craftsmen, many of those coming to Nanjing were traders, especially jewelers. As thecapital city where the nobility lived and the site of the country"s biggest jewelry market, Nanjing attracted a lot of Hui Hui jewelers. Even in modern times Nanjing"s jewelry market was still monopolized by the Hui Huis. According to the records of the family trees of the Zhengs, Wus and Mas in Nanjing, their ancestors Zheng He, Wu Ru and Ma Shayihei all moved to Nanjing from other places in the early period of the Ming Dynasty. Of course, among the Hui Huis who moved to Nanjing in this period only few could leave their names in historic records, while many more lack records today.
Zheng He (1371-1435 A.D.), whose original name was Ma Sanbao, was a famous Muslim sailor and diplomat in the Ming Dynasty. He was born to an eminent aristocratic family that had been Muslims for generations. His grandfather Char Midina was made Marquis of Dianyang in the Yuan Dynasty, and his father Milijin succeeded him as Marquis of Dianyang later. As his father and grandfather had performed Hajj to Mecca, they were respectfully called Hajji Ma. In the 14th year of Hong Wu, when Ming troops commanded by Lan Yu and Mu Ying attacked Yunnan, then under the rule of Yuan aristocrats, Zheng He was captured and sent to Nanjing. Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang gave him to Zhu Di, prince of Yan, as a eunuch. In the Battle of Jingnan, abattle between Zhu Di and Zhu Yun for the throne, Zheng He rendered extraordinary service with his wisdom and tactics. Zhu Di appreciated this very much and decreed an important position upon him. In the 2nd year of Yong Le (1404 A.D.), Zhu Di, who had taken over the throne, bestowed him Zheng as his family name and called him Zheng He. Later, he was promoted to be the garrison command of Nanjing.
