Zheng He and the Galle Trilingual Inscription: 15th Century Chinese Diplomacy in Indian Ocean

In a quiet corner of the National Museum in Colombo sits an old stone slab. At first glance, it doesn't look like much, just a worn surface with faded writing. But this humble rock, known as the Galle Trilingual Inscription, tells a remarkable story about Sri Lanka's place in the world over 600 years ago. Back in 1409, during his third voyage across the Indian Ocean, the famous Chinese admiral Zheng He had this stone carved. It carries messages in three languages, Chinese, Tamil, and Persian, each calling on a different god: Buddha, Vishnu, and Allah. It's a rare and powerful example of religious respect and international diplomacy, written in the main languages of trade and belief across the region. This book dives into the story behind the stone, not just as a museum piece, but as a symbol of global connection. It looks at how the inscription was found, how scholars have tried to make sense of it, and what it tells us about the world at that time. Through its words and the trade routes it hints at, the stone shows how religion, politics, and commerce came together in one bold act of outreach from a distant empire.