Final answer:
The Chinese became isolationist after Zhu Zhanji succeeded Ming Emperor Yung Lo, ending the voyages started by Zheng He due to a spirit of isolationism and financial concerns. Historians provide various reasons, including cultural and economic factors, for this shift towards closing China off from the world.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question 'Why did the Chinese take this approach, becoming in essence isolationists?' relates to the historical period following the exploratory voyages led by the Chinese admiral Zheng He in the early 15th century. After Ming Emperor Yung Lo's death, his successor, Zhu Zhanji, decided to end the voyages. This decision likely stems from a spirit of isolationism and the desire to save money on costly expeditions.
Historians offer several explanations for this abrupt end to Chinese naval exploration and expansion: superstition surrounding natural disasters, the extravagances of Yung Lo, Neo-Confucian prejudice against expansion, financial expense, and an overarching spirit of isolationism. It is clear that the Chinese court's outlook and internal policies shifted, emphasizing self-reliance and limiting foreign influence and trade to their own terms. This shift led to a historical period where China increasingly closed itself off from the rest of the world, despite the earlier expansive voyages and cultural exchange that Zheng He's fleet had embarked upon.