Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c10.62

v2.c10.62

The *Western Record*, whose full name is *Popular Historic Novel of Sanbao Eunuch’s Journey to the West*, was a god-evil story against the backdrop of the historical event of Zheng He (1371-1433) travelling to the West in the early Ming. Zheng He came to the coastal areas of India while travelling to the west. The author refers to accounts such as *The Overall Survey of the Ocean Shores* and *Description of the Star Raft*, and makes the novel directly related to India. The author was familiar with Buddhism, and applies a large number of Buddhist words and anecdotes, and even explained the Buddhist doctrine in some places. There were many stories and plots related to Indian Buddhism.