Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c13.s4.t2.2

v2.c13.s4.t2.2

Wang Dayuan, from Nanchang, Jiangxi, was intelligent and studious from an early age and very fond of travel. After moving to Quanzhou, he noticed the exotic customs of the many foreign merchants there. Fascinated by them, he decided to travel. In 1330, he started out from Quanzhou by sea, and voyaged to present-day Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, West Asia, North Africa and other countries and regions returning between the summer and autumn of 1334. In 1337, he sailed out from Quanzhou again and travelled through places such as the islands in the southern seas (Southeast Asia), Arabian Sea, Persian Gulf and Red Sea. It is also claimed that he travelled through the Mediterranean and Australia as well while returning in 1339. After that, he began to sort out his notes of his overseas experiences at the request of local officials in Quanzhou and finally finished the book, *Dao Yi Zhi Lue*. According to the records in the authoritative *Annotated Catalogue of the Complete Imperial Library*, “Wang Dayuan’s book was written by himself based on his personal experiences rather than empty talk… And its records of mountains and rivers and of the territory of different countries are the most detailed”.