Abstract
Abstract This thesis attempted to discuss the background of the novel “Romance of Sanbao Eunuch’s Journey to the West Ocean” from the viewpoints of journey and expedition. The novel is viewed as an unabridged creative work instead of a religious or historical literature. The thesis intended to analyze the novel from the aspects of story or imaginary literary history, and viewed the novel as consisting of two features, which are historical romance and genie illusion. These features are represented in the selection of topics, interpersonal relations, and historical and religious value judgments. In addition, the thesis analyzed the novel from the aspect of overall time-and-space background and people’s perceptions on foreign people and foreign culture. The novel started from the depiction of religious world, and then extends to the Chinese view of the world. The journey of “Romance of Sanbao Eunuch’s Journey to the West Ocean” is seen as a war, and its essences are the debate between barbarian and Chinese, and the conflict between Taoism and Buddhism. The key elements in the novel include the predicament of the travelers, the paradise, the dark hell, the worship of sacred place, and the force and the reflection of religious power. These elements all help the fleet of Ming dynasty come home safely. Meanwhile, treasure, storm, sea monster are transformed into the symbol of new rules due to the influence of religious and national wills. Overall, the novel “Romance of Sanbao Eunuch’s Journey to the West Ocean” achieved the Yong Le dynasty’s past glory, and its attempts to resurge its empire mythology.