[2] Wayang beber performances emerged and developed in Java in pre-Islamic times but continued into the Islamic kingdoms (such as the Sultanate of Mataram).

[3] Wayang beber bears a strong resemblance to narrative in the form of pictorial ballads common at annual fairs in medieval and early modern Europe.

They too suffered the same fate—nearly becoming extinct, although there are still groups of artists who support wayang beber in places like Surakarta (Solo) in Central Java.

The book tells of Zheng He's visit to Java in about 1413-1415 (the Majapahit kingdom was led by Wikramawardhana, son of Hayam Wuruk).

They saw crowds of people listening to someone tell a story about the pictures displayed on a partially rolled sheet of paper.