Journey to the West

Categories: Cleanup from August 2005 | Chinese classic texts | Epics

This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality.
This article has been tagged since August 2005.
See Wikipedia:How to edit a page and Category:Wikipedia help for help, or this article's talk page.


Image:JourneytotheWest.jpg
The four heros of the story, left to right: Sun Wukong, Xuanzang, Zhu Wuneng, and Sha Wujing.

Contents

[edit]

Journey to the West

Journey to the West (Traditional: 西遊記; Simplified: 西游记; pinyin: Xī Yóu Jì; Wade-Giles: Hsi Yu Chi Vietnamese: Tây Du Kŷ) is the title to a Chinese classical novel that is popular even to this day. The novel tells of a fictionalized and mythologized version of the Buddhist monk Xuanzang who had been assigned to a pilgrimage to India in order to obtain religious texts called Sutras. In light of this quest called upon by the Bodhisattva Guan Yin, the monk has been assigned three guardians or protectors in the form of disciples -

The horse which Xuanzang rides is itself a dragon prince. All four characters have agreed to help the Buddhist monk as an atonement for past sins.

The literature is also known as Monkey from the title of an abridged translation and is a classic of Chinese literature. It is one of the most well-known classics amongst Chinese readers and has been made into Cantonese series and films many times over. It was originally published anonymously in the 1590s, and even though no direct evidence of its authorship survives, it is traditionally ascribed to the scholar Wu Cheng'en.

Image:Journey.jpg
18th century Chinese illustration of a scene from Journey to the West

Some scholars propose that the book is a work of satire on the effeteness of the Chinese government at the time. As a work of literature, it is of the highest quality, known as one of the four greatest works of Chinese literature The others are: Dream of the Red Chamber, Water Margin, and Romance of Three Kingdoms). Journey to the West has a strong background in Chinese folk religion, Chinese mythology, religion, and value systems, traits evident throughout the novel.

[edit]

Synopsis

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

The opening chapters of the novel recount the earlier exploits of Sun Wukong, culminating in his rebellion against Heaven. Part of the story also relates to how Xuanzang becomes a monk and comes about being sent on this pilgrimage by the Tang emperor who had previously escaped death with the help of an underworld official. Throughout the storyline, these four brave travelers have to fend off attacks from various monsters and spirits. Some came in search of immortality which is obtainable by eating the flesh of the holy monk; whilst others want to stop the pilgrimage from happening at all. Sun Wukong has to use all his connections in the supernatural world to find the necessary help in defeating formidable enemies which include the Bull Demon King, the Iron Fan Princess, and even an indistinguishable imitation of himself. The demons on the last part of the journey include spider-women who spin webs from their navels, a pride of lion monsters, and a terrible female spirit who carries Xuanzang down into her bottomless cave to marry him.

[edit]

Sun Wukong

Sun Wukong aka the Monkey King has become one of the most famous and beloved characters in Chinese literature. His recognition factor and popularity in Asia is comparable to those of Mickey Mouse in Western countries although considering his personality, Bugs Bunny might be a better comparison. His child-like playfulness is a huge contrast to his cunning mind. These, coupled with his acrobatic skills makes him a likeable hero although not necessarily a good role model. His antics throughout the journey for the sutras presented a lighter side and continual faith of what proposes to be a long and dangerous trip into the unknown.

Part of the novel's enduring popularity comes from the fact that it works on multiple levels: it is an adventure story, a dispenser of spiritual insight, and an extended metaphor in which the group of pilgrims journeying toward India stands for the individual journeying toward enlightenment.

Sun Wukong is also a metaphor for lack of discipline and lack of manners. An out of control child will often be labelled as "As naughty as Sun Wukong."

[edit]

Main Characters

Zhu Bajie

Erlang Shen

Guanyin

Sun Wukong

Ru Lai (Buddha)

Sha Wujing

Yan Wang (Lord of the Underworld)

Jade Emperor (Yu Di)

[edit]

Historical Context

The classic tale of "the Journey to the West" was based on real events. The real journey to the west took place during the Tang Dynasty. The Big Wild Goose Pagoda in Xian, Shaanxi Province, China, was both the starting and ending point of this epic journey. The statue of Xuanzang can be seen near the right of this panorama.

The Big Wild Goose Pagoda of Xian, China.

[edit]

Related topics

[edit]

Notable English-language translations

[edit]

External links

de:Die Reise nach Westen es:Viaje al Oeste fr:Le Voyage en Occident it:Viaggio all'ovest ko:서유기 ja:西遊記 th:ไซอิ๋ว vi:Tây Du Ký zh:西游记