18th century Chinese illustration of a scene from Journey to the West Journey to the West (Traditional Chinese: 西遊記; Simplified Chinese: 西游记; pinyin: Xī Yóu Jì, WG: Hsi Yu Chi) is a classic of Chinese literature, and perhaps the most well-known amongst the younger generation. It was published anonymously in the 1590s, and no direct evidence of its authorship survives, but it is traditionally ascribed to the scholar Wu Cheng'en. The novel tells a fictionalized and mythologized version of the Buddhist monk Xuanzang's pilgrimage to India.
In the novel, the monk Xuanzang (玄奘) is called by the Bodhisattva Guan Yin to travel to India to obtain copies of certain important Buddhist texts that are not available in China. He is accompanied on his journey by three disciples - the monkey king Sun Wukong (孫悟空), the pig-monster Zhu Wuneng (豬悟能), and the river monster Sha Wujing (沙悟淨) - who have agreed to help him along the way as an atonement for past sins. His horse itself is a dragon prince.
Some scholars propound that the book is a work of satire on the 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 (others are: Dream of the Red Chamber, Water Margin, and Romance of Three Kingdoms). Journey to the West, evident throughout the novel, has a strong basis in Chinese folk religion, Chinese mythology, religion, and value systems.
One of the supernatural helpers, the monkey king Sun Wukong, has become one of the most famous and beloved characters in Chinese literature. His recognition factor and popularity in Asia have been compared to those of Mickey Mouse in Western countries (although, considering his personality, Bugs Bunny might be a better comparison).
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.
Related topics
- Monkey -- live action television series based on Journey to the West
- Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z -- (Japanese manga series loosely inspired by Journey to the West)
- Dragon Ball -- Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball GT, anime versions of the Dragon Ball/Dragon Ball Z manga
- Gensomaden Saiyuki -- (another anime inspired by the myth)
- Journey to the West (TV series) -- a great live action CCTV series from China starring Liu Xiao Ling Tong as Wukong. It covers most episodes; later there was a part two to complete the whole novel (for example "The Cave of Red Gold", home to Laozi's oxen who has turned into a demon).
There was also another Chinese JTTW series, this time from TVB (Hongkong).
- Heavenly Legend -- a 1998 film by Tai Seng Entertainment starring Kung Fu kid Sik Siu Loong is partially based on this legend.
- The Lost Empire -- a 2001 NBC miniseries based on "Journey to the West"
Notable English-language translations
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