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Journey to the West
Journey to the West is a Chinese novel published in the 16th century during the Ming dynasty and attributed to Wu Cheng'en. It is one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. It has been described as arguably the most popular literary work in East Asia.
The novel is an extended account of the legendary pilgrimage of the Tang dynasty Buddhist monk Xuanzang, who travelled to the "Western Regions" (Central Asia and the Indian subcontinent) to obtain Buddhist sacred texts and returned after many trials and much suffering. The novel retains the broad outline of Xuanzang's own account, Great Tang Records on the Western Regions, but adds elements from folk tales and the author's Gautama Buddha gives this task to the monk and provides him with three protectors who agree to help him as an atonement for their sins. These disciples are Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajieand Sha Wujing, together with a dragon prince who acts as Tang Sanzang's steed, a white horse. The group of pilgrims journeys towards enlightenment by the power and virtue of cooperation.
Journey to the West has strong roots in Chinese folk religion, Chinese mythology, Confucianist, Taoist and Buddhist philosophy, and the pantheon of Taoist immortals and Buddhist bodhisattvas are still reflective of some Chinese religious attitudes today. Enduringly popular, the novel is at once a comic adventure story, a humorous satire of Chinese bureaucracy, a source of spiritual insight, and an extended allegory.
The novel is an extended account of the legendary pilgrimage of the Tang dynasty Buddhist monk Xuanzang, who travelled to the "Western Regions" (Central Asia and the Indian subcontinent) to obtain Buddhist sacred texts and returned after many trials and much suffering. The novel retains the broad outline of Xuanzang's own account, Great Tang Records on the Western Regions, but adds elements from folk tales and the author's Gautama Buddha gives this task to the monk and provides him with three protectors who agree to help him as an atonement for their sins. These disciples are Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajieand Sha Wujing, together with a dragon prince who acts as Tang Sanzang's steed, a white horse. The group of pilgrims journeys towards enlightenment by the power and virtue of cooperation.
Journey to the West has strong roots in Chinese folk religion, Chinese mythology, Confucianist, Taoist and Buddhist philosophy, and the pantheon of Taoist immortals and Buddhist bodhisattvas are still reflective of some Chinese religious attitudes today. Enduringly popular, the novel is at once a comic adventure story, a humorous satire of Chinese bureaucracy, a source of spiritual insight, and an extended allegory.
2210 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 6, 2021
28 people are currently reading
6 people want to read
About the author
Wu Cheng'en
696 books199 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
Wu Cheng'en (simplified Chinese: 吴承恩; traditional Chinese: 吳承恩; pinyin: Wú Chéng'ēn, ca. 1505–1580 or 1500–1582, courtesy name Ruzhong (汝忠), pen name "Sheyang Hermit," was a Chinese novelist and poet of the Ming Dynasty, best known for being the probable author of one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature, Journey to the West, also called Monkey.
Wu Cheng'en (simplified Chinese: 吴承恩; traditional Chinese: 吳承恩; pinyin: Wú Chéng'ēn, ca. 1505–1580 or 1500–1582, courtesy name Ruzhong (汝忠), pen name "Sheyang Hermit," was a Chinese novelist and poet of the Ming Dynasty, best known for being the probable author of one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature, Journey to the West, also called Monkey.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
February 27, 2023
Probably the single longest book I've read so far. With over 2000 pages of text, I expected it to be more of a slog. And, it definitely gets a bit repetitive, but manages to vary enough to keep some liveliness.
In a lot of ways this 500 year old book reminded me of cartoons I watched as a kid. It's split into rather consistent tv-length episodes where each follow much of the same action packed formula with the occasional episode diverting away to take a bit of a break.
An abridgment makes a lot of sense in retrospect as it should be relatively easy to cull a lot of plot without really losing much. But, it's also clear that the point was extended entertainment and not some refined and focused story.
Been curious about this book for a while, and glad I read it, even if I'm sure I've already forgotten more than half.
In a lot of ways this 500 year old book reminded me of cartoons I watched as a kid. It's split into rather consistent tv-length episodes where each follow much of the same action packed formula with the occasional episode diverting away to take a bit of a break.
An abridgment makes a lot of sense in retrospect as it should be relatively easy to cull a lot of plot without really losing much. But, it's also clear that the point was extended entertainment and not some refined and focused story.
Been curious about this book for a while, and glad I read it, even if I'm sure I've already forgotten more than half.
Displaying 1 of 1 review