The Journey to the West

by Wu Cheng'en, Anthony C. Yu

Journey to the West is a classic Chinese mythological novel. It was written during the Ming Dynasty based on traditional folktales. Consisting of 100 chapters, this fantasy relates the adventures of a Tang Dynasty (618-907) priest Sanzang and his three disciples, Monkey, Pig and Friar Sand, as they travel west in search of Buddhist Sutra. The first seven chapters recount the birth of the Monkey King and his rebellion against Heaven. Then in chapters eight to twelve, we learn how Sanzang was born and why he is searching for the scriptures, as well as his preparations for the journey. The rest of the story describes how they vanquish demons and monsters, tramp over the Fiery Mountain, cross the Milky Way, and after overcoming many dangers, finally arrive at their destination - the Thunder Monastery in the Western Heaven - and find the Sutra.

Attached are a number of illustrations drawn during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

Genres: Mythology

544 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 1991

About the author

Librarian 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.

Reviews

[John Perdue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anyone who thinks classics are unapproachable should pick up his book. Tons of rowdy kung fu fantasy adventure. It's a long read, but the plot is somewhat episodic, making it fairly easy to put down and pick back up again (I took a few breaks during it).

[Andrew Bell · Rating 4 out of 5]

You would think the repetition of the pattern of binding and liberating would grow tiresome, yet it never does; for that we must thank the luxury of the poetry, the fundamentally compelling nature of the theme of overcoming evil, and most of all, Sun Wukong for being a delight.

[Sugoi10 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best translation of Journey to the west by Anthony Yu.

[Blessy Samjose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantasy folklore at its best!