Journey to the West (Volume 1 and 2)

Author: Wu Cheng'en
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2000-06-01
Features: The Journey to the West is an outstanding fantasy novel from the mid-Ming Dynasty. The entire book consists of 100 chapters. The first seven chapters describe the birth and rebellion of Sun Wukong in Heaven, which is the most exciting part of The Journey to the West. It subtly reflects the struggle of the peasant class against the landlord class in feudal society. Chapters 8 to 13 tell stories such as Wei Zheng slaying a dragon, Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty descending into the underworld, Liu Quan offering melons, and Xuanzang receiving an imperial decree to embark on a pilgrimage. This section serves as the preparation for the pilgrimage and plays an organizational role in the plot. Chapters 14 to 100 are the main part of the pilgrimage, depicting the journey of Sun Wukong and Xuanzang and their overcoming of 81 trials. It showcases the strong will of the people in overcoming difficulties and their heroic spirit in conquering nature. The book has a humorous and witty tone, filled with optimism. The language is vivid, lively, concise, powerful, and full of wit, aligning with the tone and character traits of the work. This book has had a profound influence on the lives of the people in China.