Journey to the West

Author: Wu Cheng'en
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2001-12-01
Features: Wu Cheng'en's Journey to the West follows the story of Tang Sanzang's pilgrimage. The original text consists of 100 chapters. The first seven chapters narrate the birth of Sun Wukong, his rebellion in Heaven, and his eventual subjugation by Buddha, who seals him under the Five Elements Mountain. From the eighth to the twelfth chapters, the story mainly describes the creation of the scriptures by Sakyamuni, Guanyin visiting a monk, Wei Zheng slaying a dragon, and the birth of Xuanzang, explaining the origins of the pilgrimage. The remaining chapters primarily depict Sun Wukong and his companions protecting Tang Sanzang on his journey westward to retrieve the true scriptures. Along the way, they confront demons and monsters, travel a distance of 108,000 li, and endure 81 trials over 14 years, ultimately succeeding in obtaining the scriptures. The work is rich in imagination, features intricate plots, and uses vivid, humorous language. It also creates highly distinctive and widely recognized characters such as Sun Wukong, Tang Sanzang, Zhu Bajie, and Sha Wujing.