Journey to the West: Illustrated Text

Author: (Ming) Wu Cheng'en
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-01-01
Features: The story of The Journey to the West is very familiar to people. Among its most exciting chapters, such as Sun Wukong's Rebellion in Heaven, Zhu Bajie's Marriage at High Elder's Village, the Battle with the White Bone Demon, and Borrowing the Plantain Fan, are household names, known to all, even to the old and young. For hundreds of years, it has attracted generation after generation with its strong artistic charm, making it one of the most beloved classical novels in Chinese history. The Journey to the West primarily depicts the story of Sun Wukong protecting Tang Sanzang on his journey westward to retrieve Buddhist scriptures, enduring ninety-nine and one thousand hardships. The journey of Tang Sanzang to retrieve the scriptures was a real historical event. Approximately 1,300 years ago, in the first year of the Zhenguan era (627), a young monk named Xuanzang, only 25 years old, left the capital Chang'an and traveled alone to India (Tianzhu) for studies. After departing from Chang'an, he passed through Central Asia, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, overcoming numerous difficulties and finally reaching India. There, he studied for over two years and was praised as a speaker at a major Buddhist theological debate. In the 19th year of the Zhenguan era (645), Xuanzang returned to Chang'an, bringing back 657 Buddhist scriptures. This journey to the west lasted nineteen years and covered tens of thousands of miles, a legendary long march that caused a sensation at the time. Later, Xuanzang dictated his travels to the west, which were compiled by his disciple Bianji into the Record of the Western Regions of the Great Tang. However, this book mainly described the history, geography, and transportation of the countries along the way and contained little narrative. Later, his disciples Huili and Yancong wrote the Biography of the Venerable Monk Xuanzang of the Great Tang's Daci'en Temple, which added many mythical elements to Xuanzang's experiences. From then on, the story of Tang Sanzang's journey to the west began to spread widely among the people. During the Southern Song Dynasty, there was the Poetic Account of Tang Sanzang's Journey to the West, while in the Jin Dynasty, there were the Tang Sanzang and Peach Blossom Gathering in the Yuan drama. In the Yuan Dynasty, there were Wu Changling's Tang Sanzang's Journey to the West in the West and an anonymous The God Erlang Locks Sun Wukong. All of these laid the foundation for the creation of The Journey to the West. Wu Cheng'en, styled Ruzhong and known as Sheyang Mountain Man, was a native of Shanyang in Huai'an Prefecture (now Huai'an City, Jiangsu Province). The illustrated text of The Journey to the West is based on the Ming-era Jinling Shide Tang edition, with references to other versions such as The Journey to the West Critiqued by Master Li Zhuo, The New Account of the Journey to the West with Images, and The True Interpretation of the Journey to the West.