Journey to the West

Author: Wu Cheng'en (Author) et al. (Annotations)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-01-01
Features: The Journey to the West is one of the most renowned mythological novels in ancient China. Through the story of Tang Sanzang and his disciples traveling west to obtain the Buddhist scriptures, the author critiques social realities. Among them, the character of Sun Wukong is one of the most iconic artistic figures in classical Chinese novels. His rebellious nature and spirit of resistance are particularly beloved by readers. The language of The Journey to the West is based on the southern official dialect popular during the Ming Dynasty, which differs significantly from modern Chinese. Scholars and experts have strived to maintain the original linguistic style while refining it to make the work more accessible to readers with elementary and above education levels. The Journey to the West primarily depicts the story of Sun Wukong protecting Tang Sanzang on his journey west to obtain the Buddhist scriptures, enduring ninety-nine and one challenges. The pilgrimage of Tang Sanzang was a real historical event. Approximately thirteen hundred years ago, in the first year of the Zhenguan era (627), the young monk Xuanzang, at the age of twenty-five, left the capital Chang'an and journeyed alone to India for studies. After departing from Chang'an, he passed through Central Asia, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, overcoming numerous difficulties before finally reaching India. There, he studied for over two years and was highly praised as the main speaker at a major Buddhist scholastic debate. In the nineteenth year of the Zhenguan era (645), Xuanzang returned to Chang'an, bringing back 657 Buddhist scriptures. His westward journey 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, which were compiled by his disciple Bianji into the Record of the Western Regions of the Great Tang in twelve volumes. However, this book primarily described the history, geography, and transportation of the various countries along the way, with little narrative. In contrast, the Biography of the Venerable Master Xuanzang of the Great Tang's Daxing Temple, written by his disciples Huili and Yancong, added many mythological elements to Xuanzang's experiences, and from then on, the story of Tang Sanzang's pilgrimage began to spread widely among the people. During the Southern Song Dynasty, there was The Poetic Dialogue of Tang Sanzang's Journey to the West, while in the Jin Dynasty, there were Tang Sanzang and The Peach Blossom Banquet in the court drama, and in the Yuan Dynasty, there were Wu Changling's Tang Sanzang's Journey to the West and an anonymous The God Erlang Locks Sun Wukong. All these laid the foundation for the creation of The Journey to the West. Wu Cheng'en, based on folk tales, stories, and operas, underwent arduous re-creation to complete this great literary masterpiece that the Chinese nation is proud of. Wu Cheng'en, styled Ruzhong, styled Sheyang Mountain Man, was from Shanyang in Huai'an Prefecture (now Huai'an City, Jiangsu Province). He was born around the years between the thirteenth year of the Hongzhi era and the early Zhengde era (1500–1510) and died around the tenth year of the Wanli era (1582). His great-grandfather and grandfather were scholars who served as instructors and teachers in county schools. However, by his father Wu Rui's generation, due to poverty, he was adopted into the Xu family and took over their business, becoming a small merchant. Despite this, the Wu family did not lose its tradition of scholarship. It is said that his father Wu Rui, though a merchant, was upright in character and loved reading and discussing current affairs, which greatly influenced Wu Cheng'en. Wu Cheng'en was very intelligent from a young age, entered school early, achieved success in his youth, and became renowned in his hometown. The Sixteenth Volume of the Tianqi Huai'an Prefecture Gazetteer describes Wu Cheng'en as "quick-witted and knowledgeable, well-versed in all books, able to compose poetry and prose at the stroke of a pen." However, Wu Cheng'en's life became less smooth in adulthood. He faced repeated setbacks in the imperial examinations and only became a supplementary tribute scholar in his forties. In his fifties, he served as the county magistrate of Changxing County in Zhejiang and later as the Jixian of the Jing Wang's court, a position similar to the county magistrate in status but with little real responsibility. Wu Cheng'en began writing The Journey to the West in his middle age, or perhaps later, though the exact time remains uncertain. In addition to The Journey to the West, he also wrote the long poem The Song of Erlang Searching for Mountains and The Legend of Yu Ding. The extant Collected Works of Sheyang Mountain Master in four volumes, including one volume of poetry and three volumes of prose, was compiled by Qiu Du after Wu Cheng'en's death. The entire The Journey to the West consists of one hundred chapters, which can be divided into three parts. From the beginning to the eighth chapter, it primarily depicts the birth, apprenticeship, and rebellion of Sun Wukong in Heaven. This is the most exciting part of the book, filled with chaos as Sun Wukong travels the heavens and earth, fully showcasing his rebellious nature. The eighth to the twelfth chapters focus on Tang Sanzang's origins and the reasons for his pilgrimage. The thirteenth to the last chapter mainly describes Tang Sanzang's journey west, where he later recruits Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie, and Sha Wujing as his disciples, faces ninety-nine and one challenges, and finally obtains the true scriptures, achieving enlightenment. The Journey to the West presents a dazzling mythological world to its readers, and everyone is amazed by the author's rich and bold artistic imagination. However, every work of literature reflects a certain aspect of social life, and as an outstanding representative of mythological novels, The Journey to the West is no exception. As Lu Xun pointed out in A Brief History of Chinese Fiction, The Journey to the West "satirizes and teases the social realities of the time, adding exaggerated descriptions." He also said, "The author has a talent for humor, so even when describing fantastical events, he often mixes in witty remarks, making the gods and demons human and the spirits worldly." Indeed, through the fantastical world of The Journey to the West, we can see the reflection of real society everywhere. For example, in the creation of Sun Wukong's character, the author expresses his ideals. Sun Wukong's indomitable spirit, his fearless defiance with the golden-banded staff, and his unwavering determination to sweep away all demons and monsters reflect the people's wishes and aspirations. He represents a force of justice, embodying the people's belief in overcoming all difficulties. The demons and monsters encountered on the journey are either manifestations of natural disasters or symbols of evil forces. Their greed, cruelty, cunning, and treachery are also characteristics of the dark forces in feudal society. Moreover, the Heavenly Palace ruled by the Jade Emperor and the Western Paradise governed by the Buddha are deeply colored by the hues of human society. The author's attitude toward the highest rulers of feudal society is also worth noting. In The Journey to the West, it is difficult to find a competent emperor; as for the ignorant and incompetent Jade Emperor, the king of the Xu Chi Kingdom who favors demons, or the king of the Biqiu Kingdom who intends to use children's hearts and livers as medicine, they are either tyrants or autocrats. The portrayal of these characters, even if done casually, carries strong realistic significance. The Journey to the West not only has profound ideological content but also achieves remarkable artistic success. With its rich and unique artistic imagination, vivid and storylines, lifelike characters, and humorous language, it constructs a distinctive artistic palace of The Journey to the West. However, I believe the greatest artistic achievement of The Journey to the West lies in the successful creation of the immortal artistic figures of Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie. Sun Wukong is the protagonist of The Journey to the West and an extraordinary hero. He possesses boundless abilities, fears neither heaven nor earth, and has an indomitable spirit of rebellion. He has the grandeur of a great hero but also the flaw of enjoying flattery. He is clever, brave, and playful. His greatest characteristic is his courage to fight. He dares to challenge the supreme and revered Jade Emperor, earning the title of "Great Sage Equal to Heaven." He dares to fight against demons and monsters, never missing a demon with his fiery eyes and golden-banded staff, and never showing mercy to them under the staff. He dares to fight against all difficulties, never retreating or bowing his head. This is Sun Wukong, a brilliant mythological hero. As for Zhu Bajie, his abilities are far inferior to Sun Wukong, and he is certainly no heroic figure. However, this character is also portrayed very well. Zhu Bajie is a comedic figure, simple-minded, strong, and brave in fighting against demons and monsters, serving as Sun Wukong's loyal assistant. However, he is full of flaws, such as his love for food, petty greed, lust, fear of difficulties, and often wanting to give up. He is always thinking of the wife from the Gaozhuang Village. Sometimes he lies, but his clumsy mouth and slow wit make it hard for him to convince anyone. He also occasionally provokes Tang Sanzang to recite the golden band, making Sun Wukong suffer. He even hides some private money in his ear. His flaws are many, reflecting the vices of a petty owner. The author's criticism of Zhu Bajie's flaws is severe but well-intentioned. He is not a completely negated character, so people do not dislike Zhu Bajie but find him quite real and endearing. Tang Sanzang's character is also well-written, but compared to Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie, he is somewhat inferior. Sha Wujing is even more lacking in distinct personality traits, which cannot be said to be a shortcoming of The Journey to the West. Despite this, the artistic achievements of The Journey to the West remain astonishing. Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie, with their, have established an immortal artistic monument in the history of Chinese literature.