Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese Literature - Journey to the West

Author: Huang Yongnian
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-06-01
Features: The Journey to the West is one of China's most renowned mythological novels. Through the story of Tang Sanzang and his disciples traveling west to retrieve the Buddhist scriptures, the author critiques social realities. Among these, the character of Sun Wukong is one of the most iconic artistic figures in classical Chinese novels, beloved by readers for his rebellious nature and spirit of resistance. The language of The Journey to the West is based on the southern official dialect popular during the Ming Dynasty and differs significantly from modern Chinese. Scholars have strived to maintain the original linguistic style while reworking it to make it more accessible to readers with elementary to advanced education levels. The Journey to the West primarily depicts the story of Sun Wukong protecting Tang Sanzang as they travel west to retrieve the scriptures, enduring ninety-nine and one thousand trials. The journey 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, aged only twenty-five, left the capital Chang'an and journeyed alone to India (Tianzhu) for studies. After departing Chang'an, he passed through Central Asia, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, overcoming numerous hardships before finally reaching India. There, he studied for over two years and delivered lectures at a major Buddhist scholastic debate, earning praise. In the nineteenth year of the Zhenguan era (645), Xuanzang returned to Chang'an, bringing back 657 Buddhist scriptures. His westward journey spanned nineteen years and tens of thousands of miles, a legendary long march that captivated the era. Later, Xuanzang dictated his travels, which were compiled by his disciple Bianji into the Record of the Western Journey to the West in twelve volumes. However, this book primarily detailed the history, geography, and transportation of the countries he visited, with little narrative. In contrast, the Biography of the Venerable Monk Tripitaka of the Great Tang written by his disciples Hui Li and Yan Cong added many mythological elements to Xuanzang's experiences, and from then on, the story of Tang Sanzang's journey began to spread widely among the people. During the Southern Song Dynasty, there was The Poetic Account of the Tripitaka's Journey to the West, while in the Jin Dynasty, there were Tang Sanzang and The Peach Blossom Banquet in court dramas, 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 completed this great literary masterpiece, a source of pride for the Chinese nation, based on folk tales, storytelling, and theatrical works through arduous re-creation. Wu Cheng'en, styled Ruzhong, styled Shaoyang Shanshen, was from Shanyang (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). Both his great-grandfather and grandfather were scholars who served as instructors in county schools. However, by Wu Cheng'en's father Wu Rui's generation, due to poverty, Wu Rui married into the Xu family, "thus inheriting the Xu family's business and sitting in their shop," becoming a small merchant. Despite this, the Wu family did not lose its tradition of scholarship. It is said that 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 was renowned in his hometown. The Sixteenth Volume of the Taiping Guangji of the Tianqi era states that Wu Cheng'en "was quick-witted and knowledgeable,, and could compose poetry and prose at the drop of a hat." However, Wu Cheng'en's life was not smooth after 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 a Jixian in the Jing Wangfu, a position similar to the county magistrate in rank but with little actual responsibility. Wu Cheng'en likely began writing The Journey to the West in his middle age, or possibly later, though the exact time remains uncertain. Besides 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 Master Shaoyang in four volumes, including one volume of poetry and three volumes of prose, was compiled posthumously by Qiu Du. The Journey to the West is a 100-capter novel, structurally divisible into three parts. From the beginning to the eighth chapter is the first part, primarily detailing Sun Wukong's birth, apprenticeship, and chaos in Heaven. This is the most exciting part of the book, filled with vibrant action as Sun Wukong travels the heavens and earth, fully showcasing his rebellious nature. The eighth to twelfth chapters form the second part, focusing on Tang Sanzang's origins and the reasons for his journey. The thirteenth to the final chapter make up the third part, detailing Tang Sanzang's westward journey, his recruitment of Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie, and Sha Wujing as disciples, and his eventual retrieval of the true scriptures and attainment of enlightenment. The Journey to the West presents a dazzling mythological world to its readers, leaving them in awe of the author's rich and bold imagination. However, every piece 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 natural talent for humor, so even when describing fantastical events, he often interjects witty remarks, making the gods and demons seem human and the spirits and monsters 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 embodies his ideals. Sun Wukong's indomitable spirit, his fearless defiance with the iron staff, and his unwavering determination to defeat all demons and monsters reflect the people's aspirations and desires. 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, even 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. Even the casual portrayal of these characters 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 extraordinary imagination, vivid and plots, lifelike characters, and humorous language, it constructs a unique artistic palace of The Journey to the West. However, I believe the greatest artistic achievement of The Journey to the West lies in its successful creation of the immortal artistic figures of Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie. Sun Wukong is the protagonist of The Journey to the West, an extraordinary hero. He possesses boundless abilities, fears neither heaven nor earth, and has an indomitable spirit of rebellion. He has the demeanor of a great hero but also the flaw of enjoying flattery. He is clever, brave, and playful. His most outstanding trait is his courage to fight. He dares to challenge the supreme and all-powerful 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 pupils, and never showing mercy to demons under the iron staff. He dares to fight against all difficulties, never retreating or bowing his head. This is Sun Wukong, a dazzling mythological hero. As for Zhu Bajie, his abilities are far inferior to Sun Wukong, and he is certainly no heroic figure. Yet, this character is also brilliantly portrayed. 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 his tendency to give up. He often thinks of the wife in the Gaozhuang Village. Sometimes he lies, but his clumsy mouth fails to make convincing excuses. He also occasionally provokes Tang Sanzang to recite the iron headband, making Sun Wukong suffer. He even hides some private money, stuffing it in his ear. His flaws are numerous, reflecting the vices of a petty owner. The author's criticism of Zhu Bajie's shortcomings is harsh but well-intentioned. He is not a completely negated character, so people do not dislike Zhu Bajie; instead, they find him quite relatable 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, stand as immortal artistic monuments in the history of Chinese literature.