Journey to the West: A Sketch

Author: Guo Liancheng
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2003-03-01
Features: Yu Jia, born in Jiangsu, saw Western Catholic missionaries in his youth and admired their erudition and virtue. When discussing customs and local traditions, he often longed to experience them firsthand. In the 30th year of the Daoguang era, I, along with a few companions, embarked on a voyage westward, passing through places like Myanmar, India, Africa, France, and the Philippines, before arriving in Naples, Italy. There, I studied at the Seminary of the Holy Family, having already been abroad for eight years. The customs and cultures of the places I visited varied greatly, but the most refined traditions and beautiful customs were often found in places of Catholic worship. In the Dingzi year of the Xianfeng era, I returned to my homeland and met Guo Liancheng in Shanghai. The following autumn, when Guo accompanied Xu Gong on his return journey westward, I, as a priest in northern Chu, obtained his "Outline of a Western Journey" and read it. The records of his observations along the way were all things I had personally witnessed in the past, without any embellished words. I also appreciated its elegant and concise writing style, which was far superior to the fantastical and sensational descriptions found in classical travelogues. Unable to let such a precious gem remain hidden, I decided to publish it for the enjoyment of fellow enthusiasts. In this era, the benevolent emperor has brought distant lands under his rule and brought all under his influence, so the publication of Guo’s book may also contribute slightly to the imperial court’s efforts to gather local customs.
Preface by Priest Lu Xiashan of the Seminary of the Holy Family in the first year of the Tongzhi era.