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

Author: Huang Yongnian and Huang Shoucheng (ed.)
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-04-01
Features: The Journey to the West is one of China's most renowned mythological novels. Through the story of Tang Monk and his disciples traveling west to retrieve the Buddhist scriptures, the author critiques social realities. Among all the characters, Sun Wukong stands out as one of the most iconic artistic figures in classical Chinese literature, 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, which differs significantly from modern Chinese. Scholars have strived to maintain the original linguistic style while revising it to make it more accessible to readers with elementary and above education levels. The Journey to the West primarily depicts the story of Sun Wukong protecting Tang Monk on his journey west to retrieve the scriptures, enduring 81 trials. The pilgrimage of Tang Monk was a real historical event. Around 1,300 years ago, in the first year of the Zhenguan era (627), the young monk Xuanzang, only 25 at the time, left the capital Chang'an alone to study in India (Tianzhu). 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 was honored as the main speaker at a major Buddhist scholastic debate. In the 19th year of the Zhenguan era (645), Xuanzang returned to Chang'an, bringing back 657 Buddhist scriptures. His 19-year journey west, covering tens of thousands of miles, was 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 Records of the Western Regions of the Great Tang in 12 volumes. However, this book mainly described the history, geography, and transportation of the countries along the way, with little narrative. In contrast, the Biography of the Venerable Master Xuanzang of the Great Tang's Daci'en Temple, written by his disciples Huili and Yancong, added many mythological elements to Xuanzang's experiences, and from then on, the story of Tang Monk's pilgrimage began to spread widely among the people. During the Southern Song Dynasty, there was The Poetic Dialogues of the Great Tang's Tripitaka, while in the Jin Dynasty, there were Tang Monk and The Peach Blossom Banquet in court dramas, and in the Yuan Dynasty, there were Wu Changling's Tang Monk'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 operas 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 13th year of the Hongzhi era and the early Zhengde era (1500–1510) and died around the 10th year of the Wanli era (1582). His great-grandfather and grandfather were scholars who served as instructors and education officers in county schools. However, by 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 maintained its tradition of scholarship. It is said that Wu Rui, though a merchant, was upright 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 16th volume of the Tianqi Huai'an Prefecture Gazetteer describes Wu Cheng'en as "quick-witted and knowledgeable, well-versed in books, and able to compose poetry and prose at a stroke." However, Wu Cheng'en's life was not smooth in adulthood. He faced repeated setbacks in the imperial examinations and only became a supplementary tribute student in his forties. In his fifties, he served as an assistant magistrate in Changxing County, Zhejiang, and later as a moral counselor in the Jing Wangfu, a position similar to the assistant magistrate in rank but mostly ceremonial. Wu Cheng'en likely began writing The Journey to the West in 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 rebellion in Heaven. This is the most exciting part of the book, filled with chaos as Sun Wukong travels, showcasing his rebellious spirit. The eighth to the twelfth chapters form the second part, focusing on Tang Monk's origins and the reasons for his pilgrimage. The thirteenth chapter to the last chapter is the third part, mainly describing Tang Monk's journey west, where he recruits Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie, and Sha Wujing as his disciples, faces 81 trials, and finally retrieves the true scriptures, achieving enlightenment. The Journey to the West presents a vibrant and colorful mythological world that leaves readers in awe of the author's rich and bold imagination. However, like any literary work, it reflects a certain aspect of social life, and as an outstanding representative of mythological fiction, 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, exaggerating and describing them." He also said, "The author has a talent for comedy, so even when describing fantastical events, he often mixes in humorous 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 embodies his ideals. Sun Wukong's indomitable struggle spirit, his fearless attitude in wielding the golden headband staff to sweep away all demons and monsters, reflects the people's desires 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, even the Heavenly Palace ruled by the Jade Emperor and the Western Paradise governed by the Buddha are heavily colored with 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 hard to find a competent emperor; as for the ignorant and incompetent Jade Emperor, the king of the Xu Chi Kingdom who favors demons, and 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 casual, 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 winding plot, 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 the successful creation of the immortal artistic figures 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 grandeur 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 almighty 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 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 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 tendency to give up. He often thinks of the wife of the Gao family in Gaoshan. Sometimes he lies, but his clumsy mouth and slow wit make it hard for him to convince others. He also occasionally provokes Tang Monk to recite the tightening spell, causing Sun Wukong to 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 shortcomings is severe but well-intentioned. He is not a completely negated character, so people do not dislike Zhu Bajie but rather find him quite real and endearing. Tang Monk's character is also well-written, but compared to Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie, he is somewhat inferior. Sha Wujing is even less distinct in character, 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.