Personal Library -- Journey to the West (1-4)

Author: Ming Wu Cheng'en
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-09-01
Features:▼Complete Content▼Sandalwood Aroma▼Compact and Portable▼Original Illustrations▼Easy to Carry
The main story of Journey to the West depicts the tale of Sun Wukong protecting Tang Monk on his journey to the West to retrieve the Buddhist scriptures, enduring ninety-nine and eight difficulties. The journey of Tang Monk to retrieve the scriptures 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 alone to study in India (Tianzhu). After departing from Chang'an, he passed through Central Asia, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, overcoming numerous hardships and finally reached 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. 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 his disciple Bianji, who compiled them into the Record of the Western Regions of the Great Tang Dynasty in twelve volumes. However, this book primarily described the history, geography, and transportation of the various countries along the way, with little narrative. It was later that his disciples Huili and Yancong wrote the Biography of the Three Jewels of the Great Tang Temple, which added many mythological elements to Xuanzang's experiences. From then on, the story of Tang Monk retrieving the scriptures began to spread widely among the people. During the Southern Song Dynasty, there was The Poetic Dialogue of the Great Tang Monk Retrieving the Scriptures, while in the Jin Dynasty, there were The Great Tang Monk and The Peach Blossom Banquet in the court drama, and in the Yuan Dynasty, there were Wu Changling's The Great 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 Journey to the West. Wu Cheng'en, drawing upon folk legends, tales, and operas, underwent arduous re-creation to complete this great literary masterpiece that takes pride in the Chinese nation.
The entire book consists of one hundred chapters, which can be divided into three major parts. From the beginning to the eighth chapter, it primarily tells the story of Sun Wukong's birth, his apprenticeship, and his rebellion in Heaven. This is the most exciting part of the book, filled with chaos as Sun Wukong travels through the heavens and earth, fully showcasing his rebellious spirit. From the eighth to the twelfth chapter, the second part focuses on Tang Monk's origins and the reasons for his journey. From the thirteenth to the last chapter, the third part mainly describes Tang Monk's journey to the West, where he later recruits Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie, and Sha Wujing as his disciples, enduring ninety-nine and eight trials before finally retrieving the true scriptures and achieving enlightenment.
Journey to the West presents a vibrant and colorful world of gods and demons, leaving readers in awe of the author's rich and bold artistic imagination. However, every piece of literary work reflects a certain aspect of social life, and as an outstanding representative of fantasy novels, Journey to the West is no exception. As Lu Xun pointed out in A Brief History of Chinese Fiction, Journey to the West "satirizes and teases the social conditions of the time, adding exaggerated descriptions." He also said, "The author has a talent for comedy, so even when describing fantastical events, he often mixes in humorous remarks, making gods and demons relatable and spirits worldly." Indeed, through the fantastical world of 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's ideals are evident. Sun Wukong's indomitable spirit, his fearless attitude in wielding the Golden-Hooped Rod to sweep away all demons and monsters, reflects the people's wishes and aspirations. He represents a force of justice, embodying the people's belief in overcoming all difficulties.
Similarly, the demons 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 Journey to the West, it is difficult to find a competent emperor; as for the ignorant and incompetent Jade Emperor, the king of the country of Chuji who favors demons, and the king of the country of Biqiu who uses 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.
Journey to the West not only has profound ideological content but also achieves remarkable artistic success. With its rich and extraordinary artistic imagination, vivid and storylines, lifelike characters, and humorous and witty language, it constructs a unique artistic palace of Journey to the West. However, I believe the greatest artistic achievement of 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 Journey to the West, an extraordinary hero. He possesses boundless abilities, fearless of heaven or earth, and has an indomitable rebellious spirit. He has the demeanor of a great hero but also the flaw of enjoying flattery. He is clever, brave, and loves to cause trouble. His greatest characteristic 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 Fire-Eye Golden-Splitting Eyes and showing no mercy under the Golden-Hooped Rod. 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 far from being a glorious and noble figure. However, this character is also portrayed very well. Zhu Bajie is a comedic figure, simple-minded and strong, and also dares to fight against demons and monsters, serving as Sun Wukong's reliable assistant. Yet, he is full of flaws, such as his love for food, petty greed, lust for women, fear of difficulties, and his tendency to give up halfway, always thinking of the wife from the High Elder's Village in his heart. Sometimes he lies, but his clumsy mouth and slow wit make it hard for him to convince anyone. He also occasionally provokes Tang Monk to recite the Golden-Hooped Sutra, making Sun Wukong suffer a bit. He even hides some private money, stuffing it into his ear. His flaws are many, 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 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 more lacking in distinct personality traits, which cannot be said to be a shortcoming of Journey to the West. Despite this, the artistic achievements of Journey to the West remain astonishing. Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie, with their distinct personalities, have established an immortal artistic monument in the history of Chinese literature.