Journey to the West

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

You have new messages (last change).
This page contains Chinese text.
Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks, boxes, or other symbols instead of Chinese characters.
The four heroes of the story, left to right: Sun Wukong, Xuánzàng, Zhu Wuneng, and Sha Wujing.
Enlarge
The four heroes of the story, left to right: Sun Wukong, Xuánzàng, Zhu Wuneng, and Sha Wujing.
A block print of Journey to the West, Chinese, 16th century.
Enlarge
A block print of Journey to the West, Chinese, 16th century.

Journey to the West (Traditional Chinese: 西遊記; Simplified Chinese: 西游记; Hanyu Pinyin: Xī Yóu Jì; Wade-Giles: Hsi Yu Chi) is one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. Originally published anonymously in the 1590s during the Ming Dynasty, and even though no direct evidence of its authorship survives, it is traditionally ascribed to the scholar Wú Chéng'ēn.

The work is also known as Monkey from the title of a popular, abridged translation by Arthur Waley.

The novel is a fictionalized account of the legends around the Buddhist monk Xuánzàng's pilgrimage to India during the Tang Dynasty in order to obtain Buddhist religious texts called Sutras. The Bodhisattva Guān Yīn, on instruction from the Buddha, gives this task to the monk and his three protectors in the form of disciples — namely Sūn Wùkōng, Zhū Bājiè and Shā Wùjìng — together with a dragon prince who acts as Xuánzàng's horse mount. These four characters have agreed to help Xuánzàng as an atonement for past sins. The pilgrims undergo eighty-one calamities of all sorts before bringing the sutras back to the Chinese capital of Cháng'ān (present-day Xī'ān).

Some scholars propose that the book is a work of satire on the effeteness of the Chinese government at the time. Journey to the West has a strong background in Chinese folk religion, Chinese mythology and value systems. In particular, the pantheon of Taoist and Buddhist deities is still reflective of many Chinese folk religious beliefs today.

Part of the novel's enduring popularity comes from the fact that it works on multiple levels: it is a first-rate adventure story, a dispenser of spiritual insight, and an extended allegory in which the group of pilgrims journeying toward India stands for the individual journeying toward enlightenment. It also has much comedy, poetry and word play.

Contents

[edit] Synopsis

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

The novel comprises 100 chapters. The opening chapters of the novel recount the earlier exploits of Sūn Wùkōng, a monkey born from stone who learns the art of fighting and secrets of immortality, and through guile and force makes a name for himself as the Great Sage Equal to Heaven. His powers grow to match the forces of all of the Eastern (Taoist) deities, and the prologue culminates in Sun's rebellion against Heaven. Hubris proves his downfall when the Buddha manages to trap him under a mountain for five hundred years using only his hand.

18th century Chinese illustration of a scene from Journey to the West
Enlarge
18th century Chinese illustration of a scene from Journey to the West
An illustrated edition of the story
Enlarge
An illustrated edition of the story

Dismayed that "the land of the South knows only greed, hedonism, promiscuity, and sins" the Buddha instructs the Bodhisattva Guān Yīn, the Goddess of Mercy to search Táng China for someone to take the Buddhist sutras of "transcendence and persuasion for good will" back to the East. Part of the story here also relates to how Xuánzàng becomes a monk (as well as revealing his past life as the Golden Cicada, most famous and accomplished disciple of Buddha) and comes about being sent on this pilgrimage by the Táng emperor Lĭ ShìMín, who previously escaped death with the help of an underworld official. She finds four willing disciples for the monk along the way, who agree to help Xuanzang in order to atone for their sins in their past lives and achieve transcendence from the mortal realm (a common Buddhist theme).

  • The monkey king Sūn Wùkōng (孫悟空, also Monkey), previously "Great Sage Equal to Heaven", banished to the mortal realm for rebelling against the Heavens.
  • The pig-monster Zhū Bājiè (豬八戒, also Pigsy, or Pig), previously Lin Fan, commander of the Heavenly Naval forces, banished to the mortal realm for flirting with the Princess of the Moon Chang'e.
  • The river-monster Shā Wùjìng (沙悟淨, also Friar Sand, or Sandy), previously Great General who Folds the Curtain, banished to the mortal realm for dropping (and shattering) of the crystal goblet of the Heavenly Queen Mother.
  • The third prince of the Dragon-King of the West XiaoBáiLong (Little White Dragon), sentenced to death for setting fire to his father's great pearl. He was further punished by being changed into a horse to carry Xuánzàng.

Throughout the journey, these four brave travelers have to fend off attacks on their master and teacher Xuánzàng from various monsters (spirits of the Earth who through meditation and training gained vast powers) and heavenly spirits (who tired of heaven and came down to the mortal realm to amuse themselves). Most attack the pilgrims in search of immortality (which is attainable by eating the flesh of the holy monk, "an individual who has honed his virtues for ten generations"), whilst others want to hinder the pilgrimage. Most succeed in taking Xuánzàng at first, but all are defeated, usually by Sūn Wùkōng, who rescues Xuánzàng before he is harmed.

It is strongly suggested that most of these calamities are engineered by fate and/or the Buddha, as, while the monsters who attack are vast in power and many in number, no real harm ever comes to the four travelers. Indeed, towards the end of the book there is a scene where the Buddha literally commands the fulfillment of the last disaster, because Xuánzàng is one short of the eighty-one disasters he needs to attain Buddhahood.

The pilgrimage takes an arduous fourteen years to complete, after which each traveler is promoted to higher posts in the bureaucracy of the heavens, with Sūn Wùkōng and Xuánzàng achieving Buddhahood.

[edit] Historical context

The Big Wild Goose Pagoda of Xī'ān, China
Enlarge
The Big Wild Goose Pagoda of Xī'ān, China

The classic tale of the Journey to the West was based on real events. The real journey to the west took place during the Tang Dynasty. The Big Wild Goose Pagoda in Xī'ān, Shǎnxī Province, China, was both the starting and ending point of this epic journey. The statue of Xuánzàng can be seen near the right of this panorama. Xuánzàng reached India after he experienced innumerable trials and hardships, of course without the help of the mighty disciples of the novel. Xuánzàng then lived in India for more than a decade, studying at Nalanda University and learning classics of Buddhism and Indian culture. Later he returned to China, bringing with him copies of many classic Buddhism texts, which contributed significantly to the promotion of Buddhism in China.

Fictionalized stories of Xuánzàng's journey were in existence long before Journey to the West was written. In these versions, dating as far back as Southern Song, a monkey character was already a primary protagonist. It is believed that these legends began forming from Xuánzàng's accounts of Hanuman, the Hindu monkey god from the ancient Ramayana epic. During the Yuan Dynasty and early Ming, elements of the Monkey legend can already be seen.

[edit] Main characters

[edit] Tripitaka or Xuán Zàng

An illustration of Xuanzang
Enlarge
An illustration of Xuanzang
Main article: Xuanzang

Xuán Zàng (or Táng Sānzàng, meaning "Táng Dynasty monk"—"Sānzàng" or "Three Baskets", referring to the Tripitaka, was a traditional honorific for a Buddhist monk) is the Buddhist monk who set out to India to retrieve the Buddhist scriptures for China. He is called Tripitaka in many English versions of the story. Although he is helpless when it comes to defending him, the bodhisattva Guān Yīn helps by finding him powerful disciples (Sūn Wùkōng, Zhū Bājiè, and Shā Wùjìng) who aid and protect him on his journey. In return, the disciples will receive enlightenment and forgiveness for their sins once the journey is done. Along the way, they help the local inhabitants by defeating various monsters. The fact that all the monsters and demons are trying to obtain immortality by eating Xuán Zàng provides much of the plot in the story.

[edit] Monkey or Sūn Wùkōng

An illustration of Sūn Wùkōng
Enlarge
An illustration of Sūn Wùkōng
Main article: Sun Wukong

Sūn Wùkōng is the name given to this character by his teacher, Patriarch Subodhi, and means "aware of emptiness"; he is called Monkey King or simply Monkey in English. He was born a monkey, out of a rock that had been dormant for ages. He first distinguished himself by bravely entering the Water-Curtain Cave at the Mountain of Flowers and Fruit; for this feat, his monkey tribe gave him the title of "Monkey King". Later, he started making trouble in Heaven and defeated an army of 100,000 celestial soldiers, led by the Four Heavenly Kings, Erlang Shen, and Nezha. Eventually, the Jade Emperor appealed to Buddha, who subdued and trapped Wùkōng under a mountain. He was only saved when Xuanzang came by him on his pilgrimage and accepted him as a disciple.

His primary weapon is the Will-Following Jingu (Golden) Iron Staff, which he can shrink down to the size of a needle and keep behind his ear, as well as expand it to gigantic proportions (hence the "will-following" part of the name). The staff, originally a pillar supporting the undersea palace of the East Sea Dragon King, weighs 13,500 pounds, which he pulled out of its support and swung with ease. The Dragon King, not wanting him to cause any trouble, also gave him a suit of golden armor. These gifts, combined with his devouring of the peaches of immortality and three jars of immortality pills while in Heaven, plus his ordeal in an eight-trigram furnace (which gave him a steel-hard body and fiery red eyes), makes Sun Wukong the strongest member by far of the pilgrimage. Besides these abilities, he can also pull hairs from his body and blow on them to transform them into whatever he wishes (usually clones of himself to gain a numerical advantage in battle). Although he has mastered seventy-two methods of transformations (twice that of Zhu Bajie), it does not mean that he is restricted to seventy-two different forms. He can also do a "Somersault Cloud," enabling him to travel vast distances in a single leap. Wùkōng uses his talents to fight demons and play pranks. However, his behavior is checked by a band placed around his head by Guān Yīn, which cannot be removed by Wùkōng himself until the journey's end. Xuánzàng can tighten this band by chanting the Tightening-Crown spell (taught to him by Guān Yīn) whenever he needs to chastise the Monkey King.

Sūn Wùkōng's child-like playfulness is a huge contrast to his cunning mind. This, coupled with his acrobatic skills, makes him a likeable hero, though not necessarily a good role model. His antics present a lighter side in what proposes to be a long and dangerous trip into the unknown.

[edit] Pigsy or Zhū Bājiè

An illustration of Zhū Bājiè
Enlarge
An illustration of Zhū Bājiè
Main article: Zhu Bajie

Zhū Bājiè (Pig of the Eight Prohibitions) is also known as Zhū Wùnéng (Pig Awakened to Power), and given the name Pigsy or Pig in English. Before he joined Sānzàng's pilgrimage, he was also known as Zhū Ganglie (Iron-haired Pig).

He used to be Marshall Tiān Peng, the Grand Admiral of 80,000 soldiers of the heavenly river, the milky way. But during a celebration of gods, he drank too much and attempted to flirt with Cháng'é, the beautiful moon goddess, resulting in his punishment of being sent down into the mortal world. He was supposed to be reborn as a human, but ended up in the womb of a sow due to an error at the Reincarnation Wheel, which gave Bājiè the appearance of a half-pig, half-man. He took up residence in Cloud Pathway Cave, where he stayed for a period of time.

However, Bājiè's desire for women led him to Gao Village, where he posed as a normal being and took a wife. Later, when the villagers discovered that he was a monster, Bājiè hid the girl away. At this point, Sānzàng and Sūn Wùkōng arrived at Gao Village and helped subdue him. Zhū Bājiè consequently joined the pilgrimage to the West.

His weapon of choice is the Nine-Pronged Rake. He is also capable of thirty-six transformations (as compared to Sūn Wùkōng's seventy-two), and can travel on clouds, but not as fast as Sūn Wùkōng. However, Zhū Bājiè is noted for his fighting skills in the water, which he used to combat Shā Wùjìng, who later joined them on the journey.

[edit] Sandy or Shā Wùjìng

An illustration of Shā Wùjìng
Enlarge
An illustration of Shā Wùjìng
Main article: Sha Wujing

Shā Wùjìng (literally meaning Sand Awakened to Purity), given the name Friar Sand or Sandy (a rather feminine name) in English, was once the Curtain Raising General, who stood in attendance by the imperial chariot in the Hall of Miraculous Mist. He was exiled to the mortal world and made to look like a monster because he accidentally smashed a crystal goblet belonging to the Heavenly Queen Mother during the Peach Banquet. The now-hideous immortal took up residence in the Flowing Sands River, terrorizing the surrounding villages and travelers trying to cross the river. However, he was subdued by Sūn Wùkōng and Zhū Bājiè when the Sānzàng party came across him. They consequently took him in to be a part of the pilgrimage to the West.

Shā Wùjìng's weapon is the Sun and Moon Crescent Staff. Aside from that, he knows eighteen transformations and is highly effective in water combat, but is agreed upon as the weakest of the three disciples.

Shā Wùjìng is an ill-fitting character, in the sense that most of the great dialogue within the book leaves him out. The narrative usually revolves around Sūn Wùkōng, Zhū Bājiè, and Sānzàng, leaving Shā Wùjìng as a spare tire. However, Shā Wùjìng is known to be the most obedient, logical, and polite of the three disciples, and always takes care of his master. Perhaps this is why he is such a minor character; the lack of any particular perks confers the lack of distinguishing and/or redeeming characteristics.

Spoilers end here.

[edit] Notable English-language translations

[edit] Film, TV or theatrical adaptations

[edit] Live action TV

  • Monkey – the well-known 1970's Japanese television series based on Journey to the West translated into English by the BBC
  • Saiyuki – 2006 Japanese television series starring the SMAP star Shingo Katori.
  • Journey to the West – a Chinese 1986 live action series and some other adaptations
  • Journey to the West – A two-part television series produced by Hong Kong studio, TVB.
  • The Monkey King – SciFi Channel's TV adaptation of this legend, also called The Lost Empire

[edit] Manga and anime

  • Monkey Magic – an animated retelling of the legend.
  • Dragon Ball – Japanese manga and anime series loosely inspired by Journey to the West
  • Shinzo – anime loosely based on Journey to the West
  • Gensomaden Saiyuki – Manga and anime series inspired by the legend. Follow-up series include Saiyuki Reload & Saiyuki Reload Gunlock.
  • Monkey Typhoon – Manga and anime series based on the Journey to the West saga, following a futuristic steampunk-retelling of the legend.
  • Patalliro Saiyuki – A BL series in both anime & manga formats with the Patalliro cast playing out the Zaiyuji storyline with a yaoi twist.
  • The Monkey King – A gruesome manga inspired by the tale.
  • Ranma 1/2- Pastiches of the characters appear throughout the manga and movies.
  • Love Hina- The characters put on a play based on the story in one episode {anime episode 16}.
  • Starzinger – an animated science fiction version of the story
  • XIN – An American comic mini-series produced by Anarchy Studio.
  • American Born Chinese; An American graphic novel by Gene Yang. Nominated for the National Book Award (2006).
  • Inuyasha – The characters meet descendants of three of the main characters of the "Journey of the West" in one episode and main character,Kagome Higurashi,says a few lines about the whole book and story.

[edit] Film

[edit] Games

[edit] Stage

  • Journey to the West: The Musical - A stage musical currently in development by the creators of Gorillaz, Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett, which received its world premiere at the New York Musical Theatre Festival on September 25, 2006.

[edit] External links

Wikisource
Wikisource has original text related to this article:
Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
This page contains Chinese text.
Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks, boxes, or other symbols instead of Chinese characters.
Topics in Chinese mythology
v • d • e
General topics: Creation myth · Astrology · Dragons · Religion in China · Folk religion ·List of deities · I Ching
Important beings: Deities · Three August Ones and Five Emperors
Eight Immortals: Zhongli Quan · Lü Dongbin · Elder Zhang Guo · Philosopher Han Xiang
Iron-crutch Li · Immortal Woman He · Lan Caihe · Royal Uncle Cao
Mythical creatures: List of mythical creatures
Mythical places: Xuanpu · Yaochi · Fusang · Queqiao · Penglai · Longmen · Di Yu
Literary sources: Shan Hai Jing · Shui Jing Zhu · Hei'an Zhuan · Fengshen Yanyi
Journey to the West · Baishe Zhuan · Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org../../../j/o/u/Journey_to_the_West_0fc6.html"