The question of authorship is further complicated by the fact that a good deal of the novel's material had been published in the form of folk tales. The earliest known full-length version of Journey to the West was published anonymously in 1592, preceded by two briefer versions. Enduringly popular, the novel is at once a comic adventure story, a humorous satire of Chinese bureaucracy, a source of spiritual insight, and an extended allegory.Īuthorship The four protagonists, from left to right: the Monkey King, Tang Sanzang (on the White Dragon Horse), Zhu Bajie, and Sha Wujing Journey to the West has strong roots in Chinese folk religion, Chinese mythology, Confucianism, Taoist, and Buddhist folklore, and the pantheon of Taoist immortals and Buddhist bodhisattvas are still reflective of some Chinese religious attitudes today, while being the inspiration of many modern Japanese manga and anime series. The group of pilgrims journey towards enlightenment by the power and virtue of cooperation. These disciples are the Monkey King, Zhu Bajie, and Sha Wujing, together with a dragon prince who acts as Tang Sanzang's steed, a white horse. The novel retains the broad outline of Xuanzang's own account, Great Tang Records on the Western Regions, but adds elements from folk tales and the author's invention: Gautama Buddha gives this task to the monk and provides him with three protectors who agree to help him as an atonement for their sins.

The monk is referred to as Tang Sanzang in the novel. The novel is an extended account of the legendary pilgrimage of the Tang dynasty Buddhist monk Xuanzang, who traveled to the ' Western Regions' ( Central Asia and India) to obtain Buddhist sūtras (sacred texts) and returned after many trials and much suffering. Arthur Waley's 1942 abridged translation, Monkey, is known in English-speaking countries.

It is regarded as one of the greatest Classic Chinese Novels, and has been described as arguably the most popular literary work in East Asia. Journey to the West ( Chinese: 西遊記) is a Chinese novel published in the 16th century during the Ming dynasty and attributed to Wu Cheng'en.

Journey to the West in Traditional (top) and Simplified (bottom) Chinese characters

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