‘Journey to the West’: Why the classic Chinese novel’s mischievous monkey – and his very human quest – has inspired centuries of adaptations
Associate Professor of Chinese Studies , College of the Holy Cross
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Ji Hao does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
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One summer afternoon in the late 1980s, my mother and I passed by a tea house on our trip out of town. The crowded building was usually a boisterous place filled with chatter, laughter, and the happy, clacking shuffle of mahjong tiles. At the moment we were passing, however, a great hush came over the teahouse: People were held spellbound by the black-and-white glow of a small TV in a corner, playing an episode of the series “Journey to the West.”
The TV series was adapted from a 16th century Chinese novel with the same title that has undergone numerous adaptations and has captured the imagination of Chinese people to this day. Like many kids in China, I was fascinated by the magic Monkey King, the beloved superhero in the novel, who went through amazing adventures with other pilgrims in their quest for Buddhist scriptures. While I had to quickly walk by the teahouse in order to catch our bus that day, this moment flashed back to me from time to time, making me wonder what made “Journey to the West” so fascinating for people of all ages and backgrounds.
After graduating from college, I embarked on the next chapter of my academic journey in the United States and reconnected with “Journey to the West” from a different perspective. Now, as a scholar with expertise in traditional Chinese literature , I am interested in the development of literary and cultural traditions around the story, including how it has been translated and reimagined by many artists .
While deeply enmeshed in Chinese traditions, the story also resonates with readers from diverse cultures. “Journey to the West” creates shared ground by highlighting the quest for a common humanity, epitomized by its best-loved character, the Monkey King – a symbol of the human mind.
One journey, many stories
Scholars usually trace the beginning of this literary tradition to a Buddhist monk, Xuanzang , who set out on an epic pilgrimage to India in 627 C.E. He was determined to consult and bring back Sanskrit copies of Buddhist scriptures, rather than rely on previous Chinese translations. He did so after nearly 17 years and devoted the rest of his life to translating the scriptures.
The journey has inspired a wide variety of representations in literature, art and religion, making a lasting impact on Chinese culture and society. Legends began to emerge during Xuanzang’s lifetime. Over centuries, they gradually evolved into a distinct tradition of storytelling, often focused on how Xuanzang overcame obstacles with the help of supernatural companions.
This culminated in a 16th century Chinese novel, “Journey to the West.” By this point, the hero of the story had already shifted from Xuanzang to one of his disciples: the Monkey King of Flower-Fruit Mountain, who serves as Xuanzang’s protector. The Monkey King possesses strong magical powers – transforming himself, cloning himself and even performing somersaults that fly him more than 30,000 miles at once.
Despite this novel’s dominance, the broader tradition around “Journey to the West” encompasses a wide variety of stories in diverse forms. The canonic novel itself grew out of this collective effort, and its authorship is still debated – even as it continues to inspire new adaptations.
The deeper journey
Central to all Journey to the West stories is a theme of pilgrimage, which immediately raises a question regarding the nature of the novel: What is the journey really about?
Centuries-long debates about the journey’s deeper message center on the 16th century novel. Traditional commentators in late imperial China adopted a variety of approaches to the novel and underscored its connections with different religious and philosophical doctrines: Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism and syntheses of those teachings.
For example, all these teachings highlight the role of the “xin” – a Chinese word for mind and heart – in self-cultivation. While Confucian readers might see the plot of “Journey to the West” as the quest for a more moral life, Buddhists might decipher it as an inward journey toward enlightenment.
In the early 20th century, Chinese scholar and diplomat Hu Shi criticized traditional allegorical interpretations, which he feared would make the novel seem less approachable for the general public.
His opinion influenced Arthur Waley’s “Monkey ,” an abridged English translation of “Journey to the West” published in 1942, which has contributed to the canonization of the novel abroad . To a considerable extent, “Monkey” turns the pilgrims’ journey into Monkey’s own journey of self-improvement and personal growth.
Recent scholarship has further underlined religious and ritual connotations of the novel from different perspectives, and debates over the issue continue. But few people would deny that one idea plays a crucial role: the Monkey King as a symbol of the mind.
Mind monkey
There has been a long tradition in Chinese culture that associates the image of a simian creature with the human mind. On the one hand, a monkey often symbolizes a restless mind, calling for discipline and cultivation. On the other hand, an active mind also opens up the opportunity to challenge the status quo and even transcend it, progressing to a higher state.
The Monkey King in the novel demonstrates this dual dimension of the mind . He vividly displays adaptability in exploring uncharted territories and adjusting to changing circumstances – and learning to rely on teamwork and self-discipline, not merely his magic powers.
Before being sent on the pilgrimage, the Monkey King’s quest for self-gratification wreaked havoc in heaven and led to his imprisonment by the Buddha. The goddess Guanyin agreed to give him a second chance on the condition that he join the other pilgrims and assist them. His journey is fraught with the tensions between self-discipline and self-reliance, as he learns how to channel his physical and mental powers for good.
The Monkey King’s human qualities, from arrogance to fear, endow him with universal appeal. Readers gradually witness his self-improvement, revealing a common human quest. They may frown upon how the Monkey King is entrapped within his own ego, yet respect his courage in challenging authority and battling adversity. While his mischievous tricks give a good laugh, his loyalty to the monk Xuanzang and his sense of righteousness make a lasting impression.
Reviewing Waley’s “Monkey” in 1943 , Chinese-American writer Helena Kuo commented of the pilgrims: “Humanity would have missed a great deal if they have been exemplary characters.” Indeed, each one depicts humanity’s quest for a better self, particularly the main character. Monkeying around on the path of life, this simian companion captivates readers – and makes them consider their own journey.
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Journey to the West: Volume I
85 pages • 2 hours read
The Journey to the West: Volume I
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“When the monkeys heard this, they all covered their faces and wept mournfully, each one troubled by his own impermanence.”
The monkeys who follow the stone monkey join him in worrying that they will be forgotten when they die. They know they are mortal, so their lives will end. They don’t so much fear the process of death as they do its result: removal from existence. They fear being subjected to the whims of Yama, who is the King of the Underworld.
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“Nothing in the world is difficult; only the mind makes it so.”
Patriarch is trying to teach Wukong that mind over matter can allow one to accomplish previously presumed impossible feats, such as cloud-soaring.
“In an orderly fashion, they made the entire Flower-Fruit Mountain as strong as an iron bucket or a city of metal.”
One of the important elements of Daoism is alchemy, so any transformation of one substance to another—such as the transformation of earth (the mountain) into metal (iron)—is a reference to the Daoist arts. Whenever characters fight using the Way, they usually use transformation to gain the competitive edge.
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He is also called Zhu Wuneng (猪悟能) and idiot (呆子).
He looks like a terrible monster, part human and part pig, he was also once an immortal which commanded 100,000 troops of the Milky Way . He was banished to Earth for attempting to harass the moon goddess, Chang'e . Bajie often gets himself and his companions into trouble through his laziness, gluttony, and propensity for lusting after pretty women. He is jealous of Sun Wukong and always tries to bring him down. At the end of the journey, he is granted the title of "Cleaner of the Altars" because of his low spirituality which comes from his lust, greediness and laziness.
- Sometimes called Zhu Wuneng (猪悟能), wuneng sounds similar to 无能 meaning incompetent, weak, or powerless
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The following is a list of characters in the Chinese classical 16th century novel Journey to the West, including those mentioned by name only. Main characters Sun Wukong ... Princess Jade-Countenance would then later--2-years prior to her appearance in Journey to the West--after having learned of King Powerful's (the Bull Demon King's) ...
The following is a list of characters in the Chinese classical novel Journey to the West, including those mentioned by name only. Sun Wukong (also known as the Monkey Guy) Tang Sanzang Zhu Bajie Sha Wujing White Dragon Horse (白龍馬). Tang Sanzang's steed and the third son of the Dragon King of the West Sea. The Buddha (如來佛) Avalokiteśvara (觀世音菩薩), better known as Guanyin ...
Tripitaka. Also known as Tan Sanzang, Tripitaka is the protagonist of Journey to the West. He is a pious Buddhist monk chosen by the Buddha to deliver his scriptures from their home in India to ...
The following is a list of characters in the Chinese classical 16th century novel Journey to the West, including those mentioned by name only. ... Introduction List of Journey to the West characters; Main characters Sun Wukong ("Monkey King", 孙悟空) Tang Sanzang ("Tripitaka", 唐三藏) ...
Journey to the West, foremost Chinese comic novel, written by Wu Cheng'en, a novelist and poet of the Ming dynasty (1368-1644). The novel is based on the actual 7th-century pilgrimage of the Buddhist monk Xuanzang (602-664) to India in search of sacred texts. The story itself was already a part of Chinese folk and literary tradition in the form of colloquial stories, a poetic novelette ...
Journey to the West (Chinese: 西遊記; pinyin: Xīyóujì) is a Chinese novel published in the 16th century during the Ming dynasty and attributed to Wu Cheng'en.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. Arthur Waley's 1942 abridged translation, Monkey, is known in English-speaking countries.
Journey to the West wiki is dedicated to those interested in the legend of Journey to the West, written by author Wu Cheng'en. For over 500 years, the ancient novel has gained popularity worldwide. Its influence spread through media like films, TV, book, video games, et cetera. The story is comprised of various myths from religions like Taoism ...
Journey to the West is a fictionalized account of the legends surrounding the 16-year pilgrimage of the Buddhist monk Xuánzàng (602-664) to India during the Táng dynasty, to obtain Buddhist religious texts (sutras).Xuánzàng reached India after experiencing innumerable trials and hardships. He lived there for more than a decade, studying classics of Buddhism and Indian culture at Nalanda ...
As well as the main protaganist, Tang Sanzan, there are three other major characters, all of whom are his companions on his journey. They are Sun Wokung, better known as the Monkey King, and ...
Journey to the West by Wu Cheng'en. " Journey to the West" is a 16th-century Chinese novel commonly attributed to Wu Cheng'en. The original name of this novel in China is "Xi You Ji". This is one ...
Characters depicted in the novel Journey to the West (16th century). ... Pages in category "Journey to the West characters" The following 35 pages are in this category, out of 35 total. This list may not reflect recent changes. ...
Journey to the West (西遊記) is a Chinese novel published in the 16th century during the Ming dynasty and attributed to Wu Cheng'en. It is one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. The novel is an extended account of the legendary pilgrimage of the Tang dynasty Buddhist monk Xuanzang along the ancient Silk Road from China to India and back. Xuanzang traveled to the ...
Thanks for exploring this SuperSummary Study Guide of "Journey to the West: Volume I" by Wu Cheng'en, Transl. Anthony C. Yu. A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz ...
Detailed analysis of Characters in Wu Ch'êng-ên, Arthur Waley's Journey to the West (Monkey: Folk Novel of China). Learn all about how the characters in Journey to the West (Monkey: Folk Novel of China) such as Monkey and Tripitaka contribute to the story and how they fit into the plot.
Mr. Ch'ên (Mr. Chen) hosts the pilgrims when they arrive at the River That Leads to Heaven. Monkey saves his daughter from being eaten by the Great King of Miracles. Ch'ên O. Ch'ên O (Chen Wo) is Tripitaka's (Hsüan-tsang's) biological father. He is killed by a bandit, then restored to life by the Dragon King of the Ching River.
Wu Cheng'en's Journey to the West is a meandering, fictionalized account of an actual seventh-century pilgrimage to India made by Xuanzang, a Chinese Buddhist monk searching for sacred texts ...
Four of the characters from 'Journey to the West,' made in the clay figurine technique of Huishan, China, including the Monkey King on the right. Zhang Peng/LightRocket via Getty Images.
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Portrayals []. Sun Wukong is portrayed by Zhang Jinlai, Wu Yue Trivia []. Monkey King is a mythological figure who features in a body of legends. Xuanzang's story had been told since the Tang dynasty, and the appearance of a monkey character can be traced back to the Song dynasty.; The supernatural abilities displayed by Wukong and some other characters were widely thought of as "magic powers ...
Looking for information on the anime Xi Xing Ji (The Westward)? Find out more with MyAnimeList, the world's most active online anime and manga community and database. The journey to the West was a conspiracy of heaven! After Sutra went missing for more than a decade, Heaven sent its army to search, in order not to let the Sutra once again fall into the hands of heaven, the journey to West ...
Thanks for exploring this SuperSummary Study Guide of "Journey to the West: Volume I" by Wu Cheng'en, Transl. Anthony C. Yu. A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz ...
Zhu Bajie (Chinese: 豬八戒; pinyin: Zhū Bājiè; Wade-Giles: Chu 1 Pa 1-chieh 4), also named Zhu Wuneng (he has two Buddhist Dharma names, one, "Wuneng" (悟能) given to him by the bodhisattva, Guanyin, and one, "Bajie" (八戒) given to him by Tang Sanzang/Tripiṭaka), is one of the three helpers of the aforementioned-Tang Sanzang and a major character of the 16th century novel ...
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Zhu Bajie (猪八戒), sometimes translated Piggy or Pigsy, is one of the three helpers of Tang Sanzang and a major character of the novel Journey to the West. He is also called Zhu Wuneng (猪悟能) and idiot (呆子). He looks like a terrible monster, part human and part pig, he was also once an immortal which commanded 100,000 troops of the Milky Way. He was banished to Earth for ...