This famous comic fantasy novel features some of the most well known characters in Chinese fiction, and is set in the Tang Dynasty (7th Century).
The novel is a fictionalized account of the legendary Chinese Buddhist monk, Xuanzang, who made a pilgrimage to India in order to bring the Buddhist scriptures to China.
In ‘Journey to the West’ the holy but helpless and rather peevish, Tripitaka (who is the novels version of the monk Xuanzang) sets off on a pilgrimage with a motley group of helpers found for him by the Bodhisattva, Guanyin, in order to protect him on his journey.
These disciples include the mischievous Monkey King, Sun Wukong, who was thrown out of Heaven for stealing the peaches of immortality belonging to the Queen Mother of the West.
Also in Tripitaka’s band of helpers are two former celestial generals, called Pigsy and Sandy, who must redeem themselves fort their past misdemeanours.
Pigsy, a creature of huge appetites was once an immortal but was banished to earth as punishment for his drunken behaviour during a celebration with the gods. Sandy too was exciled to the mortal world, being changed into a river monster after smashing a crystal goblet belonging to the Queen Mother of Heaven.
Along the way the intrepid travellers are beset time and time again by a variety of monsters and mythical creatures who believe that if the eat the saintly Tripitaka they will achieve immortality. Each time Tripitaka is rescued from his peril by his band of followers, particularly the Monkey King who has the ability to transform into a fish, a bird or a dragon fly at will whilst wielding his magic cudgel.
The journey takes 14 years at the end of which each of the disciples is granted their place in Heaven.
Thursday 26 February 2009
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