Journey to the West
MAIN STAGES
by Wu Cheng'en
First part (chapters 1-
7): Sun Wukong’s life
Character Sun Wukong, a monkey born
from a stone nourished by the
Sun Wukong (孫悟空) Five Elements, who learns the
- He is a monkey born from a magical rock on art of the Tao, 72 polymorphic
top of Flowers and FruitPLOT ANALYSIS transformations, combat, and
Mountain.
Time: secrets of immortality.
- After rebelling against heaven and being
+ The work was published anonymously in 1592. His powers grow to match the
imprisoned under Five Finger Mountain for
+ forces of all of the Eastern
500The
yearsstory was he
by Buddha, from 629 to the
accompanies 646 in late-Sui dynasty and
deities, and the prologue
early-Tang dynasty.
monk Tang Sanzang on a journey.
Place: culminates in Sun's rebellion
Tang Sanzang (唐三藏)
+ Xuanzang (602–664) was a monk at Jingtu Temple in late- against Heaven.
- A Buddhist
Sui dynasty monk who had renounced
and early-Tang dynasty.his Buddha manages to trap him
+ family
He traveled
to become avia monk Gansu and Qinghai to Kumul (Hami),
from childhood. under a mountain, sealing it
thence
- Although following the Tian
he is helpless Shan (Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan,
in defending, with a talisman for five hundred
Afghanistan, years.
Guanyin helpsand by Pakistan
finding himtoday).
powerful
Xuanzang traveled
disciples who aid and throughout
protect him onIndia
his for the next thirteen Second part (chapters 8-
years, studied at the ancient university at Nalanda, and
journey. 12): Tang Sanzang’s life
debating the rivals of Buddhism. - Introduces Tang Sanzang through
Social environment: happened during the Chinese feudal his early biography and the
Zhu Wuneng
dynasty (豬八戒)
at a time when Buddhism was at its peak. background to his great journey.
-Atmosphere:
Once an immortalThe who was the Marshal
work created of a united and broad
- Part of this section also relates to
the Heavenly Canopy,
mythological universe, he drank
whichtoo much
is hilariously influential enough how Tang Sanzang becomes a
attempted
to make some to harass
people thebelieve
moon ingoddess
that. monk and comes about being sent
Chang'e, resulting in his banishment to the on this pilgrimage by Emperor
mortal world. Taizong, who previously escaped
- His weapon of choice is the jiuchidingpa. death with the help of an official in
He is the second strongest member of the the underworld.
team.
Third part (chapters
Sha Wujing (沙悟淨) 13-99): The journey
- Once a celestial Curtain Lifting General, he - An episodic adventure story in
was exiled to the mortal world and made to which Tang Sanzang sets out
look like a sandman. to bring back Buddhist
- Sha Wujing's weapon is a magic wooden scriptures from India.
staff wrapped in pearly threads. He is known - Episodes consist of 1–4
to be the most obedient, logical, and polite chapters and usually involve
of the three disciples and always takes care Tang Sanzang being captured
of his master. and having his life threatened
while his disciples try to
rescue him.
- Chapters 13–22 do not follow
this structure precisely, as
White Dragon Horse (白龍馬) they introduce Tang
A white dragon transformed into a horse for Sanzang's disciples including
Tang Sanzang to ride. Formerly a dragon Sun Wukong (chapter 13),
punished for past actions, he is tasked by Zhu Wuneng (chapter 19), and
Buddha to assist Tang Sanzang. Sha Wujing (chapter 22).
- Chapters 23–86 take place in
the wilderness, and consist of
24 episodes of varying length,
each characterized by a
different magical monster or
evil magician. Although the
monsters who attack are vast
in power and many in number,
no real harm ever comes to
the four travelers.
Fourth part (chapter
100): Comeback home
- The final chapter quickly
describes the return journey to
the Tang Empire and the
aftermath in which each
traveler receives a reward in
the form of posts in the
bureaucracy of the heavens.
