One of the four great novels of Chinese
classical literature, Journey to the West
is also one of the greatest fantasy novels the world has ever known. The story rooted in real history, promulgated
and perfected on street corners, and finally put into written form sometime in
the 16th century by Wu Cheng’en, the novel is as much a cultural record of
Buddhism’s transition to China as it is a delightful adventure of humorous and
imagination proportions impossible to conceive in the West. There is simply no comparing Sun Wukong, the
Monkey King.
Journey
to the West
is the story of the monk Tang Sanzang, his small band of loyal disciples, and
the journey the group takes to Vulture
Peak in India to obtain a copy of the holy
Buddhist sutras for the Chinese emperor.
This premise is only an umpteenth fraction of the story, however. Implied in the title, it’s the getting there
that’s of utmost importance. One
adventure happening after another, the five “man" band of Sanzang, Sun
Wukong, Pig, Friar Sand, and their faithful horse get into scrapes and
escapades like no other.
