Journey to the West: The Monkey King
Journey To the West, written during the Ming Dynasty (c. 1500-1582), was the work of Wu Cheng-en, and is considered to be one of the four great classic novels of China. (NOTE: The other 3 great classics are Romance of the Three Kingdoms, WaterMargin and Dream of the Red Chamber.) The novel comprises 100 chapters. Part of the novel's enduring popularity comes from the fact that it works on multiple levels: it is a first-rate adventure story, a dispenser of spiritual insight, and an extended allegory in which the group of pilgrims journeying toward India stands for the individual journeying toward enlightenment. The story is a fantastical account of a Chinese monk (Xuanzang, supposedly loosely based on a real life historical figure) who went to India (to the west of China, thus the title of the tale) in the 7th century to seek Buddhist scriptures to bring back to a China which had supposedly lost its spiritual and moral compass. (NOTE: The Big Wild Goose Pagoda in Xian was both the starting and ending point of this epic journey.) The principle story line consists of the adventures of Xuanzang and his disciples (chief of whom is a character known as Monkey King) as they make their journey to India.
Overview of the story
Monkey King (or Sunwukong) was born from a stone. He wanted to be like the immortals and be free from death and was extremely smart strong, and learned. He could transform himself into different images such as a tree, a bird, a beast of prey, or a bug as small as a mosquito so as to sneak into an enemy's belly to fight him or her inside out. He claimed to be king in defiance of the Great Emperor of Jade—the only authority over heaven and earth. After many showdowns, the emperor offered the monkey an official title. The monkey accepted, but he soon learned that the position was only as a stable keeper. Enraged, he revolted, fighting his way back to earth to resume his claim as a king.
At last, the emperor asked Buddha for help. The Buddha moved a great mountain to fall upon him. The tenacious monkey survived the enormous weight and pressure, except he could not move! Fast forward 500 years, there came to his rescue the monk Xuanzang. To insure that Xuanzang (aka Tripitaka) could make the journey to the West to get the Buddhist scriptures, Buddha arranged for the Monkey King to become free of his mountainous burden to become one of Xuanzang’s disciples. The geography described in the book is almost entirely fantastic; once Xuanzang departs Chang’An, the Táng capital, and crosses the frontier, he finds himself in a wilderness of
deep gorges and tall mountains, all inhabited by flesh-eating demons who regard him as a potential meal, with here and there a hidden monastery or royal city-state. (NOTE: The scenery is nominally the sparsely populated lands along the Silk Road between China and India). After traveling for 14 years, Xuanzang, Monkey and 2 other disciples reach their goal and the Buddha gives them the sacred sutras to take back to China. The Buddha rewards them for their loyalty and hard work—with enlightenment, immortal life and happiness.
Monkey symbolizes “mind”, wit, intellect, courage, perseverance, and strength, however, his spirit/mind must be brought under control. The stories of Monkey are so popular in China today that they have become part of the repertoire of the Chinese Opera, TV series, and comic books. Korean and Japanese children also know the Monkey story well. Students can make comparisons between the fictional journeys and the challenges facing people in the real world. They can learn from the characters’ experiences while nurturing a sense of adventure and wonder.
SOURCES: