Chinese Literature Seminar: Journey to the West Chapters 65-70

We will begin a Chinese Literature Seminar starting in March 2023 to December 2025 where we will read the Six Classical Chinese Novels along with the 120 Short Stories of the San Yan. The Six Classical Novels of Chinese Literature consisting of Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Water Margin, Journey to the West, Dream of the Red Chamber, the Scholars, and the Plum in the Golden Vase are widely considered among the greatest and longest novels ever written. In this third part of this new series, we will now try to read Journey to the West.

Journey to the West (Chinese: 西遊記; pinyin: Xī Yóu Jì) 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 Classic Chinese Novels, and has been described as arguably the most popular literary work in East Asia. Arthur Waley's abridged translation, Monkey, is known in English-speaking countries.

The novel is an extended account of the legendary pilgrimage of the Tang dynasty Buddhist monk Xuanzang, who travelled to the "Western Regions" (Central Asia and the Indian subcontinent) to obtain Buddhist sacred texts (sutras) and returned after many trials and much suffering. The monk is referred to as Tang Sanzang in the novel. The novel retains the broad outline of Xuanzang's own account, Great Tang Records on Western Regions, but adds elements from folk tales and the author's invention: Gautama Buddha gives this task to the monk and provides him with three protectors who agree to help him as an atonement for their sins. These disciples are Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie, and Sha Wujing, together with a dragon prince who acts as Tang Sanzang's steed, a white horse. The group of pilgrims journeys towards enlightenment by the power and virtue of cooperation.

Journey to the West has strong roots in Chinese folk religion, Chinese mythology, Confucianist, Taoist, and Buddhist theology, and the pantheon of Taoist immortals and Buddhist bodhisattvas are still reflective of some Chinese religious attitudes today. Enduringly popular, the novel is at once a comic adventure story, a humorous satire of Chinese bureaucracy, a source of spiritual insight, and an extended allegory.

We will be using the Anthony C. Yu translation, but any translation will suffice. Please read Chapters 65-70.

Part 1 Amazon Link Purchase Link:
https://www.amazon.com/Journey-West-Revised-1/dp/0226971325/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=journey+to+the+west+anthony+c+yu&qid=1659409331&sprefix=journey+to+the+west+%2Caps%2C6777&sr=8-1

Part 2 Amazon Purchase Link:
https://www.amazon.com/Journey-West-Revised-2/dp/0226971341/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=journey+to+the+west+anthony+c+yu&qid=1659409331&sprefix=journey+to+the+west+%2Caps%2C6777&sr=8-2

Part 3 Amazon Purchase Link:
https://www.amazon.com/Journey-West-Revised-3/dp/0226971376/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=journey+to+the+west+anthony+c+yu&qid=1659409331&sprefix=journey+to+the+west+%2Caps%2C6777&sr=8-3

Part 4 Amazon Purchase Link:
https://www.amazon.com/Journey-West-Revised-4/dp/0226971392/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=journey+to+the+west+anthony+c+yu&qid=1659409331&sprefix=journey+to+the+west+%2Caps%2C6777&sr=8-4