Journey to the West

Journey to the West

Earliest known edition of the book from the 16th century
Author	Wu Cheng'en
Original title	西遊記
Country	Ming China
Language	Chinese
Genre	Gods and demons fiction, Chinese mythology, fantasy, adventure
Set in	China, 7th century AD
Publication date	c. 1592 (print)[1]
Published in English	1942 (abridged) 1977–1983 (complete)
Dewey Decimal	895.1346
Original text	西遊記 at Chinese Wikisource

Journey to the West
Journey to the West in Traditional (top) and Simplified (bottom) Chinese characters
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese	西遊記
Simplified Chinese	西游记
Literal meaning	West Journey Record
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Xī Yóu Jì Wade–Giles Hsi1-yu2 chi4 IPA [ɕí jǒʊ tɕî] Wu Shanghainese Romanization Si yeu ji Yue: Cantonese Yale Romanization Sāi yàuh gei Jyutping Sai1 jau4 gei3 IPA [sɐi˥ jɐu˩ kei˧] Southern Min Tâi-lô Se iû kì (col.) Sai iû kì (lit.)
Vietnamese name
Vietnamese	Tây du kí

Journey to the West (Chinese: 西遊記; pinyin: Xīyóujì) 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 greatest Classic Chinese Novels, and has been described as arguably the most popular literary work in East Asia.^[2] Arthur Waley's 1942 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 traveled to the "Western Regions" (Central Asia and India) to obtain Buddhist sūtras (sacred texts) 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 the 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 the 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 journey towards enlightenment by the power and virtue of cooperation.

Journey to the West has strong roots in Chinese folk religion, Chinese mythology, Chinese Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoist and Buddhist folklore, and the pantheon of Taoist immortals and Buddhist bodhisattvas are still reflective of certain Chinese religious attitudes today, while being the inspiration of many modern manhwa, manhua, manga and anime series. Enduringly popular,^[3] the novel is at once a comic adventure story, a humorous satire of Chinese bureaucracy, a source of spiritual insight, and an extended allegory.