Because the various editions of Journey to the West are written in heavily classical language, they are very difficult for primary and middle school students to read. This version has therefore been translated into modern vernacular. Thanks to Wu Cheng'en, Huili, Yancong, Li Chunfang, Jia Sanjin, the Master of Huayang Cave, and others for their classic works and source materials, which made this literary classic possible. Please let us know if anything has been omitted or mistranslated.
Journey to the West is a famous Ming-dynasty fantasy novel about gods and demons. Wu Cheng'en is generally considered its author, though there are other theories. The story draws on Master Xuanzang's perilous journey to the West during the Tang dynasty, as well as various folk tales, myths, operas, and other sources. Master Xuanzang's disciple Bianji compiled his accounts of the journey into Great Tang Records on the Western Regions, a book mainly about the history, geography, and transportation of the countries he saw along the way. Another biography of Master Xuanzang, Biography of the Tripitaka Master of the Great Ci'en Monastery of the Great Tang, was written by his disciples Huili and Yancong and adds many mythical elements to his life story. The author of Journey to the West drew on these historical sources while adding imagination and creativity of his own, creating classic characters such as Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie, and Sha Wujing, and depicting the fantastical adventures of the Tang monk and his disciples as they endure the Eighty-One Tribulations. Journey to the West is not only a tale with the age-old theme of punishing evil and promoting good. Some also consider it a satirical novel that criticizes the world of officialdom and those in power.
There are other theories, too. Some believe the author was Li Chunfang or Jia Sanjin. The author of the classic novel Journey to the West used the pen name Master of Huayang Cave, but their true identity remains a mystery.
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