"Journey to the West" is the pinnacle of Chinese classical novels about gods and demons, written by Wu Cheng'en in the Ming Dynasty. This work is based on the Tang Dynasty eminent monk Xuanzang's journey to the west to learn Buddhist scriptures. It incorporates rich elements of imagination and mythology to create a bizarre and bizarre world.
The story begins with the stone monkey born from the fairy stone in Huaguo Mountain. The stone monkey bravely explored the Water Curtain Cave and became the Monkey King. Later, in order to seek immortality, he traveled across the ocean to worship the Patriarch Subhuti as his teacher. He was named Sun Wukong and learned the seventy-two transformations, somersault clouds and other magical powers. Because he caused trouble in the Heavenly Palace, he was pressed under the Five Elements Mountain by Tathagata Buddha. Five hundred years later, under the enlightenment of Guanyin, Sun Wukong worshiped Monk Tang as his teacher and embarked on the journey to the West to learn Buddhist scriptures.
The Buddhist scripture learning team also includes Zhu Bajie, Sha Seng and Bai Longma. Zhu Bajie was originally Marshal Tianpeng, who was demoted to earth for molesting Chang'e; Sha Monk was a general who rolled the curtains, but was demoted for accidentally breaking a glass cup; Bailong Ma was the third prince of the Dragon King of the West Sea, and was convicted for setting fire to the pearl rewarded by the Jade Emperor. Along the way, they experienced ninety-nine and eighty-one difficulties. For example, when fighting the White Bone Demon three times, the White Bone Demon transformed three times to confuse Tang Monk, and Sun Wukong saw through it with his sharp eyes, but was misunderstood and expelled by Tang Monk. There is also a crisis of trust in which the King of the Daughter Kingdom loves Tang Monk, and the master and disciples are faced with the difficult situation of love and Buddhism.
In the end, they arrived in the West, obtained the true scriptures, and each achieved enlightenment. "Journey to the West" uses mythological stories to reflect social reality, depicts vivid characters, and is full of whimsical thoughts. It is a classic that is suitable for all ages and worth reading again and again.
