Journey to the West: A Backwards-Talking Adventure

What would the story of Journey to the West look like if it were told backward? Tang Monk and his companions set out from Spirit Mountain full of confidence, but hostile forces threw all kinds of obstacles in their way as soon as they reached the Western Ox Continent. By the time they arrived in Southern Jambudvipa, they were farther and farther from Spirit Mountain, yet there were fewer and fewer demons, and the cities were growing ever more prosperous. But just as the scripture mission was nearing completion, Spirit Mountain turned against the four of them. Because Sha Monk failed to protect the scriptures, he was cast into the Flowing Sand River, also called the “River That Keeps Sha Monk,” since it meant leaving him behind. Zhu Bajie lost heart and chose to return to lay life, staying at Gao Village. Sun Wukong and Tang Monk decided to carry on with the mission, but the Tathagata and Guanyin tried to claim the credit. Sun Wukong did everything he could to protect Tang Monk, but was defeated while fighting several opponents at once and imprisoned beneath Five Elements Mountain. Tang Monk made the long, arduous journey to the Great Tang in the East, only for Guanyin to take all the credit. Tang Monk wanted to turn the tables, but Guanyin threatened him with Sun Wukong's life, leaving him no choice but to stay in the East and spread the scriptures, slowly accumulating merit as he planned to free Sun Wukong from the mountain. But later, Tang Monk discovered that saving Wukong had been a joke all along. No matter how much merit he accumulated, it would never be possible. So Tang Monk sacrificed all his magic power and gave up his immortal body to free Sun Wukong from the mountain.