Wu Yuantai's "Journey to the East" is undoubtedly the most vivid and lovable among the many mythological classics in ancient China. Tieguai Li's lame skin hides an open-minded Taoist heart, and the gourd gently shakes to contain compassion from all over the world; Lu Dongbin's Pure Yang Sword can kill demons and eliminate demons, but also hides the sincerity that transcends fame and turns to seek Tao; He Xiangu holds a lotus, and her unsullied character reflects her original intention to help the world; Lan Caihe's rags and flower baskets hide the transparency and compassion of a wandering artist. They either seek enlightenment for mortals or practice to overcome tribulations. They struggle in the entanglement between the immortal and mortal worlds, rise and fall in the choice between desire and the road, and persevere in the hustle and bustle of the fierce battle in the Dragon Palace. They allow us to see the manifestation of divinity in the human world and the power of perseverance and transparency.
They were not born as immortals, but through hardships and trials in the world of mortals, with their sincerity and Taoist heart, they shed their mortal bodies and finally became golden immortals. Reading "Journey to the East" reveals one's inner spiritual practice - in a world filled with materialistic desires, only by keeping one's heart and not being trapped in thoughts can one find peace in the midst of impetuousness and confusion, and grow through trials and hardships.
