Journey to the West is one of the Four Great Classical Novels of China, written by Wu Cheng'en. It tells the legendary story of Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie, and Sha Wujing protecting Tang Sanzang on his Journey to the West to obtain Buddhist scriptures. Through its fantastical world, the author offers a thought-provoking portrayal of his attitude toward feudal rulers. In Journey to the West, it is nearly impossible to find a competent emperor. The king of Chechi Kingdom, who favors demons, and the king of Bhikshu Kingdom, who wants to use children's hearts and livers as ingredients for medicine, are either foolish or tyrannical rulers. The Jade Emperor's army of a hundred thousand Heavenly Soldiers and Generals cannot withstand Sun Wukong's Golden Cudgel, while truly capable people are made to serve as lowly stable hands. The darkness of their rule is plain to see. The Buddhist faith founded by Tathagata Buddha teaches that monks should not be tempted by wealth, yet the Buddha himself tacitly permits his subordinates to accept bribes, reflecting the dark reality of officials protecting one another in feudal society.
