The Journey to the West Lesson 7 A

The Journey to the West Lesson 7 A: Ways of Thinking and Living in China

The Monkey King is a main character in 西游记 The Journey to the West (Wu Cheng’en), published around 1592 - the most famous novel in Chinese literature

The novel is based on real-life travels of Buddhist monk, Xuan Zang, who journeyed to India to bring back Buddhist holy texts (602 -664 CE)

Monkey: Journey to the West Gorillaz produced an album of songs based on Journey to the West featuring all of the main characters to introduce them to a Western audience.

After causing all sorts of trouble in heaven, Monkey had been imprisoned under a mountain. He was held there for 500 years before being freed by Guanyin, the Goddess of Mercy, so that he could accompany and protect Xuan Zang on his journey.

Guanyin also gives Xuan Zang two other magical companions to act as bodyguards: Zhu Bajie (Pigsy) and Sha Wujing (Sandy).

Zhu Bajie - Pigsy Zhu Bajie was a heavenly general who disgraced himself and was turned into a pig monster. He is very strong but also very stupid and greedy (and is always chasing beautiful women). His weapon is a rake.

Sandy – Sha Wujing was a heavenly general who broke one of the Jade Emperor’s precious vases. His punishment was to be turned into a man-eating sanddemon. His weapon is a spade.

Monkey and the White Bone Demon On the journey, Xuan Zang, Monkey, Pigsy and Sandy encounter many dangers and adventures. All these adventures are collected and retold in Journey to the West. One of the adventures is the story of Monkey and the White Bone Demon read it as a class.

Xuanzang’s journey to India took 16 years. At one point, he was lost in the desert and a flock of wild geese appeared to lead him to water. In the background is the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda in Xi’an, built to house the Buddhist relics and scriptures he brought back