This 16th century novel Journey to the West is one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature that provides a fictionalized account of the legendary pilgrimage of the Tang dynasty Buddhist monk Xuanzang who traveled to Central Asia and India in search of Buddhist sutras. Dharma Master Xuanzang also kept and published a diary of his journey, Great Tang Records on the Western Regions. Both books are available in English.
The diary offers a fascinating and rare account of what Buddhism was like in the seventh century. The very popular novel is more colorful and includes allegorical tales from Chinese folk religion, Chinese mythology, Confucianist, Taoist, and Buddhist philosophy.
H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III tells us that the novel contains many stories about Taoist immortals and Buddhist Bodhisattvas that can help us understand the nature of reality and other important Buddhist teachings. Although this book can be enjoyed on a superficial level as a comic and dangerous adventure, it also has hidden lessons, some of which are explained in Expounding the Absolute Truth Through the Heart Sutra.
CLICK for delightful synopsis in Wikipedia of the novel and its main characters: Tang Sanzang, a fictionalized version of the Chinese monk Xuanzang; Sun Wukong, the Monkey King; Zhu Bajie or Pigsy; Sha Wujing or Sandy; and Tang’s white horse, Yulong.
Add comment