Wu Cheng'en's classic Chinese novel Journey to the West follows the pilgrimage of the monk Xuan Zang escorted by three protectors: the Monkey King Sun Wu Kong, Pigsy, and Friar Sand. Throughout their journey westward to India, the pilgrims battle demons seeking immortality by eating the holy monk's flesh. After 14 arduous years, each traveler is promoted in heaven - Sun Wu Kong and Xuan Zang achieve Buddhahood, while the others receive lower posts.

1. Journey To The West
by Wu Cheng’en
Introduced by:
Malcolm R. Ball

2. Wu Cheng’en
He was a Chinese
Novelist
A Poet of the Ming
Dynasty
Author of One of the
Four Great Classical
Novels in Chinese
literature

3. Story Characters
 Sun Wu Kong - the Monkey King
 Xuan Zang - Tripitaka
 Zhu Bajie - Pigsy (Pig of the Eight Prohibitions)
 Sha Wujing – Sandy (Friar Sand)
 Yu Long – Noble Steed

4. About The Journey
Journey to the West has a strong background in
Chinese folk religion, Chinese mythology and value
systems. The novel's enduring popularity in China
comes from :
a first-rate adventure story
a dispenser of spiritual insight
an extended allegory in which the group of pilgrims
journeying toward India represents the individuals
journey towards enlightenment.

5. Battle Tested
 Throughout the journey, these  All three – in particular, Sun
four brave travelers have to Wong – have to use all their
fend off attacks on their Master abilities and connections to
from various monsters and defeat formidable enemies
spirits. which include the Bull Demon
King, the Iron Fan Princess,
and even an indistinguishable
imitation of Sun Wong himself.
 Most came in search of  The demons on the later parts
immortality, which is of the journey include spider-
obtainable by eating the flesh women who spin webs from
of a holy monk, whilst others their navels, a pride of lion
want to hinder the pilgrimage. monsters, the white-bone
demon with shape-shifting
powers, and a terrible female
spirit who carries Xuan Zang
down into her bottomless cave
to marry him

6. Journeys Outcome
The pilgrimage takes an arduous fourteen years to complete,
after which each traveler is promoted to a higher post in the
bureaucracy of heaven, with Sun Wong and Xuan Zang
achieving Buddhahood, Bajie promoted to an altar cleanser (ie.
eater of left-over food from the God’s altar), and Wujing
promoted to an arhat status. The dragon is made a Naga.

7. Journey's End