Journey to the West the Sequel (1981) 后西游记
Author: Commentary by Tianhua Caizi
Translator: Yu Zhiyuan (Translation and Collation)
Publisher: Chunfeng Literature and Art Publishing House
Format: Paperback
Date: November 1981
Pages: 490
Book Series: Selected Novels of the Late Ming and Early Qing Dynasties
ISBN: 10158-601
Language: Chinese
Adaptation: Continuation
Summary:
The Sequel to Journey to the West (Hou Xiyouji) is a Ming Dynasty novel of the gods-and-demons genre and one of the three major sequels to Journey to the West (the other two being Xu Xiyouji and Xiyou Bu). Written during the Ming Dynasty (as evidenced by references to the "Jinyiwei" or Embroidered Uniform Guard), the book's authorship remains unknown; extant editions bear only the attribution "Commentary by the Talented Scholar of Tianhua," though there is an unverified theory attributing the work to an author named Mei Zihe. The novel comprises forty chapters.
During the reign of Emperor Xianzong of Tang, the true scriptures originally retrieved by Tang Xuanzang were distorted by a greedy monk who used them to swindle money. Consequently, the Tathagata sealed the scriptures and instructed Tang Xuanzang and his disciples to find a new pilgrim to journey to Vulture Peak (Lingshan) and obtain the true interpretation. Tang Xuanzang recruited a virtuous monk named Dadian and gathered a team comprising Sun Xiaosheng, Zhu Yijie, and Shami. After enduring immense hardships to retrieve the true interpretation and save all sentient beings, the four pilgrims ultimately attained enlightenment. It is worth noting that the character of Tang Banjie differs vastly from that of the original Tang Monk; he lacks the timidity and inability to distinguish right from wrong that characterized Tang Sanzang.
