Journey to the West (1994) 西游记
Author: Wu Cheng'en
Publisher: Yuelu Publishing House
Format: Hardcover
Date: April 1994
Pages: 764
Book Series: Popular Library of Classical Masterpieces
ISBN: 9787805200552
Language: Chinese
Adaptation: Retelling
Summary:
The artistic fiction of Journey to the West is grounded in traditional artistic conventions as well as the religious concepts and customs of its society; yet, through the author's unique artistic vision—forged by synthesizing those very traditions—the work critiques these religious notions, or more precisely, pokes fun at and satirizes them. This constitutes the most outstanding and remarkable quality of this supernatural novel, as well as the fundamental source of its artistic value and enduring appeal.
To claim that the central theme of Journey to the West is political critique would be inconsistent with the novel's actual imagery and significance. Satire directed at contemporary politics is, at most, a secondary element—a casual, spontaneous touch that adds wit to its commentary on human nature and social mores. A novel cannot become a vibrant, multifaceted work of art—one that remains eternally fresh—unless it possesses a rich, diverse depth of meaning capable of projecting a multitude of images across various facets.
