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Journey to the West
RRP: £19.95
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To the Western Heaven with the mind-ape Sun Wukong,
Review date: 2006-10-02 Rating: 10 out of 10
This is a lucid and superlative translation of this classic Chinese novel: Arthur Waley's abridgment 'Monkey'is great for getting the flavour of Wu Cheng'en's timeless novel but this complete translation by W.J.F Jenner, illustrated with many Ching period woodcuts, is a true delight and one at last appreciates the scope of 'Journey to the West' in all its amazing detail - it's a masterwork perhaps comparable to J.R.R Tolkien's 'Lord of the Rings' and the narrative is rich with weird adventures, bizarre and comedic episodes, wild combats, spiritual and poetic interludes and charged throughout with esoteric Taoist, alchemical and Buddhist symbolism as we follow the way via many vicissitudes to the Western Heaven and the Greater Vehicle scriptures with our heroes, the monk Tripitaka who is a sort of everyman on the spiritual quest through life, the irrepressible Monkey, who represents the mercurial mind so hard to control, and also the amazing magical powers of the immortal Taoist adept which nonetheless need to learn to be motivated and guided by the higher quality of Compassion and placed in the service of the enlightened Buddha-nature. Pigsy of course stands for the lower appetites and is a hilarious glutton and Friar Sand is a strange and earnest figure who defies definition. It would be a faint spirit indeed who could not take pleasure in the cunning strategems and heroic antics of the irascible Monkey King, the Great Sage Equalling Heaven - these characters are archetypal aspects of each of us and their great quest mirrors the journey of the spirit. This 3 volume translation is a joy to read and the exquisite poems which are embedded throughout really add to the full appreciation of this wonderful and intricate novel. Like 'The Golden Ass' of Apuleius it is richly humorous but beneath the phantastic episodes and the wild japes there is a serious message and purpose and the 'Journey to the West' is a profoundly spiritual novel. Was there ever a hero like the Handsome Monkey King!!
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Reviews
a cosmic mission, a vacuous hero, an amazing read
Review date: 2003-11-16 Rating: 8 out of 10
This is a huge collection of the Chinese folk tales of the Stone Monkey King: probably best known in the UK via the Japanese television series `Monkey'. To any who thought the series great- the book is excellent and abounds with exactly the same sense of humour, drama and excitement.
The character of Monkey is incredibly appealing in his childish arrogance: made all the more entertaining by his nigh-unstoppable magical and fighting prowess. The first quarter of the book details Monkey's creation and his rise to power, his acquisition of even greater powers: the rest of the book deals with the epic journey of the title wherein in many demons and bandits are dealt with.
The battles are many and varied, the demons and monsters colourful (often literally) and horrendous: the usual situation is not working out if Monkey will solve a problem, but how. The banter between the brethren on the journey is superb and alway entertaining, and often very earthy.
The book is not always an easy read, but is superb to pick up and read small sections once in a while- due to its nature as being presented in the style of a story teller's narration.
Wonderul for young and old alike, and hard to believe it's several hundred years old.
Remember Monkey?
Review date: 2003-05-28 Rating: 10 out of 10
This is the 16th century novel that the silly TV series was based on. A unique work of its time, it relates the adventures of Tripitaka and his companions on their quest to bring buddhist scriptures to China from the west. It's very much an adventure story, with all the elements of ancient chinese myth, and lots of humour as well. It's also strongly allegorical and I have to admit that without much knowledge of buddhism a lot of it went over my head, but it was still entertaining and a must read for anyone interested in the classics.
Product Details/Specifications
Authors:
Cheng'en Wu
Creators:
W.J.F. Jenner (Translator)
Recording label: Foreign Languages Press
Manufacturer: Foreign Languages Press
EAN: 9787119016634
Binding: Paperback
ISBN: 7119016636
Number of pages: 2346
Publication date: 1997-11
Language: English (Unknown)
Language: English (Original Language)