It is generally assumed that Wu Chengen is the author of Journey to the West.  As one reads this book, it becomes clear that the writer had very detailed knowledge and understanding of the symbolism that is contained within Taoism, Buddhism and Confucianism. For insights and interpretation of the symbolism, which is used in Journey to the West, please refer to www.innerjourneytothewest.com. Understanding this symbolism is not only a matter of studying knowledge, but requires one to put this knowledge into practice and thereby experience it`s truth in oneself. This is a lifetime endeavor.  There is no indication that Wu Chengen studied or practiced Taoism, Buddhism or Confucianism. Only when one studies and practices what the Journey to the West speaks about, one understands that, as Liu Yiming says, “Journey to the West is a book of spiritual immortalists”.

For this reason, the writer of Journey to the West had to be someone who had been practicing the essential meaning of the book. It is therefore much more likely that the writer of Journey to the West, as Liu Yiming says (see appendix), is Qiu Chu Ji, rather than Wu Chengen. Qiu Chu Ji is also known as Chang Chun (1148 –1227), the founder of a Taoist school called the Long Men Sect. Whoever the author is, it is clear this book is a product of a conscious school or tradition, and that chapters were added over time.