About
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.
Story Behind The Book
Journey to the West is based on the true story of a Buddhist monk Xuanzang (602 – 664), who traveled alone to India. He was motivated by the poor quality of Chinese translations of Buddhist scripture at the time. Xuanzang left Chang'an in 629 and reached India in 630. He traveled throughout the Indian subcontinent for the next thirteen years, visiting important Buddhist pilgrimage sites and studying at the ancient university at Nalanda. Xuanzang left India in 643 and arrived back in Chang'an in 646. Gradually, stories about Xuanzang`s quest for the scriptures started circulating, and with the passage of time, acquired more and more mystical coloring. As early as the Tang Dynasty (618 - 907), Li Rong`s Fantastic Tales contained an account of Xuanzang and the recondite Scriptures. The character of the Monkey King first appeared during the Song Dynasty (960 - 1279). By the time of the Yuan Dynasty (1271 - 1378) the story’s content had been greatly enriched and it’s dramatic character heightened. Journey to the West appeared in its present form in the 16th century.
