A Discourse on The Journey to the West by Wu Cheng‘en The Journey to the West by Wu Cheng‘en is a Chinese classical novel based on an actual voyage by Hsüan-tsang, a Buddhist monk, who crossed the Central Asian desert to India in the 7th century to collect the Buddhist scriptures and translate them to Chinese (Lu 3). It presents a blend of cultural lore from China’s three major religious traditions– Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism. One must read the novel with the knowledge that religious elements guide one into a true understanding of the text with the most domineering interpretation being through a Buddhist eye- a journey of spiritual growth and salvation (Bantly 512). Wu Cheng‘en’s Buddhist background influences the Buddhist references …show more content…
But it is required of Master to go through all these strange territories before he finds deliverance from the sea of sorrows; hence even one step turns out to be difficult. You and I are only his protective companions, guarding his body and life, but we cannot exempt him from the woes, nor can we obtain the scriptures all by ourselves. Even if we had the ability to go and see Buddha first, he would not bestow the scriptures on you and me. (Yu 436). When they all reach their destination Xuanzang thanks his aides but Wukong has since discovered that the pilgrimage was important to each and every one of them; “Immediately Tripitaka awoke to the truth. Turning quickly, he thanked his three disciples instead. Pilgrim said, “We two parties need not thank each other, for we are meant to support each other. We are indebted to our master for our liberation, through which we have found the gateway to making of merit, and fortunately we have achieved the right fruit. Our master also has to rely on our protection so that he may be firm in keeping both law and faith to find happy deliverance from this mortal stock” (Yu