The Journey to the West [Hardcover]

Anthony C. Yu (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1991 | Series: Journey to the West (Book 4)

This adaptation of a late sixteenth-century classic Chinese comic novel, Journey to the West, based on Anthony C. Yu’s translation, takes as its point of departure the true story of a seventh-century monk and his fabled pilgrimage from China to India in search of sacred texts. Mixing whimsy with spiritual weight, Zimmerman’s script combines comedy, adventure, and satire in a moving allegory of human perseverance.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Part vaudeville, part mystical dreamscape and Eastern-inflected ballet, Zimmerman's meticulously choreographed production is a fabulous balancing act that stunningly juxtaposes the rambunctious energy and low comedy of a Wizard of Oz-like trip with the lyrical beauty of Chinese poetry and the mysterious revelations of a religious search. There is not a second in the show that does not contain a character-revealing gesture, an awe inspiring sense of nature, or a dazzling example of the artist's gift for invention." --Chicago Sun-Times

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

From the Publisher

This is a complete four-volume translation of the Chinese edition of Journey to the West in 100 chapters published in 1955 by the Beijing People's Literature Publishing House.

A well-known mythological novel based on folk tales, Journey to the West was probably put into its present form in the 1570s by Wu Cheng'en (1500-82)

Many different editions of the novel have appeared over the past 400 years. The Chinese edition of 1955 was based on the earliest known edition, the Shidetang woodblock edition printed in Nanjing in the 20th year of Wanli reign (1592) in the Ming Dynasty, and was further checked against six different editions from the Qing Dynasty.

The illustrations were selected from a lithographic edition (New Edition of Pictures for "Journey to the West") published in the 14th year (1888) of the Emperor Guangxu of the Qing Dynasty.

A "Translator's Afterword" will be found at the end of Volume 4. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 544 pages
• Publisher: Univ of Chicago Pr (Tx); Reprint edition (December 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0226971481
• ISBN-13: 978-0226971483
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.2 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,083,418 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Monkey rules!, November 17, 2000

By 

Leslie S. Gn (Scottsdale, Arizona USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Journey To The West (Boxed Set of 4 Volumes) (Paperback)

This definitive three volume set of 'Journey To The West' by Wu Cheng'en is a must read for anyone interested in fantasy and Chinese mythology. 'Journey To The West' has everything from monkey mayhem to monsters, and magic. The quest for the sacred Buddhist sutras in India makes for an exciting journey filled with danger, demons and damsels. If you love classic Chinese literature or Buddhism, then you have to read 'Journey To The West'. I understand that in 2001, a TV movie entitled, 'The Monkey King' is scheduled for released. The following is a summary of the movie: "American journalist Nick Orton is caught up in the world of Chinese gods and monsters while on a search for the long lost manuscript to 'Hsi Yu Chi' (The Journey to the West) by Wu Ch'eng En. He is accompanied on his journey by a humanoid ape with incredible strength and magical powers, a humanoid pig-man, and his brother-in-arms, an ex-cannibal. Based on one of the greatest stories in Chinese history." (Lawrence De Meza from imdb.com) So what are you waiting for, buy it now and read it before 'Monkey King' mania sweeps the States!

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Still a great book for children, March 24, 2000

By 

"zzy" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Journey To The West (Boxed Set of 4 Volumes) (Paperback)

This book is one of the Four Great Novels in China. Everybody in China know this story. Sun WuKong--the monkey, Zhu Bajie--the pig, everybody like them. Though it was written in 1570s, it is still a great book for children.