Monkey: Folk Novel of China (Paperback)

~ Wu Ch'eng-en (Author), Arthur Waley (Translator), Hu Shih (Introduction) "There was a rock that since the creation of the world had been worked upon by the pure essences of Heaven and the fine savours..." (more)
Key Phrases: iron cudgel, magic breath, jade tablet, Lao Tzu, Bodhisattva Kuan-yin, Tiger Strength Immortal (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Probably the most popular book in the history of the Far East, this classic sixteenth century novel is a combination of picaresque novel and folk epic that mixes satire, allegory, and history into a rollicking adventure. It is the story of the roguish Monkey and his encounters with major and minor spirits, gods, demigods, demons, ogres, monsters, and fairies. This translation, by the distinguished scholar Arthur Waley, is the first accurate English version; it makes available to the Western reader a faithful reproduction of the spirit and meaning of the original.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Evergreen Books by Grove Weidenfeld (January 12, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0802130860
• ISBN-13: 978-0802130860
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #29,940 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #3 in	Books > Literature & Fiction > Classics > Chinese
  #62 in	Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy > Historical

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

57 of 58 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazingly Funny / Witty / Deep Novel, February 22, 2000

By	David E. Weekly "Entrepreneur" (Cupertino, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I was expecting a mildly amusing but somewhat slow-going novel when I picked up Monkey for my class in Chinese Literature. But I could not put it down and finished the whole of it in two sittings! This book is as much of a page turner as any modern novel, using everything from cunning plot turns to end-of-chapter guises ("And if you don't know what became of them, you must listen to what is told in the next chapter.") to absolutely hilarious anecdotes. (I laughed aloud at the "Taoist Holy Water" episode!) An amazingly well-crafted novel with a very very fluid translation that makes it an absolute delight to read. Again: I could not put this book down! The fight scenes were also spectacular...[still panting, having just finished the book]...you must read this book! =)

32 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The sentiments of the first reviewer..., October 29, 1999

By	Alexander M. Moir "Lt. Moir" (Vero Beach, FL and Huntington, NY) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

are mine exactly. When I read this book for my Chinese literature class this semester I couldn't put it down. Though it is abridged from 100 to 30 chapters, most of what is removed is not as interesting. The best part about Arthur Waley's translation of "Journey to the West" (he renamed it "Monkey") is that he is one of the first to play up the very hilarious humor in the book, though there is of course a quite serious religious undertone to the whole thing. This is an amazingly funny story from the Ming Dynasty, which will not disappoint any fan of fantasy, peculiar humor or spiritual quests. A true classic of Asian literature.

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Exuberant fairytale with an edge, March 11, 2003

By	N. Clarke (Lancashire, United Kingdom) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Unlike most people, I didn't come to this book through the TV series - I have heard of it, but I've never seen it (although I do intend to try to find it now...).

This translation covers only sections of the Monkey/Journey to the West saga, but what there is of it conveys well the flavour of the tale without outstaying its welcome. The plot, such as it is, revolves around the priest Tripitaka and his disciples (including Monkey), who have been charged to journey to the West and return with Buddhist scriptures for the enlightenment of China.

The story can, at times, be distinctly difficult to get your head around; superficially at least, it's little more than a succession of episodes involving bizarre monsters being defeated with elaborate magical powers. There is, however, plenty of humour - generally farcical in nature, although occasionally quite dry - and the bickering of the main characters is frequently entertaining. The bureaucratic nature of heaven, in which spirits and deities are assigned strictly hierarchical posts - with salaries! - is amusing regardless of how much you know of Chinese history and society.

However, many of the Buddhist and Taoist elements may be confusing to readers unfamiliar with the basic concepts. Some of the episodes rely quite heavily on outcomes grounded in, say, the workings of karma or the achievement of enlightenment - although most do conclude with Monkey and friends beating up the monsters in question, frequently with the spiritual aid of Kuan-yin and other divinities. But I do suspect that there are allusions and layers I'm missing...

To paraphrase the end-of-chapter refrain, if you want to know whether Monkey and his companions succeed on their quest, you'll have to read the book!