Monkey: Folk Novel of China
by Wu Ch'eng-en
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Book Reviews of Monkey: Folk Novel of China
Book Review: A review of my favorite book of all time
Summary: 5 Stars
I have always enjoyed epics. My current read is The Epic of Gilgamesh (the completion of which is frequently interrupted by returns to the masterpiece you are reading about). Previous to reading Monkey, Dante's Divine comedy ranked highest on my list. My interest in the anime and manga story Dragonball (and subsequently, Dragonball Z) turned me onto the Story of Monkey and The Journey to the West.
Comedy is the word I would use to describe Monkey, moreso than Dante's work. The central character's rise to glory is so colorful and intricate, one cannot help but laugh. The introduction of Kwan-Yin brings a serious aspect to the tale and a more admirable goal, but the focus on Monkey keeps the nature of the journey in check. Despite the absurdity of the characters Monkey and Pigsy in particular (though not them alone), the story maintains a very epic feel.
This version (up until Kwan-Yin's introduction) deals very little with all the Buddhist dogma that permeates the story. Even afterward, Monkey's mission is at the forefront. The author has done a fine job making the tale accessible to everyone (being a white, American, Christian with appreciation for Buddhism and Taoism) and has cut much non-essential dialouge.
One thing I had to get used to was the structure of the text. Paragraph breaks are not always used and oftentimes, conversations are not broken up in the traditional "..." he said "..." she said" format. Oftentimes, many quotes are strung together before you know who is saying what. The style takes a little getting used to, but this book still gets 5 stars. BUY THIS BOOK! You will not regret it.
Book Review: This book defined my childhood
Summary: 5 Stars
I first recieved this book as a ninth birthday present from an adult friend who lived in Thailand, and upon reading its first 13 chapters the book quickly became my favourite fairy tale. Monkey's absurd arrogance is funny, but, by the same token, his optimism and self-assurance is infectious. He thinks nothing of travelling from heaven to hell and all points in between (Solving problems along the way by banging a few heads together) or of achieving immortality by stealing peaches. The story of how he got his great weapon (A staff used to hammer the Milky Way flat) by essentially being the worst guest in history to a much put-upon sea dragon, is hillarious. The book, suprisingly for one written 500 years ago in a distant land, contains some of the best-timed slapstick comedy I've ever come across. There is even one moment of true toilet humour that will have you reaching for oxygen, it's so funny. The pace kept up brilliantly; the final scene of the books first act, in which the forces of Heaven attempt to trap the Monkey King, has the air of a Keystone Kops episode by way of JRR Tolkein. However, there are also moments of touching and disturbing drama, as Monkey's personality gradually shifts from mischievious to almost evil, until he is imprisoned beneath a vast mountain and begins the long road to his redemption and eventual enlightement.I haven't even talked about the main plot of this wonderful story, but it is better if you discover it for yourself. Enjoy!
Book Review: a relic
Summary: 3 Stars
Monkey, also known as The Monkey King or The Journey to the West, is one of the four great novels of China--along with The Water Margins, Dream of the Red Mansion, and The Three Kingdoms. It tells the story, in allegorical form, of Xuan Zang (or Hsuan Tsang), a 7th Century monk who trekked from China to India in search of Buddhist texts, his translations of which were a key to the growth of Buddhism in China. His real-life travelogue is itself considered to be a great work of literature, but for purposes of the novel he, referred to here as Tripitaka, is given a group of comic companions : the Monkey King, a kind of trickster god, who represents rebelliousness against both heavenly and earthly order; Pigsy, a marshal of heaven turned into his animal namesake for attacking a fairy maiden, who represents a sort of earthy stolidity; and Sandy, a kind of sea monster, who Waley says represents "whole-heartedness", whatever that means. The book is intermittently amusing, but even in this abridged version is way too long. Characters' motivations and the meanings of most of the action are awfully obscure. And like any picaresque, it is almost purely episode driven, without the various episodes necessarily adding up to a coherent and sustained story. The book is interesting as a cultural relic, but, if no one told you, you wouldn't imagine it to be such an influential text.
GRADE : C
Book Review: Please read Monkey carefully
Summary: 5 Stars
My father used to read this book to us as children and I have read it to all of mine. It is way more than just a story. The main story concerns an actual historical figure who was hugely significant as the monk who in the 7th century brought Mahayana Buddhism to China. In part the book is a teaching text, containing instructions on certain practices encoded into the story. The Monkey of course represents human consciousness which must be tamed before it can be useful, and the early part of the book contains an explanation of why this cannot be achieved by traditional Taoist methods alone. Having been controlled by the Buddha, Monkey is then able to gain mastery over Pigsy, who represents the gross physical body with all of its appetites. I am told that Arthur Waley's 1935 translation, while making a rollicking story, may not be strictly accurate in the scholarly sense, but I think it makes such a great read that who cares? Not only is it readable, but although written in the Ming Dynasty, it reamins as fresh and lively as any contemporary novel. Look for the hidden meanings as you read it and learn.Book Review: Overall well-done, however disappointingly abridged
Summary: 4 Stars
I have been interested in Chinese literature for some time now, as an Asian American who does not speak the language. As a child I read an illustrated version of a chapter from the novel, and when I was older I watched the TV show based upon the novel, with my father who translated.Reading this book I was glued to every word for the first 18 or so chapters, as I read about Monkey's development. However, after the disciples had all gathered together, the translation's appeal severely dipped. While still well written, only 30 of the original novel's 100 chapters were translated. Many of the most interesting adventures were lost in the abridgement. What was supposed to a be a long, difficult journey to India seemed more like a quick visit. While I realize this was done in order to keep the story from being too lengthy, I was rather disappointed. I suppose I will have to purchase another translation in order to read the remaining adventures.