The Journey to the West: Volume IVAnthony C. Yu The conclusion to the centuries-old Chinese epic in a translation that’s “a joy to read . . . [a] fantastic tale of adventure” (Nathan Slavin, University of Pennsylvania). A monk contends with demons, spirits, and other troubles as he travels to India in search of Buddhist scriptures in this classic Chinese fantasy adventure. Written in the sixteenth century, The Journey to the West is a remarkable historical saga that follows the fourteen-year pilgrimage of the monk Xuanzang, one of China’s most famous religious heroes, and his four supernatural disciples, in search of Buddhist scriptures. Throughout his journey, Xuanzang fights demons who wish to eat him, communes with spirits, and traverses a land riddled with a multitude of obstacles, both real and fantastical. An adventure rich with danger and excitement, this seminal work of the Chinese literary canon is by turns allegory, satire, and fantasy. Anthony C. Yu’s translation, initially published in 1983, introduced English-speaking audiences to the classic saga in its entirety for the first time. In this new edition of one of the great works of Chinese literature, Yu has made his translations even more accurate and accessible with new explanatory notes, additions to the introduction, and modernized transliterations using the now-standard Hanyu Pinyin romanization system. Volume 4 of 4 “A complete, faithful, and fully delightful translation of China’s most beloved novel.” —The Hudson Review “Does full justice to the adventure, lyricism and buffoonery [yet] is completely sensitive to the spiritual content of the text as well.” —The New York Times Book Review “Beautiful . . . A monumental achievement that takes the reader to the heart of one of the most important narratives in the Chinese tradition. The introduction is a model of erudition and incisive analysis. It is also the most thorough and insightful discussion of the sources and interpretations of The Journey to the West to date. Readers will enjoy the elucidation of allegorical possibilities and scholarly arguments both in the introduction and in the annotations. The adoption of Pinyin romanization will make this much more convenient for classroom use as a teaching edition.” —Waiyee Li, Harvard University “One of the great works of world religious literature.” —Robert Company, Vanderbilt University |
Contents
| 1 | |
77 A horde of demons affront native Nature The One Body bows to True Suchness | 17 |
78 At Bhikṣu he pities the infants and summons the night gods In the golden hall he knows the demon speaking on the way and virtue | 33 |
79 Searching the cave for the fiend he meets Long Life The proper lord of the court sees the babies | 49 |
80 The fair girl nursing the yang seeks a mate Mind Monkey guarding his master knows a monster | 63 |
81 At SeaPacifying Monastery Mind Monkey knows the fiend In the black pine forest three pupils search for their master | 79 |
82 The fair girl seeks the yang Primal spirit guards the Way | 96 |
83 Mind Monkey knows the elixir source Fair girl returns to her true nature | 113 |
90 Masters and lions teachers and pupils all return to the One Thieves and the Dao snares and Buddhism quiet NinefoldNumina | 218 |
91 At GoldLevel Prefecture they watch lanterns on the fifteenth night In Mysterious Flower Cave the Tang Monk makes a deposition | 232 |
92 Three priests fight fiercely at Green Dragon Mountain Four Stars help to capture rhinoceros fiends | 249 |
93 At Jetavana Park he asks the aged about the cause At the Kingdom of India he sees the king and meets his mate | 264 |
94 Four priests are feted at the royal garden One fiend vainly longs for sensual joys | 279 |
95 Falsely assuming true form the jade hares caught True Yin returns to the right to join Numinous Source | 295 |
96 Squire Kou gladly receives a noble priest The elder Tang does not covet riches | 309 |
97 Golddispensing external aid meets demonic harm The sage reveals his soul to bring restoration | 323 |
84 Priests are hard to destroy completes great awakening The Dharmaking attains the right his bodys naturalized | 127 |
85 Mind Monkey envies Wood Mother The demon lord plots to devour Chan | 142 |
86 Wood Mother lending power conquers the fiendish creature Metal Squire using his magic extirpates the deviates | 158 |
87 The PhoenixImmortal Prefecture offends Heaven and suffers drought The Great Sage Sun advocates virtue and provides rain | 174 |
88 Reaching JadeFlower Chan convenes an assembly Mind Monkey Wood and Earth instruct disciples | 190 |
89 The yellow lionspirit in vain gives the Muckrake Feast Gold Wood and Earth disturb with a scheme Mount LeopardsHead | 205 |
98 Only when ape and horse are tamed will shells be cast With merit and work perfected they see the Real | 341 |
99 Nine times nine ends the count and Māras all destroyed The work of three times three done the Dao reverts to its root | 358 |
100 They return to the Land of the East Five sages become perfected | 370 |
Notes | 387 |
| 411 | |
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Common terms and phrases
arhats arrived asked Pilgrim Bodhisattva Buddha cave Celestial chuckling court cried Daoist dare decree demon devarāja divine door dragon East Eight Rules Elder Brother flowers four gate hall hands head heard horse humble cleric Idiot immortal incense inside iron rod Jade Emperor jade hare journey king kowtowed leave lion little fiends little monsters look luggage magic powers master and disciples monastery monster-spirit moon mountain muckrake night officials ofthe old fiend old Monkey old monster once ordeal chap palace Pilgrim Sun Prefecture priests prince princess rake replied Pilgrim replied Tripitaka rice Rules and Sha sage monk Sage Sun saying scrolls Sha Monk shouted spirit Spirit Mountain squire Sun Wukong Sūtra taels Taizong Tang Monk Tathāgata tell thank There’s thousand three disciples took treasure Tripitaka Truly turned Vajra vegetarian Venerable Father walked weapons wind Wukong Xuanzang Zhu Eight Rules