《西游记》----《JourneytotheWest》

　　JourneytotheWestisamythologi-

　　calnovelbasedonmanycenturies

　　ofpopulartradition.Itwasprobablyput

　　intoitspresentforminthe15708by

　　WuCheng’en(1500-82).

　　Thislivelyfantasyrelatesthe

　　amazingadventuresofthepriestSan-

　　zangashetravelswestinsearchof

　　Buddhistsutraswithhisthreedisci-

　　ples,theirreverentandcapableMon-

　　key,greedyPig,andFriarSand.The

　　openingchaptersrecounttheearlier

　　exploitsofMonkey,culminatinginhis

　　rebellionagainstHeaven.Wethen

　　learnhowSanzangbecameamonk

　　andwassentonhispilgrimagebythe

　　Tangemperorwhohadescapeddeath

　　withthehelpofanUnderworldofficial.

　　Themainstory,thejourney,takesthe

　　priestthroughallkindsofentertaining

　　trialsandtribulations,mainlyatthe

　　handsofmonstersandspiritswho

　　wanttoeathim.Onlythecourage

　　andpowersofhisdisciples,especially

　　Monkey,savehimfromdeath.Monkey

　　istheheroofthefantasy,andtheread-

　　erwillsoonlearnwhyhehaslongbeen

　　solovedinChina.Willthepilgrims

　　reachtheVulturePeakandobtainthe

　　Scriptures?Theanswerwillonlybe

　　foundattheendofthelOO-chapter

　　novel.

　　Thestoryisasfullofimagination

　　asMonkeyisofmagic,andpacked

　　withincidentanddown-to-earthhu-

　　mour.Theillustrationsarefrom19th-

　　centuryChineseedition.Thisisthefirst

　　ofthethreevolumesofthenovel.