Journey to the West, Volume 2: Volume 2

By Wu Cheng'en

Book Overview

The Journey to the West, volume 2, comprises the second twenty-five chapters of Anthony C. Yu's four-volume translation of Hsi-yu Chi, one of the most beloved classics of Chinese literature. The fantastic tale recounts the sixteen-year pilgrimage of the monk Hs an-tsang (596-664), one of China's most illustrious religious heroes, who journeyed to India with four animal disciples in quest of Buddhist scriptures. For nearly a thousand years, his exploits were celebrated and embellished in various accounts, culminating in the hundred-chapter Journey to the West, which combines religious allegory with romance, fantasy, humor, and satire.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0226971465
• ISBN13: 9780226971469
• Release Date: October 1978
• Publisher: University of Chicago Press
• Length: 448 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Part II, For Intelligent Readers Only!

This is part two of one of the four great written masterpieces of China, beautifully translated by Professor Yu. It is, I believe, the closest English speakers will get to the original Chinese text. Occasional awkwardness of wording in the translation is unavoidable as this work has gone from its original to a greatly contrasting culture. Do not let this discourage you as you read, let it instead encourage you to learn to read the Chinese original. Seeing it via one of the many movies / TV productions available is a great help in enjoying this work. I highly recommend the CCTV production from mainland China done in both 1986 and 2000.

The journey to the west, volume2

This is a great story not just this volume, I really recommend these books to be read by anyone it has everything that a great -great story need.Prepare yourself for a great journey...read the story.

Refers to translation by W.J.G. Jenner

This is a wonderful translation of the Journey to the West. It is an unabridged translation, therefore it is 3 books long. But it is worth it. Not only is it written clearly, but it keeps the style of the original, meaning that interwoven between pharagraphs of prose are poems. This give the book a wonderful charm that the abridged, prose versions lack. The ancient Chinese thought, such as yin and yang, Daoism, Chinese Buddhism, also give the book an authentic flavor that enriches the experience of reading this classic. It is still the same wonderful story of the michevous Monkey King, his difficulties with the gods in heaven, and his redeeming pilgramage with the Buddhist monk/priest Sanzang to find sutras. For anyone seriously interested in this story and who doesn't read Chinese, this is the edition for them!

Lao's review

The Journey to the West has remained of the most popular and enduring works of fiction in China since it was first published in the late sixteenth century. It is an allegory of Buddhist doctrine, based on the real life pilgrimage of Tripitaka, a Chinese monk who traveled to India in search of religions scripture in (I believe) the seventh century. The very descriptive text contains some of the most astoundingly beautiful poetic passages I have ever encountered. Footnotes contain references to everthing from historical notes to daily customs of the period. This set of books is among the most treasured in my library.

The most reliable translation available in English so far

Yu has done an excellent job in this translation. The book is heavily footnoted with Buddhist and Dao references. It's an older translation so it uses Wade-Giles instead of modern pinyin. It's also the least abridged. If you can't read the original Chinese this comes a close second.