Reading Notes W4: Wu'Cheng'En, Part B
Wu Cheng’En – a versatile poet (His novel The Journey of the West contains over 1, 700 poems). · Known for writing on Mythical and supernatural super natural subjects in a satirical style. · Minor officer serving under the Mind Dynasty (1368-1644). The Novel had a historical basis in the journey of the Monk Xu-anzang, or Tripitaka (596-664), who traveled from China to India in search of Buddhist scriptures during the reign of Emperor Taizong, on of the most splendid emperors of the Tank Dynasty (618-907). Such Travels were forbidden. · Buddhism- immortality and ultimate virtue · Daoist – self-preservation and immortality (Confucian – Moral virtue) Chapter 1- There is an immortal stone rock, the rock gives birth to an egg, the egg gives birth to a monkey which disturbed heaven. He communed with other animals. Where...