Books by Wu Cheng'en
Wu Cheng’en was a 16th century author from Jiangsu province, China. He is chiefly known for being the probable author of Journey to the West, one of the great classic Chinese novels. Below, we explain the differences between some of the adaptations.
Journey to the West
Wu Cheng'en, translated by Anthony C. Yu
The complete translation, volume 1 of 4.
The basis for this novel is the journey of Xuanzang (602-664), a Buddhist monk who travelled from China through Central Asia to India and back. The 16th century novel attributed to Wu Cheng’en is very remote from the original travel account. Essentially, it is a series of stand-alone adventure stories, often involving a hungry monster from whose clutches Monkey has to save the pilgrims so they can continue on their way to Thunderclap Monastery and bring back Buddhist scriptures. This is one of the great classics of Chinese literature, starring the irrepressible character Monkey King, also known as Sun Wukong.
Monkey King: Journey to the West
Wu Cheng'en, translated by Julia Lovell
Pictured is an excellent abridged edition of The Monkey King, translated and with an introduction by Julia Lovell.
“It’s one of those books that if you grow up in China, you know the story, even if you haven’t read the book…It’s a quintessentially Chinese work, it’s fundamental to Chinese culture and, yet, it has elements in it that do not fit in at all with the stereotyped vision of China as this place of Confucian hierarchies where familial ties and stability are all that matters. It’s the story of an adventure, a trip on the road by these characters with magical capabilities. The Monkey King, the novel’s provocative and provoking protagonist, likes to turn the world upside down and revels in chaos.” Read more...
Jeffrey Wasserstrom, Historian
Monkey: Journey to the West
Wu Cheng'en, translated by Arthur Waley
Monkey, Arthur Waley's abridged translation from the 1940s, is often very funny. It is more aimed at children than Julia Lovell's recent translation Monkey King (which is also a lot of fun). Arguably, Monkey is more of a boys' adventure story, leaving out some of the goriest bits as well as most of the chapters with strong female characters. The language is more old-fashioned but the relationship between Monkey and Pigsy, in particular, provides plenty of entertainment for readers.
The basis for Journey to the West is the 7th century journey of Xuanzang, a Buddhist monk who travelled from China through Central Asia to India and back. The novel is essentially a series of stand-alone adventure stories starring Monkey (Sun Wukong) who often has to save the pilgrims from a hungry monster.
Rebellion Against Heaven
Wu Cheng'en, adapted by Chu Yi, illustrated by Wang Weizhi, translated by Liu Guangdi
“Always resourceful and optimistic, Sun Wukong is one of the most loved characters in world literature. Later chapters in Journey to the West deal with Monkey’s gradual realisation that our actions have consequences and he becomes much more virtuous, but the chapters included in this children’s edition focus on the joy of Sun Wukong’s child-like and rebellious spirit.” Read more...
The Best Chinese Picture Books
Our Children's Editor, Five Books Editor
Black Myth: Wukong
Wu Cheng'en, developed by Game Science
Black Myth: Wukong is a PlayStation 5 game based on the character Sun Wukong, also known as Monkey, from the 16th century novel Journey to the West by Wu Cheng'en.
Interviews where books by Wu Cheng'en were recommended
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1
Rebellion Against Heaven
Wu Cheng'en, adapted by Chu Yi, illustrated by Wang Weizhi, translated by Liu Guangdi -
2
The Moose of Ewenki
by Gerelchimeg Blackcrane, Jiu Er (illustrator) & translated by Helen Mixter -
3
An's Seed
Zaozao Wang, Li Huang (illustrator), translated by Helen Wang -
4
Express Delivery from Dinosaur World
Yanan Dong, translated by Helen Wang -
5
Grandma Lives in a Perfume Village
by Fang Suzhen, Sonja Danowski (illustrator) & translated by Huang Xiumin
The Best Chinese Picture Books, recommended by Our Children's Editor
The Best Chinese Picture Books, recommended by Our Children's Editor
Of the many children’s books published in Chinese, few make their way into translation. Here, our Children’s Editor picks five outstanding Chinese picture books that are available for readers around the world to enjoy in English.
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1
The Tale of Genji
by Murasaki Shikibu & translated by Edward G. Seidensticker -
2
Monkey King: Journey to the West
Wu Cheng'en, translated by Julia Lovell -
3
The Plum in the Golden Vase (Volume One of five)
by Anonymous & translated by David Tod Roy -
4
The Memoirs of Lady Hyegyong
by Lady Hyegyong & translated by JaHyun Kim Haboush -
5
The Shadow Book of Ji Yun
by Ji Yun & translated by Yi Izzy Yu and John Yu Branscum
Five East Asian Classic Books Worth Reading, recommended by Tuva Kahrs
Five East Asian Classic Books Worth Reading, recommended by Tuva Kahrs
Want to read something that won’t feel out of date next year? Something from a different time and place, but with universal resonance? Five Books contributing editor Tuva Kahrs picks five classic books from China, Japan and Korea that have stood the test of time, from a blockbuster adventure novel to a murderous memoir.
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1
Three Kingdoms: A Historical Novel
by Luo Guanzhong & Moss Roberts (translator) -
2
The Water Margin
by Shi Naian & translated by J M Jackson -
3
The Water Outlaws
by S L Huang -
4
Monkey King: Journey to the West
Wu Cheng'en, translated by Julia Lovell -
5
The Story of the Stone (also called Dream of the Red Chamber)
by Cao Xueqin
Classic Chinese Novels
Classic Chinese Novels
During China’s Ming and Qing dynasties, a number of novels were written which are regarded as classics of Chinese literature. Several of them have been recommended on Five Books, including one modern retelling.
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1
The Shortest History of China: From the Ancient Dynasties to a Modern Superpower
by Linda Jaivin -
2
Monkey King: Journey to the West
Wu Cheng'en, translated by Julia Lovell -
3
The Chinese Communist Party: A Century in Ten Lives
Edited by Timothy Cheek, Klaus Mühlhahn and Hans van de Ven -
4
Land of Big Numbers
by Te-Ping Chen -
5
In the Camps: China's High-Tech Penal Colony
by Darren Byler
The Best China Books of 2021, recommended by Jeffrey Wasserstrom
The Best China Books of 2021, recommended by Jeffrey Wasserstrom
Whether you want to read the entire history of China in 250 pages or find out what’s going on right now in Xinjiang, enjoy a new translation of a 16th-century fantasy novel or delve into contemporary short stories, 2021 has been another good year for books about China. Jeffrey Wasserstrom, Chancellor’s Professor of History at UC Irvine, recommends his favourite China books of 2021.
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1
The Lotus Sutra
by Tsugunari Kubo and Akira Yuyama (translators) -
2
Introduction to the History of Indian Buddhism
by Eugène Burnouf -
3
Bones, Stones, and Buddhist Monks
by Gregory Schopen -
4
Words of My Perfect Teacher
by Patrul Rinpoche -
5
Monkey King: Journey to the West
Wu Cheng'en, translated by Julia Lovell
The best books on Buddhism, recommended by Donald S Lopez Jr
The best books on Buddhism, recommended by Donald S Lopez Jr
What is the Buddhist equivalent of the Bible? What is the Dalai Lama’s favourite book? Buddhist scholar Donald Lopez recommends some of his favourite books on Buddhism.
