Scan barcode
A review by sinogaze
Monkey: Folk Novel of China by Wu Ch'eng-En
5.0
this story and all its adaptations have been crazy formative to me as a person so i must rate it a 5
waley’s translation preserves the humor and the wit of this classic story. his preface helps put into perspective much of the book—tripitaka represents the common man so he flails through the journey with his much more competent and jaded disciples who represent divine qualities. waley writes: “Monkey stands for the restless instability of genius. Pigsy…. the physical appetites, brute strength, and a cumbrous patience. Sandy… represents ch’eng, which is usually translated ‘sincerity,’ but means something more like ‘wholeheartedness’”. the common man must draw on these strengths that are as old as time though he is new and unfamiliar with them yet
waley’s translation preserves the humor and the wit of this classic story. his preface helps put into perspective much of the book—tripitaka represents the common man so he flails through the journey with his much more competent and jaded disciples who represent divine qualities. waley writes: “Monkey stands for the restless instability of genius. Pigsy…. the physical appetites, brute strength, and a cumbrous patience. Sandy… represents ch’eng, which is usually translated ‘sincerity,’ but means something more like ‘wholeheartedness’”. the common man must draw on these strengths that are as old as time though he is new and unfamiliar with them yet