Monkey Journey To The West Summary

Empress Wu, the only female to ever rule China, was a devout Daoist. Also, as the Tang Empire expanded eastward, contact with India increased and Buddhist influence reached its height. Many people traveled to India. Monks like Xuanzang went to India, brought back many sutras, literary compositions based on the teachings of Buddha, and translated them into Chinese. Seeing the rise of Daoism and Buddhism and the fading of Confucianism, Tang scholars set out to defend Confucianism. Han Yu, an essayist, vehemently argued against Buddhism and asked the Chinese to go back to their roots by studying and interpreting the Confucian Classics. His main argument against Buddhism was that the foreign religion preached equality among all and didn’t place proper importance between the five relationships (ruler vs. the ruled, father vs. son, husband vs. wife, older brother vs. younger brother, and older friend vs. younger friend) necessary for social tranquility. He urged that this was destroying social order. Nonetheless Buddhism, Daoism, and Confucianism all coexisted as the "three teachings" under the Tang.

“It is often said that, aside from the impact of Marxism on twentieth-century China, the only other time when the Chinese looked beyond their own borders for intellectual sustenance was during the period when Buddhism was absorbed from India” (LaFleur 23). Why did this religion appeal to the Chinese when they disregarded so many other external influences? After all, being tied to the rest of the world by the Silk Road meant they were constantly inundated with novel concepts from far and wide. The answer must lie in how Buddhism interacted with the other faiths already established in the country, namely Confucianism and Daoism (sometimes spelled Taoism). While at first glance it may appear that Confucian China would be the last place

It is believed that Buddhism spread to China through the Silk Road. When the Silk Road opened in the 2nd century BC, missionaries and pilgrims spread Buddhism to China. Chang Ch’ien was recorded to first bring Buddhism to China when he heard about India and Buddhist beliefs on his way back to China. In about the 1st century BC, a Buddhist community is said to have been living in China. But the most well-known story of the spreading of Buddhism is when Han emperor, Mingdi, had a dream about Buddha in 68 CE and sent Cai Yin, his official to learn more about it. Meanwhile, Mingdi learned from his ministers that he had seen Buddha, “the God of the West” in his dream. After 3 years Cai Yin came back to china with Buddhist teachings and

The novel, “Mao’s Last Dancer”, was written by Li Cunxin. It tells his riveting tale of growing up in a poor family of six boys, living in a village in China under Mao’s reign. It goes on to share his eventual defection to the United States as an artistic dancer. His childhood was filled with both hardships and joys. But both helped him to grow as a resilient person to achieve once-thought impossible goals.

They first come across Pigsy in the Cloud Ladder Cave, where Monkey tries to engage in battle. After discovering that Monkey too is a disciple, Pigsy explains how he became a convert of the Bodhisattva Kuan-Yin. He also says he was told to wait for the pilgrim, in order to assist him. Meanwhile everyone comes to a halt as they look at the roaring River of Flowing Sands and spot a river monster. Monkey seeks help from the Bodhisattva and her disciple Hui-an after trying to engage in battle. The Bodhisattva says, “Take this gourd and travel with monkey to the River of Flowing Sands. There you must shout, ‘Sandy!’ He is sure to come out, and when he does, take him to the Master so that he may submit and become a disciple” (140). Ultimately, the flock comes together, to set off for their quest to the Thunder Monastery

Perhaps, the powerful storyline of the Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon was what encouraged one of the greatest cinematic martial arts directors Ang Lee, to make a film out of the Chinese novel. In this film, Lee’s primary function is not only to portray skillfully choreographed fighting scenes, but also to connect powerful sequences of events that touches upon the emotional complex human condition that is associated with both the Taoist and Buddhist belief systems. By not allowing action to be the sole guiding force of the narrative of Crouching

Buddhism originated in India in the 5th century B.C.E. It then spread to China in the 1st century B.C.E. In the period of disunity as well as political instability, most Chinese peasants accepted Buddhism because it provided shelter and certainty. Scholars showed that Buddhism beliefs were not a threat opposed to Confucianism and Daoism, hoping the people could see how they all can coexist. As the imperial structure improved and grew over time, many authorities and high powers rejected its teachings because it saw Buddhism as a threat to their powers.

The far-reaching and appealing aspect of Buddhism allowed some Chinese Buddhists to travel Asia to learn about its peoples and origins. For example, a Chinese Buddhist, Faxian, who traveled through South Asia to learn more about the religion collected many original texts and translated them back in China. He described “ They still followed the course of the P'oo na river, on the banks of which, left and right, there were twenty monasteries, which might contain three thousand monks; and (here) the Law of Buddha was still more flourishing.” (Doc E) This description is about the importance of Buddhism was to South Asia and its power to overcome so many barriers and universalize South Asia. This is also shown in a description of by another Chinese Buddhist by the name of Xuanzang. His reflection of his time in South Asia for the Tang emperor describes a unique, but totally different world from that of China. It says,”Now Buddha having been born in the western region and his religion having spread eastwards, the sounds of the words translated have been often mistaken, the phrases of the different regions have been misunderstood on account of the wrong sounds, and thus the sense has been lost. The words being wrong, the idea has been perverted.” (Doc G) By this Xuanzang means how the original word of the Buddha has been so distorted by the language barrier that its is almost impossible to understand what he truly meant when it is

The interdependency between Wu and Buddhism blooms as early as her overtaking of the imperial rule of China. As resourceful and violent as Wu is in securing her title, demonstrated by the empress’s exploitation of the “secret police force to monitor dissident factions,” she is also cunning in gathering support from the ordinary masses, such as the Buddhists and their followers (Bentley 290). She “generously patronize[s] Buddhists, who return the favor by composing

During the Tang and Song dynasties, Buddhism changed in a way for other beliefs and practices to be involved in. The importation of Buddhist ideas influenced Chinese culture by having schools of Buddhism, borrowing Chinese cultural traditions, and building temples. Monks and scholars coordinated several

At the core of any nation’s culture are its religious beliefs. In China there are the “Three Jewels” Confucianism, Daoism, and Buddhism, as described in Lopez (1996). There are small numbers of people practicing other religions such as Christianity and Islam, but these are the three dominant beliefs of the region. While they are separate in content, they have coexisted for several thousand years. Lopez (1996) goes on to say, “Historical precedent and popular parlance attest to the importance of this threefold division for understanding Chinese culture…Buddhism is the sun, Daoism the moon, and Confucianism the five planets…suggesting that although they remain separate, they also coexist as equally indispensable phenomena of the natural world.” Each belief system stands alone, and at the same time needs the other(s).

In many cultures, heroes have been recorded in tales for thousands of years. In China, one of the Great Classic Novels, The Journey to the West, was written by Wu Cheng’en in the 16th century during the late Ming dynasty (1590-1644) when capitalism began to develop. The book describes a Buddhist monk Tripitaka and his four disciples: Monkey, Pigsy, Sandy and White horse, and how they battled with different demons on the way to the west in order to get Buddhist scriptures. In the novel, Monkey had its own name called Sun Wukong. The first name Wukong had a Buddhist meaning which is “Aware of Vacuity.”

Throughout Chinese history there has been three main religions or philosophies that were practiced by all within the empire. These include Taoism, Buddhism and Confucianism. Wu-Ch’Êng-Ên is able to depict all of these religions in his novel which is considered a traditional Chinese folk tale “A journey to the West” or also known as “Monkey.” This folk novel depicts the main character Monkey and his journey through life and then later including that of a Buddhist monk Tripitaka, Pigsy and Sandy. All are considered to be examples of human characteristics and flaws of human character, yet all are on a pilgrimage which will ultimately transform their character. Each journey and section of the novel incorporates different aspects of each of the religions which eventually prove to be intertwined in order to attain success and balance.

Ang Lee’s Crouching tiger Hidden Dragon is probably one of the most successful foreign films to ever be screened in America. Being the number one film of the year in 2000. On the other hand it was reportedly considered a flop in China. While it was influenced by American film styles, it still kept true to many aspects of its Chinese film heritage. With very apparent love story, it lacked the Extreme amount of Kung Fu fight scenes eastern audiences have come to enjoy. This is a stunning love story between a monk and widow. While it does have its share of over the top fight scenes, when you start to dig deeper the films many social implications become apparent. With ties to subjects such as religion, martial arts, philosophy, love, and even gender issues. This film is a representation of the modern era and how long practiced traditions are being challenged. Each character and plot line allows a glimpse into the Social and Traditional understanding of a culture.

In the early Eastern Han dynasty in the first century A.D. ruled by Emperor Ming, Buddhism and Taoism appeared in China as religions for the first time. In first century A.D. China, when Buddhism and Taoism were introduced as religions, Taoism and Buddhism shared many similar characteristics. As a result, it was difficult to differentiate between the religions in China during their first years. In Taoism, the believers follow the Tao or the Way, in which they live their life following nature. In Buddhism, believers aim to reach Nirvana and end the cycle of rebirths.