monkey the journey to the west pdf

Paperback: 15.1 x 1.4 x 22.8 cm Publisher: Shambhala Pages: 224 pages ISBN-13: 978-1590302583 ISBN-10: 1590302583

Monkey: A Journey to the West

Part spiritual pilgrimage, part historical epic, the folk novel Journey to the West , which came to be known as Monkey, is the most popular classic of Asian literature. Originally written in the sixteenth century, it is the story of the adventures of the rogue-trickster Monkey and his encounters with a bizarre cast of characters as he travels to India with the Buddhist pilgrim Tripitaka in search of sacred scriptures. Much more than a picaresque adventure novel, Monkey is a profound allegory of the struggle that must occur before spiritual transformation is possible. David Kherdian’s masterful telling brings this classic of Chinese literature to life in a way that is true to the scope and depth of the original.

Reviews and Endorsements

“Cosmic kung fu on the scale of Star Wars! China’s favorite rip-roaring morality tale has everything—including, here, a brilliant rendition by David Kherdian. It’s charming and utterly delightful.” —Huston Smith, author of The World’s Religions

“David Kherdian retells the ancient Chinese allegory poetically and precisely. Monkey (who represents our restless intelligence)—helped by other humorful and energetic demons—guides master Monk (the searching ego) towards self-insights in the Zen-Taoist tradition. A great read!” —Janwillem van de Wetering, author of A Glimpse of Nothingness

Journey to the West Research

A repository for research on the great 16th-century chinese classic, archive #42 – pdfs of journey to the west translations.

Note : My blog is not monetized, so I am not making any money from this post. My hope is that the PDFs will make this legendary story more accessible to a wider audience. If you enjoyed the digital versions, please, please, please support the official releases.

Last updated : 08-17-2023

I’m happy to host a number of foreign language translations of the noted Chinese classic Journey to the West  ( Xiyouji ,  西遊記 , 1592 CE). This archive currently houses the following editions:

• French (only part two of two)
• Italian (see below)

As of this writing, I don’t yet have a modern Japanese translation. But you can read an original copy of the 1835 translation here .

I have also  included translations of the unofficial sequel, A Supplement to the Journey to the West ( Xiyoubu , 西遊補 , 1640), in the following languages:

I will add more languages to this archive as they become available. Please let me know if you have access to other editions.

Journey to the West ( Xiyouji )

1.a. complete.

1) This is a PDF for The Journey to the West (2012 Rev. ed.) translated by Anthony C. Yu.

Archive #11 – PDFs of the Journey to the West 2012 Revised Edition

2) This is a text PDF for Journey to the West (1993/2020) translated by W. J. F. Jenner.

Click to access Wu-Chengen-Journey-to-the-West-4-Volume-Boxed-Set-2003.pdf

The four-volume box set in my collection ( larger version ).

1.B. Abridged

1) This is a PDF for Monkey (1942/1984) translated by Arthur Waley in 30 chapters (1 to 15, 18 and 19, 22, 37 to 39, 44 to 46, 47 to 49, and 98 to 100). See  past book covers here .

Click to access Wu-Chengen_-Arthur-Waley-Monkey-Grove-Press-1984.pdf

2) This is a PDF for The Monkey and the Monk (2006): An Abridgement of The Journey to the West  translated by Anthony C. Yu in 31 chapters (1 to 15, 18 and 19, 22 and 23, 44 to 46, 53 to 55, 57 and 58, 84, and 98 to 100)

Click to access Anthony-C.-Yu-The-Monkey-and-the-Monk_-An-Abridgment-of-The-Journey-to-the-West-2006.pdf

The official cover ( larger version )

1.C. Audio Drama

I just learned of “The Fifth Monkey” and their Journey to the West – An Audio Drama Series , which presents a new English translation alongside the original Chinese . They explain:

One reason that led our team to start this audio drama project is to correct some of the mistranslations found in the Yu/Jenner translations. Most of them are very minor and we certainly understand what could have led to those mistakes, but we think it is worth exploring how we can help bring a more accurate presentation of the original text in the English language ( source ).

• Patreon (They post most regularly here)

The official logo ( larger version ).

This is a PDF for volume two (of two) for La Pérégrination vers l’Ouest (Xiyou ji) (1991) translated by André Lévy in 100 chapters. I was told by one French academic that this edition “is one of the best available in Western languages.” Hopefully I will find a PDF for volume one in the future.

Thank you to jyeet on the Journey to the West discord for locating the file.

Vol. 1 – [NOT YET AVAILABLE]

Vol. 2 – https://journeytothewestresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/French-JTTW-la-peregrination-vers-louest-Vol-2.pdf

The original two-volume boxed edition ( larger version ). Image found here .

This is a PDF for Die Reise in den Westen. Ein klassischer chinesischer Roman (2016) t ranslated by Eva Lüdi Kong in 100 chapters. It was awarded the Leipzig Book Fair prize in 2017. This version was converted from an ebook.

Click to access German-JTTW-Die-Reise-in-den-Westen.pdf

4. Hungarian

These are text PDFs for Nyugati utazás: avagy a majomkirály története (1969/1980) translated by Barnabás Csongor in two volumes. While the work covers the full 100 chapters, I’ve been told that it deletes the poems and occasionally paraphrases long-winded sections of text.

Thank you to Twitter user Jakabfi Károly for locating the files.

Vol 1 – https://journeytothewestresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Hungarian-JTTW-Nyugati-Utazas-Vol-1.pdf

Vol 2 – https://journeytothewestresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Hungarian-JTTW-Nyugati-Utazas-Vol-2.pdf

The official covers for volumes one and two ( larger version ). Image found here .

[ Note 10-19-23 : I was asked to remove the PDF from the archive per the publisher. I’m leaving the title here so others will know an Italian translation exists.]

The Italian text is called Viaggio in occidente (1998/2008) . It was translated by Serafino Balduzzi and published in two volumes. It is based on the French edition published in 1991. The work covers all 100 chapters.

This is a PDF for Małpi bunt (1976) translated by Tadeusz Żbikowski. It is a 14 chapter abridgement of the first 20 chapters of the original.

Thank you to Twitter user Friend_Pretend for locating the file.

Click to access Polish-JTTW-Malpi-bunt-1976.pdf

The official cover ( larger version ).

7. Romanian

This is a text PDF for Călătorie spre soare – a pune (1971) translated by Corneliu Rudescu and Fănică N. Gheorghe. It appears to be an abridgment.

Thank you to greencicadarchivist on the Journey to the West discord for locating the file.

Click to access Romanian-JTTW-U_Ceng_En_Calatorie_Spre_Soare_Apune_pdf.pdf

11. Vietnamese

This is a text PDF for Tây Du Ký translated by Như Sơn, Mai Xuân Hải, and Phương Oanh. The 100 chapters were originally split between 10 volumes and published from 1982 to 1988. The volumes were later transcribed and combined to make a single eBook via an online community in 2013 ( see here ). I have converted it into a PDF.

Click to access Vietnamese-JTTW-Tay-Du-Ky.pdf

The covers for the original ten volumes ( larger version ). Image found here .

A Supplement to the Journey to the West ( Xiyoubu )

A) This is a PDF for Further Adventures on the Journey to the West – Master of Silent Whistle Studio (2020) translated by Qianchng Li and Robert E. Hegel.

Click to access Further-Adventures-on-the-Journey-to-the-West-Master-of-Silent-Whistle-Studio-2020.pdf

B) This is a PDF for Tower of Myriad Mirrors: A Supplement to Journey to the West (2000) translated by Shuen-fu Lin and Larry J. Schulz. This version was converted from Mobi.

Click to access English-Xiyoubu-Lin-Shuen-fu_Dong-Yue-Schulz-Tung-Yueh-The-tower-of-myriad-mirrors_-a-supplement-to-Journey-to-the-West.pdf

2. Hungarian

This is a text PDF for Ami a nyugati utazásból kimaradt  (1957/1980) translated by Barnabás Csongor.

My thanks again to Twitter user Jakabfi Károly.

Click to access Hungarian-Xiyoubu-tung_jue_ami_a_nyugati_utazasbol_kimaradt.pdf

Update : 08-17-23

I forgot to mention that I have previously archived two other Chinese classics. The first is Creation of the Gods ( Fengshen yanyi , 封神演義 , c. 1620; a.k.a. Investiture of the Gods ), a sort of prequel to JTTW.

Archive #17 – PDFs of Creation of the Gods Library of Chinese Classics Chinese-English Bilingual Edition (Vols. 1-4)

The second is Journey to the South  ( Nanyouji ,  南遊記 , c. 1570s-1580s). This is NOT a direct sequel to JTTW. It instead follows the adventures of a martial god from Chinese folk religion. However, Sun Wukong makes a guest appearance in chapters one and seventeen.

Archive #40 – Journey to the South (Nanyouji) English Translation PDF

These have been posted for educational purposes. No malicious copyright infringement is intended. If you enjoyed the digital versions, please support the official releases.

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4 thoughts on “ archive #42 – pdfs of journey to the west translations ”.

Happened to came across your blog. Can’t stop reading the posts. Love them. Please keep up the good work man.

Anyway, what do you think of the Lovell’s translation? Have you written about it?

I’m currently reading Jenner’s version. Enjoying so far. It is FAR more readable than Anthony Yu’s (which I tried and couldn’t finish for many reasons, I.e. footnotes are too distracting, clunky prose, namings that I don’t particulary prefer like ‘Eight Rules’ instead of just Bajie etc)

Thank you for the kind words. I actually haven’t read Lovell’s translation. But I do agree that Jenner’s version is more fun to read than Yu’s.

Has “The Later Journey to the West” been translated yet? If not, do you plan to translate it yourself or find someone to translate it for you? I’m interested in delving into this installment.

It has not been translated in full. But it has been discussed at length in the following book:

Liu, X. (1994). The Odyssey of the Buddhist Mind: The Allegory of the Later Journey to the West. Lanham, Md: University Press of America.

I don’t consider myself a translator, so I don’t have plans to translate it.

Monkey – Journey to the West

Article by jim pang.

posted by UK, June 10, 2019

The original Chinese novel, Journey to the West or Xiyou Ji (Chinese: 西游記), literally means ‘West-Wandering Chronicles’ and was written by Wu Cheng’en (吴承恩)in the 16th century. It is one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. The writer was inspired by the true story of a Buddhist monk, Xuanzang (玄奘),from the Tang dynasty (7th – 10th century), who made a solitary pilgrimage to Central Asia and India in search of the original scriptures of Buddha’s teachings. His journey lasted 15 years and resulted in him bringing back 657 Sanskrit texts to China.

The aim of this ‘Journey to the West’ was to reach Vulture Peak and acquire the true scriptures. Buddha, dispirited that “the land of the South knows only greed, hedonism, promiscuity and sins”, instructed the Bodhisattva Guanyin (Avalokiteśvara) to search China for a champion who would bring the Buddhist sutras of wisdom back to the East.

The quest is headed by the main character Tripitaka (the Buddhist monk Xuanzang). On his journey he is guided by Guanyin who inspires an entourage of intrepid travelers to gather around him and agree to serve him as disciples along the journey in order to atone for their sins in past lives. Only with such companionship could Tripitaka take on such a perilous journey. On the way, Tripitaka and his companions face countless adversities and trials as they encounter monsters, ogres, and demons.

Tripitaka or Tang Sanzang (唐三藏):The Three Baskets)

Although he is helpless when it comes to protecting himself, he has the support of his three disciples, Monkey, Pigsy and Sandy. With the help of local inhabitants they help him fight off countless monsters and demons who want to eat his flesh to gain immortality.

Tripitaka’s name refers to the “three baskets” of Buddhist teachings. In the story he represents the triad or higher self, the earth element which symbolizes the ‘heart’. The demons in the story want to eat his ‘pure’ heart which will give them purity to make an elixir of longevity. The kanji character for heart (心) has a dual meaning in Chinese: heart and also mind. He is always trying to be present in the moment – so that his mind and his heart will not be disturbed by the chaotic elements around him. The demons refer to thoughts and emotions that constantly interrupt his efforts. When one tries to be present, the lower self (the demons) will do everything they can to disturb this.

Monkey – Sūn Wùkōng (孫悟空) – means “Monkey Awakened to Emptiness”. It refers to the Buddhist concept of Śūnyatā or the attainment of enlightenment. Awakening to emptiness is to let go of the trappings of the illusory world.

Monkey is by far the novel’s most iconic character. He has a childlike playfulness with a cunning mind. This, coupled with his great power, makes him a trickster hero with a heart of gold. He also has the human fallibility of being greedy, selfish and prone to sudden changes of mood and outbursts of violence. He represents the quality of “rajas”.

Pigsy – Zhū Bājiè (豬八戒: lit. “Pig of the Eight Precepts”) – refers to the eight Buddhist precepts he needs to live by to keep him on a Buddhist path. However, he is greedy, lazy and at the slightest difficulty he wants to quit the journey and go back to the comfortable life he had before. He represents the vices of the lower self and the bodily desires. He represents the quality of “tamas”.

Sandy the Water Demon – Shā Wùjìng (沙悟凈: lit. “Sand Awakened to Purity”) – is a quiet but generally dependable character known to be the most obedient, logical, polite and level-headed. He represents the quality of “Sattva”.

The esoteric and exoteric meaning

The Journey to the West is an esoteric text with many hidden symbolic meanings related to the path of spiritual cultivation, the control of the senses and the lower self, and the principles of self-realization that lead to the discovery of the Real Self. Tripitaka’s disciples are all fallen immortals who have been reincarnated into a world where they have to follow a path of redemption to discover their true selves.

The outer meaning of the story concerns the adventures of the characters, their trials and tribulations, plots, schemes and victories over adversity. It serves an equally important role of providing access to the teachings from all walks of life. I invite you all to take a leap with a Monkey Mind into the journey to the west.

Image Credits: By Wikimedia Commons | CC BY-SA 3.0

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The Journey to the West, Revised Edition, Volume 2

Translated and Edited by Anthony C. Yu

432 pages | 6 x 9 | © 2012

Asian Studies: East Asia

Literature and Literary Criticism: Asian Languages

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