1. Liu Ge’s evaluation of Journey to the West

“Journey to the West” is a work that aims to save the fallen human heart and spirit; Works based on greedy themes.

2. Zhang Shushen’s evaluation of Journey to the West

From beginning to end, the book "Journey to the West" talks about the importance of sincerity and correctness of heart, and the new and perfect learning. There is not a single word about immortality. Buddha's sexual misconduct. Or ask what kind of book "Journey to the West" is? It is indeed a wonderful and wonderful article.

3. Hu Shi’s evaluation of Journey to the West

"Journey to the West" is at most an interesting comic novel and a mythological novel; it does not have any subtle meaning; A bit of an abusive cynicism. This point of cynicism is also very clear; it does not hide it, and we do not need to dig deep.

4. Lu Xun’s evaluation of Journey to the West

Although the author is a Confucian scholar, this book is really a game, not a talk. Therefore, there are only occasional talks about the Five Elements creating and restraining each other in the book, especially the In studying Buddhism, there are absurd and nonsensical scriptures at the end of the chapter, which are caused by mixed teachings and have been popular for a long time. Therefore, his writings are in the same vein as Sakyamuni and Laojun, and the true nature and the original god are mixed, so that the followers of the three religions, Everyone has to follow suit.

Extended information:

The historical prototype of "Journey to the West"

In the first year of Zhenguan (627 years) of Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty, the 25-year-old monk Xuanzang was from Tianzhu (India) Study tour on foot. After setting off from Chang'an, he passed through Central Asia, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, going through many hardships and obstacles, and finally arrived in India.

Study there for more than two years and served as the keynote speaker at a large-scale debate on Buddhist scriptures and received praise. In the 19th year of Zhenguan (645), Xuanzang returned to Chang'an and brought back 657 Buddhist scriptures, which caused a sensation. Later, Xuanzang's oral account of his journey to the West was compiled into twelve volumes of "The Records of the Western Regions of the Tang Dynasty" by his disciple Bianji. But this book mainly tells the history, geography and transportation of the countries seen on the road, without any stories.

When it comes to the "Biography of Master Tripitaka of Daci'en Temple in the Tang Dynasty" written by his disciples Huili and Yancong, it adds a lot of mythological color to Xuanzang's experience. From then on, the story of Tang Monk's Buddhist scriptures began It is widely spread among Chinese people.

The Southern Song Dynasty has "The Tripitaka of the Tang Dynasty's Searching for Buddhist Scriptures", the Jin Dynasty version has "The Tripitaka of the Tang Dynasty", "Peach Club", etc., and the Yuan Dynasty dramas include Wu Changling's "The Tripitaka of the Tang Dynasty's Searching for Buddhist Scriptures from the West", and the unknown person's "Erlang Shensuo" "The Great Sage Qi" and so on, all of which laid the foundation for the creation of "Journey to the West". It was on the basis of Chinese folklore, scripts and operas that Wu Chengen completed this literary masterpiece after painstaking re-creation.

Wu Chengen (disputed), the author of "Journey to the West" from the Ming Dynasty, lived in the middle and late Ming Dynasty and went through five periods: Xiaozong Hongzhi, Wuzong Zhengde, Shizong Jiajing, Mu Zonglongqing, and Shenzong Wanli.

Baidu Encyclopedia-Journey to the West