The author of Journey to the West was the Ming Dynasty novelist Wu Chengen. Wu Chengen lived at the end of the Ming Dynasty and wrote Journey to the West, which was one of the most important works in the history of Chinese literature. Journey to the West was based on the story of Xuanzang, a monk of the Tang Dynasty, who traveled westward to obtain the scriptures. It told the story of Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie, Monk Sha, and Tang Sanzang (otherwise known as the "Journey to the West"), who finally obtained the scriptures after 81 difficulties. There was little information about Wu Chengen's life, but he was one of the famous novelists of the Ming Dynasty. His works had a far-reaching influence on the development of Chinese literature. Wu Chengen had held many official positions, but because his novels were strongly opposed by the society at that time, his works were not officially recognized or widely disseminated. Journey to the West was regarded as a classic in the history of Chinese literature and had a profound influence on Chinese culture. It is not only a novel, but also a cultural treasure. It contains rich ideas and philosophy, and is regarded as one of the treasure houses of Chinese culture.