Why was it said that Journey to the West praised Taoism and belittled Buddhism?
"Journey to the West" does not explicitly praise or belittle any religion. It is a fictional novel that tells the story of Tang Sanzang and his four disciples going to the West to obtain scriptures. Buddhism and Taoism both played important roles in the novel, but the plot and characters were not judged based on any religious belief. The main characters in Journey to the West had their own backgrounds and personalities. Their actions and decisions were influenced by their own values and beliefs. For example, as a Buddhist character, Sun Wukong abided by Buddhist teachings to protect Tang Sanzang and his disciples, but when he encountered difficulties, he would also use some Taoist methods to solve the problem. The plot and storyline of Journey to the West were very complicated, involving many different elements and topics, including adventure, love, power struggle, moral education, and so on. Therefore, it did not simply praise or belittle any religion. Instead, it showed the interaction and exchange between many cultures and beliefs in a creative and imaginative way.