An in-depth analysis of the original work of Journey to the West

Answer 1

The original novel of Journey to the West had many deep meanings.

** 1. Character Creation and Relationship **

1. ** Sun Wukong **
- He had a high-profile personality. Ever since he started learning magic, he had displayed an extraordinary spirit of enterprise. After mastering magic and divine powers, he occupied the mountain and became king. Later on, he entered the deep sea and went to hell to forcefully eliminate his death. All of these showed his rebellion and boldness. After he became an official, he called himself the Great Sage Equal to Heaven because he was dissatisfied with his low official position. He disturbed the Feast of Peaches, stole Laojun Pills, and made a scene in the Heavenly Palace, which reflected his character of not fearing authority and pursuing freedom and equality.
- Regarding Sun Wukong's background, there was a view that he might have been created by Buddha, which added mystery to his origins and hinted at his special position in the entire Buddhist layout.
2. ** Tang Monk **
- His life was full of twists and turns, and many disasters. The book only mentioned that his father had been the top scholar but was killed by a traitor. After his mother gave birth to him, she abandoned him in the river. Fortunately, he was rescued by Elder Faming of Jinshan Temple and became a monk eighteen years later. He was low-key and obscure, forming a sharp contrast with Sun Wukong. The reason why Tang Sanzang went to the West to learn Buddhist scriptures was not only to promote Buddhism on the surface, but there might be more complicated motives behind it.
3. ** Relationship between Maitreya Buddha and Tathagata Buddha **
- In the original work, the Tathagata did not refer specifically to Shakyamuni. "Tathagata" was a respectful title for Buddhas who grasped the truth, including Shakyamuni. As the last disciple of Sakyamuni and the "future Buddha," Maitreya did not strictly obey the control of Tathagata in Journey to the West. This was because from the perspective of grasping the truth, Maitreya could also be called "Tathagata." This kind of relationship led the Jade Emperor to want to rope in Maitreya Buddha to obtain the support of Buddhist forces. Maitreya Buddha also knew how to use administrative means. Being close to the Jade Emperor did not hinder his status as the Future Buddha. If his subordinate, the yellow-browed boy, created something like the Little Western Paradise, Maitreya Buddha could bear the corresponding price.
4. ** The relationship between Monk Sand and the Jade Emperor **
- Some people believed that Monk Sand had a gay relationship with the Jade Emperor when he was a curtain-rolling general in the Heavenly Court. If this relationship was true, it would have a unique interpretation of Monk Sand's change in status in the Heavenly Court, his descent to the world as a demon, and his performance in the team.
5. ** Marshal Zhu Bajie **
- His predecessor might have been Houyi. This background setting made the image of Zhu Bajie more complicated. His journey from Marshal Tianpeng to the pig demon to the Buddhist monk might have a potential connection with his previous experience as Houyi.

6. ** Patriarch Subhuti's Identity **
- Some people believed that Patriarch Bodhi's true identity was Buddha. If this identity was confirmed, then Sun Wukong's learning process might be part of Buddha's secret plan. It had far-reaching significance for understanding Sun Wukong's growth and the game between Buddhism and the Heavenly Court.

7. ** Taishang Laojun **
- There was a saying that the Grand Supreme Elderly Lord had an illegitimate child. Although this statement was somewhat shocking, if it was true, it would have a special significance for understanding the internal relations of the Heavenly Court and the complexity of the Daoist immortal system.

** 2. Space-time settings **

1. ** The Reincarnation Setting of the Journey to the West Universe **
- Every time a period of time passed, the world would return to chaos and then restart. Every reincarnation was one yuan (129,600 years), and one yuan was divided into twelve sessions (one session was 18,000 years). From the end of the Xu Assembly to the Hai Assembly, the world experienced a state of darkness, darkness, chaos, and so on. After that, another cycle began. In the middle stage of the Zi meeting, there would be the sun, moon, and stars (the sky opened in the Zi); in the Chou meeting, there would be water, soil, rocks, and stones to form the earth (the earth opened in the Chou); in the Yin meeting, there would be all things, humans, beasts, and birds (humans were born in the Yin). This kind of space-time setting provided a grand background framework for various events in the story. Different events might have an intrinsic connection with specific space-time stages.
2. ** Formation of the Four Great Continents **
- Under the background of the creation of Pangu, the rule of the Three Emperors, and the Five Emperors, the four continents were formed: the East Victory Divine Continent, the West Ox River Continent, the South Zhanbu Continent, and the North Julu Continent. The Flower-Fruit Mountain of the Aolai Nation in the Eastern Victory Divine Continent had a special geographical location and magical place. The immortal stone gave birth to Sun Wukong, which also hinted at the connection between the uniqueness of the place where Sun Wukong was born and his extraordinary fate.

Watching Journey to the West: Sun Wukong Beats the White Bone Demon Three Times is not enough. Everyone is welcome to click to read the novel!