Monkey: A Folk Novel of China Summary

Journey to the West, or Monkey, was written by Wu Ch'eng-en during the Ming dynasty in China. It is loosely based on the historical journey of a monk named Hsuan Tsang, who went to India in the 7th century in search of Buddhist scrolls and scriptures. In this story, the monk, named Tripitaka, undergoes eighty-one trials during his journey with his three disciples (Monkey, Pigsy, and Sandy) and his horse. Throughout their arduous travels, the pilgrims receive celestial and earthly help from several sources, leading to their eventual success and return to Heaven.