Journey to the West is a Chinese novel of the Ming dynasty, traditionally credited to Wu Cheng'en, and appeared in print in the late sixteenth century. It is a fantastical retelling of the real pilgrimage of the Tang monk Xuanzang, who travelled to India to obtain Buddhist scriptures. In the novel he is accompanied by the unruly Monkey King Sun Wukong, the greedy Zhu Bajie and the river spirit Sha Wujing, and they overcome eighty-one trials against demons and monsters. The book blends adventure, comedy, folklore and religion, and is counted among China's Four Great Classical Novels. Its characters remain popular throughout East Asia.
Before and after
- from 16th century to 18th centuryBaroque
- from 7 May 1590 to 30 August 1590Siege of Paris
- 13 July 1590Birth of Clement X
- 1591Construction of Rialto Bridge
- 1592Publication of Journey to the West
- 15 January 1592Birth of Shah Jahan
- from 23 May 1592 to 16 December 1598Japanese invasions of Korea
- 8 July 1592Battle of Hansan Island
- from May 1593 to March 1603Nine Years' War
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The era
This moment belongs to the Early modern world (1500 CE to 1760 CE), voyages, printing and new ideas. You can also browse everything in the 16th century.