Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction 4 - 7 2018 | Page 182

Buddhism. He travels westward with his three disciples, including Sun Wukong, a powerful and impulsive
monkey; Zhu Bajie, a strong and greedy pig; and Sha Wujin, a loyal and shy friar, encountering countless
monsters and beasts along the way. The four adventurers each symbolizes an element of the human soul, the
story itself also reflects different political and cultural climate of ancient China, making it one of the most
famous tales of all times.
But now it may not be a fantasy at all.
According to history, Xuanzang visited Nalanda first in 637 CE and then again in 642 CE, spending a total
of around two years at the monastery. He studied under the guidance and teachings of Śīlabhadra, the head
of the institution at that time. Besides studying Buddhism, he also studied grammar, logic, and Sanskrit
translations.
In the story, the 3 characters were said to be made gods in Heaven after fulfilling their humble duties to
deliver the s