Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Non-Fiction 2018 | Page 38

New Journeys To The West
St Paul's Convent School, Lam, Lai Ting Lydia - 14
T
here are a lot of interpretations about the Journey to the West. Some of these interpretations may
illustrate the book as a promotion to the well-known Buddha Dharma, and some may think that it
is an adventure story with some sickening monsters flashing in and out of the exciting story.
However, I have a different interpretation. In the Journey to the West, various characters play a divergent
and significant role which brings out the theme of dystopia, a socially undesirable and politically frightening
society.
The implications of the characters’ action
Firstly, in many people’s eyes, Xuanzang is a kind monk. He devoutly promotes sutra and loves. However,
his kindness and piety are too obsessed that he cannot distinguish right or wrong and always put himself in
dangerous and fatal situations. For example, when Xuanzang, the Monkey King, the Talking Pig and the
Friar Sand settle down in the mountain, Xuanzang orders the Monkey King to find some food to eat.
When the Monkey King leaves, they spot a girl with a bowl of rice. Later, the Monkey King kills the girl
and tells them she is disguised by the White-bone Demon. However, Xuanzang does not believe what the
Monkey King says and gives it the incantation of the golden hoop. Even when Xuanzang is shown to know
truth, he only believes in himself and ignore others. Hence, this character actually satirizes people who are
narcissist, self-centred and being very naive even though they are in the lion’s mouth.
Secondly, the Monkey King gives us an impression of a frisky and kittenish hero. In the story, the Monkey
King often causes havoc at the heavenly palace and challenges the Jade Emperor and Buddha. Also, he
disagrees to every judgement made by them too. These undoubtedly make the baronages and the Jade
Emperor overwhelmed by the mess. Yet, the Monkey King has leadership ability. As the Monkey King is a
reincarnation of gallantry, it kills all the bogeys in their journey. Besides, he is the leader of all resourceful
decisions. For example, when Xuanzang, the monkey king, the talking pig and the friar come across the
monsters, the Monkey King is the one who comes up with the solutions and leads the team to follow suit all
the time.
As a whole, Xuanzang manifests the brutal and absolute king while the Monkey King metaphorizes the
rebellion against the oppression and cataclysm.
The worship of the beasts
In the Journey to the West, all the beasts want to eat children in order to own a forever lasting life. Have
you ever wondered how they know that work? The answer is pretty shocking: from the gods and
goddesses. Immortals devour ginseng fruit which helps them grow like children and their purposes are
exactly the same as the beasts. Therefore, the beasts and the immortals are definitely equivalent. However,
Xuanzang praises and worships the gods and goddesses. Then, what is the difference between revering the
beasts and worshipping the gods or the goddesses?
In conclusion, Xuanzang does not only worship the better looking and grow no more or less like human
beings gods and goddesses but also praise and uphold those Satans and fiends. Therefore, it seems no noble
creatures are found in the novel.