The Monkey King’s Amazing Adventures: A Journey to the West in Search of Enlightenment. China’s Most Famous Traditional Novel

This classic Chinese epic features a new introduction by Daniel Kane, Head of Chinese Studies at Macquarie University and Cultural Counselor at the Australian Embassy in Beijing in 1996.

China’s most famous traditional novel, The Monkey King’s Amazing Adventures is the story of the Monkey Kinghis incredible origin and downfall, and his epic quest to redeem himself with his trusted companions, as they face fantastic foes, demons, and monsters and have amazing adventures in their travels to the Western paradise.

No matter what obstacle was put before him, the talented, wily Monkey King always got what he wantedunimaginable strength, eternal life, even a position in the Celestial Realm with the gods. But more than anything else, the Monkey King loved mischief and rule-breaking, and he was sure that he was the most powerful creature in the world.

But after defeat and punishment, the Monkey King found himself wanting some things he never expectedto be good enough and have the discipline to help the monk Xuanzang on his mission to bring Buddhist Scripturesand enlightenmentto China.

Readers will thrill to Timothy Richard’s retelling of the Monkey King’s exploitshe never disappoints, whether in the Dragon King’s underwater castle, the Halls of the Dead, or the palace of Buddha himselfand find themselves captivated as he joins Xuanzang and his other trusted companions, the Dragon Horse, the Monk Sand, and the equally mischievous Pig on the dangerous trek West.

About the Author

Timothy Richard traveled to China in 1868 as a Baptist missionary. When other missionaries were attempting to stamp out the popular local tales of gods and heroes such as The Monkey King’s Amazing Adventures, Thomas Richard championed them for the universal messages of spiritual challenge and growth they contain. He is also the author of Forty-five Years in China.

Daniel Kane is the Head of Chinese from the University of Melbourne and holds a Ph.D. from the Australian National University. He was visiting scholar at the Department of Chinese at Peking University in 1988 and 1993 and Cultural Counselor at the Australian Embassy in Beijing in 1996.