Today I am inspired by one of the greatest Chinese literature in history: Journey to the West. If you are unfamiliar, this household legend and mythical story is told and retold throughout East Asia, especially China. The story is based on a real life monk’s pilgrimage to India to retrieve Buddhist scriptures during the great Tang Dynasty. Nonetheless, this fictional retelling focuses on Tang SanZang’s journey towards the west along with his four disciples. For those who are already familiar with the story but cannot remember other than Sun WuKong, Zhu BaJie and Sha WuJing, who is the fourth disciple? Look at this picture below. The painting is a decoration on the Long Corridor in the Summer Palace in Beijing, China. This photograph was taken by Rolf Müller on April 17, 2005.
Why is this novel such a captivating read? It is filled with life lessons and as well as Buddhist teachings from the difficulties the group faced on their journey to the west. The story is saturated with magic, overflowed with demons, demi-gods, immortals and deities- a scrumptious writing of adventure and action. Who can resist the wonder of such literature? Not me. I cannot find the source of this picture below, but I found this modern interpretation rather alluring. Let us use the initial names of the characters from now on to ease my fingers… Tang (SanZang), Sun (WuKong), Zhu (BaJie), Sha (WuJing) and Yu (Long).
Sun is mighty and well-known to possess power so as to wreck havoc in heaven, which he did five hundred years before he became disciple to Tang. He could easily somersault in his cloud which travels over a distance of 108000 li (1 li equates to around 0.5 km). Despite, he walked on foot with the rest of the group. Yes, he walked. He could fly, but he walked together.
Every member in the team has their strengths, which comes along with their significant weaknesses. Many times through the story, members of the group fought among themselves. Most often than not, they all pull through hurdles together after resolving their differences.
Sun’s most prominent personality trait is bravery and fearlessness. He is defiant and bold and often seen as a bully because of his prowess. His confidence leads him to become arrogant, egoistic and insensitive. Sun has a ferocious temper and assumes to lead without communication, as shown in his insistence of slaying the White Bone Demoness when she was in disguise as an old lady. He believes in himself and thinks he is always right.
Zhu is the comic relief in the story. He is extremely humorous. When it comes to fighting, he is second to Sun despite being far behind in terms of skill. Despite helping out a lot on the journey, at many times he was proven or shown as being reluctant. Zhu is the most colourful and interesting character in the story, second only to Sun. Fundamentally, he represents and symbolises man’s mundane desires and shortcomings. Not forgetting, what Sun lacks, Zhu possesses, such as the ability to fight in water.
Sha is often said to have zero personality. However, I find that untrue. He is shown as the weaker fighter as out of Sun and Zhu. As compared to Sun and Zhu, Sha has a bland, pale and tasteless personality. However, he is the only one who gets worried sick all the time whenever his master goes missing. His love for everybody is his greatest virtue. He is hardworking, diligent, honest and simple.
Yu has common sense and occasionally helps the team through tight spots. He is often seen as a white horse and nothing more, but his role played a significant, albeit minor, part in the story. He is a support character much like Sha, who is known to carry the luggages, Yu is often seen only as a horse for Tang. He is intelligent and reserves his opinion till the final moment to save the group from danger, such as begging Zhu to go talk to Sun when Tang disowns Sun as his disciple.
Tang is a kind and compassionate monk. He is obedient to rules and prohibitions. Tang hates violence and confrontations which leads to conflict with Sun. However, he may be too compassionate for his own good. Many times demons used his weakness to trick him and almost devoured him because of his blindness to law and compassion. Tang is stubborn and unfortunately many times stupidly stubborn. The exact opposite of Zhu, Tang is extremely resilient to seduction, as proven way too many times. Or maybe he is gay.
And I thought to myself, what happened if Yu is not around? I think Sha will have a harder time with the load to carry. The group will progress at a slower rate.
What if Sha decides to leave the group? There will be no love and reminder for Sun and Zhu to be kinder towards each other. There will often be more fights. The workload for Yu will be overwhelming.
If Zhu is never around? There will be no comical relief and color to the group. Sun will take lead and have zero opposition and situation may become simply complicated.
How about Tang? If he is not around? There will be no group to begin with.
And now, Sun. How about Sun? The group will fail and die.
What if Sun is never around? The group fails.
But, Sun is flying way above and ahead to fight unseen demons. Sun is discussing the future steps with Buddha and over deities while the others are slowly on the ground making their way. What happens is that Sun is never there on the journey together by foot. Despite the much lesser hurdle, internal problems may arise, such as Zhu running away and tempted by lust. Or, Sha and Zhu do not get along and fight or worse, decides to eat Tang’s flesh for immortality.
For the team to work, all members of the team must journey together by foot. Each has their flaw and their forte. Each compliment and embellish one another. All serves one goal and one common mission. That is a true team. A team with one fighting demons in the future and ahead of the rest while leaving the rest to journey on foot is no team at all. Each member can learn to take lead in times of need, but nobody can replace each other’s role. Therefore, a journey to the west together as a team must happen.
With that, I leave you to re-imagine Journey to the West. Try to think of the same story without one character. Tell me your story.
gildon c. 