Journey to the West: A Review of Volume Two

In the second installation of the Journey to the West, written by Wu Cheng En circa 1506-1582 and translated by Anthony C. Yu, the same group of ragtag characters is back on their divine pilgrimage to the Temple of Thunderclap in the West, distanced only by a hundred thousand of miles and numerous spirit beasts and demons that are resolute to obstruct their path.

Closely following in the events of the first volume, Sun Wu Kung, the intelligent monkey beast who once rose in ranks to Great Sage Equal to Heaven, has proven his worth and abilities to his companions. Fiercely protecting his master with his heroic yet slapstick ways, Sun Wu Kung is determined to fulfilled his divine duty of accompanying his master, Tripitaka, to expunge his sacrilegious record of past.

Many pivotal turns in the plot occurs, with many of the demons and spirit beasts that roam in the paths between the East and the West receiving news about a legend that states that if one were to consume the flesh and blood of the present incarnation of the Elder Gold Cicada, one would be able to attain longetivity and exuberance for themselves. Tripitaka, being the present incarnation of the Elder God Cicada, an individual who has followed fervently with religious piety the ways of Buddhism for ten lifetimes without ever releasing their primal yang, is now being chased closely by beasts allured to the prospect of "living as tall as Heaven." Such monsters include: The Hundred-Eyed Taoist, The Yellow Robe Demon, The White Boned Demon, The Red Bull Prince, and many more who desire a taste of the monk's blood and flesh.

The themes and morals in the text begin to change as well, as the books proves to the readers the limit of camaraderie , the respectable differences between a life of religious piety and secular thought, and the notion of ignorance that follows both inferiority and superiority. Each character follows their own moral conscience: Tripitaka becomes worrisome over their years of journeying and the toll that he has wrought over these years in the name of Buddhism, Pa Chieh developing an inferiority complex to Pilgrim Sun Wu Kung and the cowardice that begins to take place whenever confronted with adversity, Sha Monk regretting his present ordeal of accompanying the group for such lengthy years without ever receiving praise of rewards for doing so, and Sun Wu Kung realizing ignorantly too late that none of his companions possesses minds and bodies of earthly steel like he does.

Endeared with the same infallible likeliness of its predecessor, the second volume of the Journey to the West is an excellent read to those who enjoy beautiful and poetic literature.