Journey to the West is a mythologi-cal novel based on many centuriesof popular tradition. It was probably putinto its present form in the 15708 byWu Cheng'en （1500-82）.This lively fantasy relates theamazing adventures of the priest San-zang as he travels west in search ofBuddhist sutras with his three disci-ples， the irreverent and capable Mon-key， greedy Pig， and Friar Sand. Theopening chapters recount the earlierexploits of Monkey， culminating in hisrebellion against Heaven. We thenlearn how Sanzang became a monkand was sent on his pilgrimage by theTang emperor who had escaped deathwith the help of an Underworld official.The main story， the journey， takes thepriest through all kinds of entertainingtrials and tribulations， mainly at thehands of monsters and spirits whowant to eat him. Only the courageand powers of his disciples， especiallyMonkey， save him from death. Monkeyis the hero of the fantasy， and the read-er will soon learn why he has long beenso loved in China. Will the pilgrimsreach the Vulture Peak and obtain thescriptures？ The answer will only befound at the end of the lOO-chapternovel.The story is as full of imaginationas Monkey is of magic， and packedwith incident and down-to-earth hu-mour. The illustrations are from 19th-century Chinese edition. This is the firstof the three volumes of the novel.Jacket drawing by： Wei Wei
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