The Journey to the West, Revised Edition, Volume 2

The Journey to the West Series, Book 2

By: Anthony C. Yu

Narrated by: Brian Nishii

Listen to the legendary Chinese classic that inspired the hit game Black Myth: Wukong!

Anthony C. Yu’s translation of The Journey to the West, initially published in 1983, introduced English-speaking audiences to the classic Chinese novel in its entirety for the first time. Written in the sixteenth century, The Journey to the West tells the story of the fourteen-year pilgrimage of the monk Xuanzang, one of China’s most famous religious heroes, and his three supernatural disciples, in search of Buddhist scriptures. Throughout his journey, Xuanzang fights demons who wish to eat him, communes with spirits, and traverses a land riddled with a multitude of obstacles, both real and fantastical. An adventure rich with danger and excitement, this seminal work of the Chinese literary canon is by turns allegory, satire, and fantasy.

With over a hundred chapters written in both prose and poetry, The Journey to the West has always been a complicated and difficult text to render in English while preserving the lyricism of its language and the content of its plot. But Yu has successfully taken on the task, and in this new edition he has made his translations even more accurate and accessible. The explanatory notes are updated and augmented, and Yu has added new material to his introduction, based on his original research as well as on the newest literary criticism and scholarship on Chinese religious traditions. He has also modernized the transliterations included in each volume, using the now-standard Hanyu Pinyin romanization system. Perhaps most important, Yu has made changes to the translation itself in order to make it as precise as possible.

One of the great works of Chinese literature, The Journey to the West is not only invaluable to scholars of Eastern religion and literature, but, in Yu’s elegant rendering, also a delight for any listener.

This audiobook is expertly read by Brian Nishii, with audio engineering by Transient Audio. It was produced and published by Echo Point Books & Media, an independent bookseller in Brattleboro, Vermont.

©2012 Translated and Edited by Anthony C. Yu (P)2026 Echo Point Books & Media, LLC

YYAARRGGHH HES DONE IT AGAIN

Listening to this book gives a similar feeling to huffing the subtle aroma of gasoline at the gas station. I like it. You like it. Most people like it, yet they’ll give you strange looks for doing so.

Now, if this were a just world, Idiot and Tripitaka would face the wall for summary execution. Unfortunately, it isn’t and their wanton disregard for anything that makes just a modicum of sense or reason leads me to believe they must be part of the current presidential administration. The way those two wield incompetence like master swordsman is a sight to behold.

Like I said in my last review, this might be the greatest story ever told. Volume III will be a masterpiece I can feel it. It’s making me giddy just thinking about it.