Journey to the West

Biodata

Background

The Dao Ancestor decreed that the Western Religious Sect should initiate the Journey to the West and spread Mahayana Buddhist Dharma eastward. Jieyin and Zunti regarded its success as the key to their sect’s promised prosperity. They assigned Guanyin to bring forward the birth of the stone monkey destined to play a crucial part in it 127.

The Western Religious Sect and Heavenly Court had planned the journey’s characters and ordeals in advance. Their intended opening called for Sun Wukong to wreak havoc in Heaven, spend five hundred years suppressed beneath the Five Elements Mountain, and then join the westward pilgrimage 189. Later planned trials were meant to temper the pilgrims or give Buddhism opportunities to intervene and gain influence 237 248.

Story Role and Major Arcs

Planned Tribulations

• Wuzhuang Temple — Tathagata expected Wukong to damage the Ginseng Fruit tree, Zhenyuanzi to capture the pilgrims, and Guanyin to restore the tree with Three Lights Divine Water. Instead, Zhenyuanzi submits to Xiruan 237.
• White Tiger Ridge — The White Bone Demon’s disguises were intended to drive a wedge between Tang Sanzang and Wukong, allowing Buddhism to mediate. The party instead welcomes the White Bone Spirit and discusses helping her 248 249.
• Red Boy — Guanyin anticipates a trial involving Red Boy’s Samadhi True Fire; he instead uses it to heat Tang Sanzang’s cupping therapy 294.
• Lady Earthflow — The planned ordeal was meant to involve Li Jing and prolong the pilgrims’ difficulties. Xiruan overpowers Lady Earthflow and has her cave demolished 439 443.

Key Figures

• Jieyin and Zunti — Western Religious Sect Saints who seek the prosperity promised through the journey and direct its initial preparations 127.
• Tathagata Buddha — Oversees the sect’s planned tribulations, but repeatedly has to respond to departures from the script 189 193 237 248.
• Guanyin — Tasked with preparing the stone monkey and recruiting scripture seekers; she also monitors and plans interventions in later trials 127 196 237 248.
• Tang Sanzang — The party’s nominal leader, whose Great Qin military role and martial abilities differ from the pilgrim Guanyin expected 196 198 199 202.
• Sun Wukong — A destined scripture seeker who becomes loyal to Xiruan and serves as the party’s principal fighter 127 134 155 202.
• Xiruan — The party’s behind-the-scenes commander; her protection of Wukong and interventions in the ordeals repeatedly overturn the Western Religious Sect’s plans 134 195 202 309.