Monkey (novel)
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Monkey: A Folk-Tale of China (1942), usually known as simply Monkey, is an abridged translation by Arthur Waley of the Chinese classic novel Journey to the West (Chinese: 西游记 Pinyin:xī yóu jì) by Wu Cheng'en. Despite being abridged, it was, for many years, by far the most accurate and complete translation of Journey to the West available in the English language. Because of this, it has been heavily cited by Western scholars of Chinese literature.
This was one title used for a popular, abridged translation by Arthur Waley; as well as being the title of the BBC's English translation of a Japanese tv series based on the story. The Waley translation has also been published as Adventures of the Monkey God; and Monkey: [A] Folk Novel of China; and The Adventures of Monkey. [1]
The Monkey God in question should not be confused with Hanuman, the Hindu god. The two appear to be unrelated.
Arthur Waley translated 30 out of the 100 chapters of Journey to the West.
The structure of Journey to the West may be roughly divided into three parts:
- the introduction including the origin of Monkey, Tripitaka, Pigsy, and Sandy;
- the actual journey to the west, which has an episodic nature;
- and the ending (what happens after the pilgrims reach their destination).
Waley chose to translate the entirety of the introductory and ending chapters, as well as three episodes, each several chapters long, of the journey to the west.
