They say that Taizong traveled with Magistrate Cui and General Zhu for a long time and came to the Sixfold Path of Transmigration.1 They saw people draped in dawn-colored cloaks flying in the clouds, people with golden fish hanging from their sashes receiving prophecies; monks, nuns, Daoists, and common folks; walking beasts and birds ofContinue reading “Journey to the West – Chapter 12.1”
Category Archives: Journey to the West
Journey to the West – Chapter 11.2
The general led the way with a banner that draws the spirit, Magistrate Cui followed behind to guard the ghost of Taizong, and they traveled out of the Peaceful Realms. Taizong saw that it wasn’t the path from which he had come, and asked, “Have we gone the wrong way?” The magistrate replied, “No, thisContinue reading “Journey to the West – Chapter 11.2”
Journey to the West – Chapter 11.1
They say that Taizong’s soul, confused, came to the front of Five Phoenix Tower and saw the imperial chariot in procession with the generals on horseback awaiting him to join a hunting trip. Taizong happily agreed and floated over to join the parade. After traveling for some time, the men and horses suddenly disappeared. HeContinue reading “Journey to the West – Chapter 11.1”
Journey to the West – Chapter 10.4
Around noon, the emperor ordered a concubine to bring a chessboard and invited his minister to a game of chess.1 Wei Zheng agreed, and they began to play. Move by move they set up their opening positions. It was as described in the Lanke Classics: Caution and discipline are the way of chess. The valuableContinue reading “Journey to the West – Chapter 10.4”
There are deadlines… and then there are deadlines
Hi. You may have noticed that I took a break from posting between October and February. That’s due to a few reasons. First, I was focusing on finishing Season 1 of the podcast! If you were unaware, I started a podcast telling and discussing the story of Journey to the West in English. We relateContinue reading “There are deadlines… and then there are deadlines“
Journey to the West – Chapter 10.3
The next day, official summons were sent to the Count of Wind, the Duke of Thunder, the Cloud Youths, and Madam Lightning, who came to the ninth layer of Heaven above Chang’an. The clouds were spread between 9-11am, the thunder began at 1pm, the rain fell between 2 and 4pm, and it only rained 3Continue reading “Journey to the West – Chapter 10.3”
Journey to the West – Chapter 10.2
Trading poems and lyrics back and forth, the fisherman and the woodcutter came to the fork in the road and bowed their farewells. The fisherman said, “Brother Li! Safe travels home. Watch out for tigers in those mountains. If you run into some such danger, I will miss you on this road tomorrow.” The woodcutterContinue reading “Journey to the West – Chapter 10.2”
Journey to the West – Chapter 10.1
For now let’s not speak of Guangrui or Xuanzang. Outside of the city of Chang’an, on the shores of the Jing River, there was a fisherman1 and a woodcutter.2 One day, inside the city of Chang’an, after the woodcutter had sold his firewood and the fisherman sold his carp, they ate together in a tavern.Continue reading “Journey to the West – Chapter 10.1”
Journey to the West – Chapter 9.3
Translator’s note: Chinese families often refer to each other in the third person by their familial titles. Throughout this section, Madam Zhang is referred to as “grandmother/mother-in-law” and her name is never used. Lady Yin’s mother is referred to as just “wife” when we get to Minister Yin’s house. This sounds so awkward in EnglishContinue reading “Journey to the West – Chapter 9.3”
New Podcast and Instagram
Hi 🙂 We started a podcast. It’s on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. We’re telling the story of Journey to the West and then discussing what surprises us or what we connect with based on our Chinese American and Taiwanese American experiences. I’m still feeling it out and there are a lot of improvements that canContinue reading “New Podcast and Instagram”
Etymology Adventures 