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”
Tag Archives: storytelling
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”
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”
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”
Journey to the West – Chapter 9.2
Now Lady Yin loathed that villainous Liu so much that she could eat his flesh and and use his skin for a bed, but she was pregnant, so she cooperated with him reluctantly. Before she knew it, they had arrived in Jiangzhou, where the officials and judges threw the new governor a banquet in welcome.Continue reading “Journey to the West – Chapter 9.2”
Journey to the West – Chapter 9.1
We’re turning to the city of Chang’an in Shanxi Province, the capital city for many generations of emperors. Through the Zhou, Qin, and Han dynasties, the flowers bloomed like brocade and waters flowed around the city. It really was a beautiful sight. It was the Tang Dynasty,1 and the Emperor Taizong had been on theContinue reading “Journey to the West – Chapter 9.1”
Etymology Adventures 