I’m slowly realizing that “translating” Journey to the West into a modern novel style is much more like making an adaptation, and thus, is taking a lot longer than expected. At the same time, trying to stay faithful to the original is extremely limiting. For example, the original JttW almost never tells us what charactersContinue reading “JttW Chapter 4: Translation? More like Adaptation.”
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Journey to the West – Chapter 4.1
I am experimenting with narration style, so hopefully you’ll find that things are different in this chapter. The Handsome Monkey King and old Gold Star Taibai1 ascended their clouds bound for Heaven. Wukong’s somersault cloud was especially swift. He quickly left the Gold Star behind and arrived alone in front of the South Heavenly Gate,Continue reading “Journey to the West – Chapter 4.1”
Journey to the West – Chapter 3.5
We turn now to the heavens, to discuss the Most High Sage, the Merciful and Awesome Jade Emperor in the Lingxiao Cloud Palace, who one morning was holding court with his civil and military officials when the immortal Qiu Hongji1 came forth with a report: “Your Majesty, Aoguang, Dragon King of the East Sea, hasContinue reading “Journey to the West – Chapter 3.5”
Journey to the West – Chapter 3.4
The banners were unfurled and drums and gongs rang in celebration. Hundreds of delicacies were prepared, coconut water and grape juice overflowed, and they all feasted for a long time. They continued as before with the military exercises. The Monkey King appointed the four old monkeys his top advisors. The two red-buttock monkeys he namedContinue reading “Journey to the West – Chapter 3.4”
Journey to the West – Chapter 3.3
stopping hearts and draining bloodIn the text, the Dragon King’s gallbladder fights and heart startles 胆战心惊, while the dragon princes’ spirits take flight and bodies scatter 魂飞魄散. Where do you feel fear? Such power that monkey had! He spun the staff in his hands, feinting and striking in mock battle all the way back toContinue reading “Journey to the West – Chapter 3.3”
Journey to the West – Chapter 3.2
The Monkey King jumped off the bridge, muttered an incantation, and dove right in. The waves parted before him forming a path that lead straight to the bottom of the East Sea.1 About halfway, a yaksha2 on patrol suddenly blocked his way, and said, “You who command the waters, what manner of immortal or godContinue reading “Journey to the West – Chapter 3.2”
Journey to the West – Chapter 3.1
I am experimenting with narration styles in chapters 3 and 4. Click here to learn more. They say that the Handsome Monkey King defeated the Demon Lord of Mayhem and returned victorious with his trophy: the demon king’s big dao. He trained every day in the fighting arts. The other monkeys cut bamboo to makeContinue reading “Journey to the West – Chapter 3.1”
Journey to the West – Chapter 2.4
The patriarch said, “Once you go, nothing good can come of you. In all your violent troublemaking, I forbid you from saying that you are my disciple. I will know if you let even one word slip, and I will skin you and crush your bones. I will banish your spirit to the furthest reachesContinue reading “Journey to the West – Chapter 2.4”
Narration style in Journey to the West
When I first started translating Journey to the West, I didn’t really think about what kind of narration I should use. (Rookie mistake? Probably.) It struck me recently that in the original text, the narrator is talking directly to the reader, as if we were all sitting around a fire listening to a story. TheContinue reading “Narration style in Journey to the West”
Journey to the West – Chapter 2.3
Wukong’s hair stood on end, he quickly bowed, saying, “Master, in your infinite compassion, please tell me how to avoid these catastrophes. I will never cease to be grateful.” The patriarch said, “It is not difficult, but you are different from others. I cannot teach this to you.” Wukong said, “My head points toward theContinue reading “Journey to the West – Chapter 2.3”
Etymology Adventures 