The Journey to the West, Revised Edition, Volume 2 (Volume 2)
Product ID: 12838181
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Read the legendary Chinese classic that inspired the hit game Black Myth: Wukong! Anthony C. Yu’s translation of The Journey to the West ,initially published in 1983, introduced English-speaking audiences to the classic Chinese novel in its entirety for the first time. Written in the sixteenth century, The Journey to the West tells the story of the fourteen-year pilgrimage of the monk Xuanzang, one of China’s most famous religious heroes, and his three supernatural disciples, in search of Buddhist scriptures. Throughout his journey, Xuanzang fights demons who wish to eat him, communes with spirits, and traverses a land riddled with a multitude of obstacles, both real and fantastical. An adventure rich with danger and excitement, this seminal work of the Chinese literary canonis by turns allegory, satire, and fantasy. With over a hundred chapters written in both prose and poetry, The Journey to the West has always been a complicated and difficult text to render in English while preserving the lyricism of its language and the content of its plot. But Yu has successfully taken on the task, and in this new edition he has made his translations even more accurate and accessible. The explanatory notes are updated and augmented, and Yu has added new material to his introduction, based on his original research as well as on the newest literary criticism and scholarship on Chinese religious traditions. He has also modernized the transliterations included in each volume, using the now-standard Hanyu Pinyin romanization system. Perhaps most important, Yu has made changes to the translation itself in order to make it as precise as possible. One of the great works of Chinese literature, The Journey to the West is not only invaluable to scholars of Eastern religion and literature, but, in Yu’s elegant rendering, also a delight for any reader. Review: A Timeless Tale of Adventure and Enlightenment - This second volume of The Journey to the West, in the masterful translation by Anthony C. Yu, continues the epic pilgrimage with the same literary brilliance, humor, and depth of spiritual insight that made the first volume so unforgettable. The journey becomes more perilous and philosophical as Tang Sanzang and his disciples confront demons, illusions, and their own weaknesses. What stands out in this edition is the balance between faithful translation and accessible language. Yu’s scholarship shines, yet it never overwhelms the story. His commentary enriches the text without interrupting its rhythm. The blend of Daoist, Confucian, and Buddhist elements is woven seamlessly into the narrative, offering readers a window into Ming dynasty thought while also speaking to universal themes of perseverance, redemption, and transformation. Whether you’re reading it for its literary value, religious symbolism, or sheer entertainment, Volume 2 delivers on every front. Highly recommended for lovers of world literature, mythology, or spiritual classics. Review: great book set - great book set for the price
| Best Sellers Rank | #82,629 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #239 in Epic Poetry (Books) #1,139 in Fiction Satire #1,781 in Literature |
| Customer Reviews | 4.8 out of 5 stars 452 Reviews |
J**Y
A Timeless Tale of Adventure and Enlightenment
This second volume of The Journey to the West, in the masterful translation by Anthony C. Yu, continues the epic pilgrimage with the same literary brilliance, humor, and depth of spiritual insight that made the first volume so unforgettable. The journey becomes more perilous and philosophical as Tang Sanzang and his disciples confront demons, illusions, and their own weaknesses. What stands out in this edition is the balance between faithful translation and accessible language. Yu’s scholarship shines, yet it never overwhelms the story. His commentary enriches the text without interrupting its rhythm. The blend of Daoist, Confucian, and Buddhist elements is woven seamlessly into the narrative, offering readers a window into Ming dynasty thought while also speaking to universal themes of perseverance, redemption, and transformation. Whether you’re reading it for its literary value, religious symbolism, or sheer entertainment, Volume 2 delivers on every front. Highly recommended for lovers of world literature, mythology, or spiritual classics.
R**B
great book set
great book set for the price
K**N
Part II, For Intelligent Readers Only!
This is part two of one of the four great written masterpieces of China, beautifully translated by Professor Yu. It is, I believe, the closest English speakers will get to the original Chinese text. Occasional awkwardness of wording in the translation is unavoidable as this work has gone from its original to a greatly contrasting culture. Do not let this discourage you as you read, let it instead encourage you to learn to read the Chinese original. Seeing it via one of the many movies / TV productions available is a great help in enjoying this work. I highly recommend the CCTV production from mainland China done in both 1986 and 2000.
M**L
A must read b for all avid readers around the world!
A must read book for all avid readers around the world! Brought the whole series from this author's since I like the story and wanted to own the entire book collection of Journey to the West. It is one of the best book I read in my life and believed me, I read over 2,000 books in 20 yrs. After reading JW Book 1, I wanted to read the other 3 JW books since I was totally hooked into the story once I read book 1 of JW. Amazing story telling!
E**E
Great literature.
Great reading.
H**Y
Chinese folklore and stories: A must-read for anyone interested in Chinese culture .
This is a classic series of stories that every child in China knows. The characters are very popular. I can now understand some comments made by Chinese speakers and TV news commentators that make allusions to this classic. This is one of the four volumes translated by the author. The books are heavily footnoted and suitable for serious study by English speaking persons interested in Chinese culture. The main issue I have with the series of books is that there is a lot of repetition--based on how the stories were told over the ages. A minor issue is that many footnotes refer to other volumes--but the Kindle edition does not give an immediate link to the other volumes.
H**Y
Top
Continuing with volume 2--just as good as volume 1. A joy to read. Learning a lot about Chinese culture in this classic and at the same time very entertaining.
S**N
Very good translation!!
I have many translations of this Chinese classic, as well as the original Chinese version. If you want a real feel for this story, you cannot go wrong with this version. Yes, it is long, but so is the original. If you are looking for a very condensed, but well done version, I would also recommend the Arthur Waley translation!!
A**R
So worth it
As a student of Chinese culture, this book (and other volumes) is a must. As this is considered a very good translation of the original, it took a while to find. But when I did, well, it did not disappoint. Whether you're a student of Chinese culture, a curious reader or even a Dragon Ball fan, this book is a highly recommended read. Arrived quite fast and looks like it's new too so thank you :)
S**K
Very good
I love the story. The English is VERY difficult, but context helped me get through. The poems are good. I've read about a third through all the books and intend to slowly fight my way through the rest.
A**A
Amazing Book
Great book. Love the series so far.
C**.
Great read
The journey to the west is a great read. It’s entertaining all the way through. It’s Definitely a recommended purchase.
M**I
Fast delivery
I received the books the next day. My son likes it.
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