“Journey to the West” Blog Due April 21st
World Literature
• Megan Braine •
••Redemption••
Journey to the West elaborates on the topic of redemption well. As I expressed in my journal, redemption is being able to fix your mistakes, or show you can improve from your mistakes. Journey to the West is a book full filled with journals and the story tells of disciples who are traveling to the Western Heaven. Sanzang is the monk or master who is on the journey, as well as others. The Monkey, a rebel in Journey to the West, is born and raised to power. He had such great power and strived for immortality. He named himself, “Great Sage Equal of Heaven.” To achieve immortality the Monkey abused his magical powers and was a huge disruption. For example, he abrupted a festival of immortal peaches by eating all the peaches and getting drunk off wine, in which was stolen. With all of his disruptions he had no remorse. He continued to show off his martial arts and magic powers, and all he had to say for himself was, "My apologies for disturbing you." There is truly no match for him, and he is uncontrollable. (Wu Ch’eng-en, 44) The Monkey needed to be stopped. He was eventually when the Buddha imprisoned him underneath the mountain of five elements.
In this story, we see the redemption is never too late for anyone. There are many passages within it that show progression of redemption. A specific passage where the Monkey shows good power over bad power is in Chapter 27. Sanzang, the Monkey’s was about to send him and his disciples aways. But Monkey began to beg on his knees for forgiveness.
“Monkey knelt down and kowtowed. "When I wrecked the Heavenly Palace," he said, "I put myself in a very dangerous position, and the Buddha crashed me under the Double Boundary Mountain. Luckily the Bodhisattva Guanyin administered the vows to me, and you, master, released me, so if I don't go with you to the Western Heaven I'll look like a 'scoundrel who doesn't return a kindness, with a name that will be cursed forever.’” (Wu Ch’eng-en, 388)
With this statement from the chapter, we see that the Monkey realized he was wrong for murdering a girl for food. Master Sanzang stills threatens to send him away, until he gave in. The Monkey promises to never murder again. “"I never will," said Monkey, "never again." He helped his master mount the horse and led the way forward.” (Wu Ch’eng-en, 390)
Although throughout the journey the Monkey was a rebel, he still contributed in fighting off the monsters and demons. The Monkey is still being watched by the Heavens because of his sins and murderous acts though. So, did the Monkey ever reach redemption? I believe he did. Throughout the journey they didn’t let the battles, rough patches, and other troubles stop them. They used their faith and beliefs to get to nirvana. We read,
“Thus, it is that all the Buddhas of every world Are willing with this achievement To adorn the Pure Land of the Buddha. Above we can repay the fourfold kindness, Below we save those suffering in the three paths of life. Let anyone who sees or hears Cherish the enlightened mind. May all be reborn in the Land of Bliss, To end this present life of retribution.” (1406)
From this, we can conclude that redemption was reached because of the dedication and will to continue the journey, the religious journey based on faith. The journey ended up being such a positive because of worshipment to buddhism, helping others, and rebuilding character, which are all factors of redemption.
Megan, I enjoyed reading your take on he Journey to the West and how it is directly linked to redemption. I believe that Journey connects with the religious aspect of redemption a little more so though than mortal ideas and acts of redemption. Much like the majority of this nation, redemption is viewed as a religious topic. Most of the acts that Monkey has taken upon himself to perform reflect as sins many different religions throughout the world. I enjoyed reading your input of Monkey eating all of the peaches and getting drunk off of the wine available to him. These actions are similar to what would be considered a sin in most religions and something that should be a trigger to ask for redemption. Redemption is a theory within religions in which those following such religion will commit these sins, but then ask for forgiveness in order to have the ability to come to the light at the very end.
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