In Journey to the West, the story of “Lord Lao Zi Converting the Hu People into Buddhists” stems from historical debates between Taoism and Buddhism. According to legend, Laozi (Lao-Tzu), revered as an incarnation of Taishang Laojun (the Supreme Elder Lord), rode westward on his blue ox, later giving rise to the claim that…
In the novel Journey to the West, Sun Wukong, the Monkey King, learned several crucial skills and knowledge from his first master, Subhuti. Key highlights include:
The journey of the Tang Monk and his disciples is, in essence, an inward pilgrimage. Buddhist and Taoist perspectives play a vital role in shaping this spiritual allegory.
Journey to the West (Xiyouji) is a literary masterpiece rooted in the historical pilgrimage of the Tang Dynasty monk Xuanzang (602–664 CE) to India in search of Buddhist scriptures. Over centuries of layered cultural creation, it absorbed diverse influences—myths, folklore, religious teachings, and performative arts—to evolve into a literary classic blending adventurous storytelling with…
After bestowing the name “Wukong” (悟空, “Awakened to Emptiness”) upon the Monkey King, Master Subhuti declared the following words, which carry profound Taoist and Buddhist connotations:
The Dao, due to its all-encompassing and formless nature, cannot be grasped through the perception of concrete forms. We learn to cultivate the Dao by emulating the sages.