In traditional Chinese culture, the conflict and fusion between Buddhism and Taoism underwent a prolonged historical process, a phenomenon vividly expressed and embodied in Journey to the West.
We all know that Journey to the West recounts the story of Master Xuanzang and his disciples traveling westward to seek Buddhist scriptures.
In Journey to the West, Master Subodhi (Subhuti) and Zen Master Wu Chao stand out as two of the most enigmatic figures. Both characters make only brief appearances in the novel before vanishing without a trace. Despite their fleeting presence, they play pivotal roles in shaping the story’s progression and spiritual undertones.
In the first chapter of Journey to the West, Sun Wukong encounters a woodcutter singing verses from the Huangting Jing (Yellow Court Canon), a foundational Taoist text.