On the surface, the stated goal of the westward journey to retrieve Buddhist scriptures is to fulfill Emperor Taizong of Tang’s desire for Mahayana teachings to “save lost souls” and redeem his own karmic debts.
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[Journey to the West]The Prototype of Sha Monk
Sha Wujing, also known as Sandy, Friar Sand, or Sha Monk, is the youngest disciple of Tang Sanzang in Journey to the West.
The Prototype of Sha Monk (Sha Wujing) can be traced to multiple images in Buddhist stories and historical documents.
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[Journey to the West]Origins of the Monkey King
We know that Journey to the West is a fictional work based on the historical 7th-century pilgrimage of the Buddhist monk Xuanzang to India. Xuanzang is portrayed as the monk Tang Sanzang, while his disciples draw inspiration from historical figures and myths.
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