Journey to the West (one of the four great classics of Chinese literature), by Wu Cheng’en, depicts the adventures of a traveling monk sent by the Tang Emperor of the East on a long trek to the Western Heaven to seek the “true scriptures”. He’s accompanied by three disciples, including Sun Wukong and a gluttonous bodyguard with a pig’s head.
You might be tempted to think that the holy monk and his not-always-upright companions are an allegory for the conflicting parts of our personality that, only through teamwork, can get us through the adventures of this mortal realm.
The cunning and courageous talking monkey, played to perfection by Zhang Jinlai (stage name Liu Xiao Ling Tong), can fly into the heavens and return in a flash, change shape at will, execute backflips and kung fu moves with ease, and expertly use a range of weapons in insanely imaginative ways — all to protect his master.
孙悟空，为天父地母所生，他破石而出（born from a stone），“不伏麒麟管，不受凤凰辖，又不伏人间王位所拘束。”
他神通广大，能七十二变。
He was a shape-shifter capable of taking on 72 different forms.
他一个跟斗十万八千里。
He could travel 108,000 Li (54,000 km) in one somersault.
他闯龙宫取如意金箍棒。
He acquired Ruyi Jingu Bang from the undersea palace of the Dragon King of the East Sea.
在花果山自在称王，自封“齐天大圣”。
He proclaimed himself “Great Sage Equal to Heaven” at the Mountain of Flower and Fruit.
他桀骜不驯，大闹天宫，被镇压在五行山下五百年。
He caused havoc in the Heavenly Kingdom, and was imprisoned for five centuries under the Five Elements Mountain.
他护送唐僧西天取经，途经九九八十一难，终于修成正果。
He embarked on a pilgrimage to the Western Heaven for the Buddhist sutras.
他是所有中国人心中的盖世英雄。
The influence that Journey to the West has had on pop culture is quite incredible and the story and the characters across so many mediums have inspired artists and creators to dream up their own epic tales of heroism.
《西游记》经典台词
让我们一起来复习一遍《西游记》中“刻进DNA”里的高频词汇和经典台词吧。部分译文来自余国藩译本。
Let’s review the high-frequency vocabulary and classic lines “engraved into the DNA” in “Journey to the West”. Part of the translation comes from Yu Guofan’s translation. 火眼金睛 ▌含义 原指《西游记》中孙悟空能识别妖魔鬼怪的眼睛。后用以形容人的眼光锐利，能够洞察一切（ take in all with one’s observant eyes），可以翻译为 “piercing eye；eagle-eyed，sharp-sighted”。 ▌例句
With his piercing eye, Sun Wukong was able to tell monsters from an ordinary human being at the first glance.孙悟空火眼金睛，妖魔鬼怪辨得清。
神通广大
▌含义 原指神仙法力无所不能（have great magic power）。现比喻办法多，本领高强。可以翻译为“be infinitely resourceful，possess marvelous abilities”。 ▌例句
Sun Wukong had vast magic powers.孙悟空神通广大。
俺乃是五百年前大闹天宫的齐天大圣孙悟空！I’m Sun Wukong, the Great Sage Equal to Heaven who made havoc in Heaven five hundred years ago.
小的们，老孙回来了！Little ones, I’m back.
悟空，救我！ Rescue me, Wukong.
贫僧从东土大唐而来，去往西天取经。I am a priest from the Tang country in the East, and I am going to the Western Heaven to ask for holy scriptures.
我叫你一声，你敢答应我么？Do you have the guts to answer if I call your name?
大王叫我来巡山！His Majesty sent me to patrol the mountains.
你这泼猴，又胡说！Impudent ape, talking nonsense again!
妖精！哪里走！Evil spirit, where do you think you’re going?
你是猴子请来的救兵么？Hey! Are you reinforcements sent for by Monkey?
大圣，收了神通罢。Great Sage, give your magic powers a rest.
Jane Marketing 