Monkey: A Journey to the West

Part spiritual pilgrimage, part historical epic, the folk novel Journey to the West , which came to be known as Monkey, is the most popular classic of Asian literature. Originally written in the sixteenth century, it is the story of the adventures of the rogue-trickster Monkey and his encounters with a bizarre cast of characters as he travels to India with the Buddhist pilgrim Tripitaka in search of sacred scriptures. Much more than a picaresque adventure novel, Monkey is a profound allegory of the struggle that must occur before spiritual transformation is possible. David Kherdian’s masterful telling brings this classic of Chinese literature to life in a way that is true to the scope and depth of the original.

Reviews and Endorsements

“Cosmic kung fu on the scale of Star Wars! China’s favorite rip-roaring morality tale has everything—including, here, a brilliant rendition by David Kherdian. It’s charming and utterly delightful.” —Huston Smith, author of The World’s Religions

“David Kherdian retells the ancient Chinese allegory poetically and precisely. Monkey (who represents our restless intelligence)—helped by other humorful and energetic demons—guides master Monk (the searching ego) towards self-insights in the Zen-Taoist tradition. A great read!” —Janwillem van de Wetering, author of A Glimpse of Nothingness