journeythroughjourneytothewest

[journeythroughjourneytothewest]

Hello pilgrims! Here's the weekly reminder to get ready for this Sunday, as on that day we will be going over Chapter 37, which will see our favorite weeping monk have some ghostly encounters.

#jtjttw housekeeping #jttw reading group #jttw book club

[journeythroughjourneytothewest]

#by heaven and gao village #we have reached another zhu bajie friday #zhu bajie friday #zhu bajie #xiyouji #journey to the west #jttw

[journeythroughjourneytothewest]

#by the western sea #we have reached another bai longma thursday #bai longma #bai longma thursday #journey to the west #jttw #xiyouji

[journeythroughjourneytothewest]

I want you to know that even though my workweek is offset by one day (so my Monday is Tuesday) I love your daily pilgrims cheering me on, no matter how wrong they are about where I am in my journey. Thank you, and happy Sha Wujing Wednesday.

Wow, this group's first ask, and what a lovely one it is! It really makes me happy to hear that the daily pilgrims help brighten your day, @duwang-but-in-new-england. And if their journey proves anything, it's that even if you have to spend over a decade on it, you can succeed in your chosen life's journey. So happy Sha Wujing Wednesday to you too! He's cheering you on:

#ask answered #sha wujing #sha wujing wednesday #jttw reading group #jttw book club

[journeythroughjourneytothewest]

#by the flowing-sands river #we have reached another sha wujing wednesday #sha wujing wednesday #sha wujing #xiyouji #journey to the west #jttw

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#amituofo #we have reached another tang sanzang tuesday #tripitaka #tang sanzang #journey to the west #xiyouji #jttw #tang sanzang tuesday

[journeythroughjourneytothewest]

Another lovely compilation of quotations and commentary! Many thanks for your submission @loyaltykask

Chapter 36

@journeythroughjourneytothewest

I am going to say it's been around 3 years at this point because the Ginseng fruit arc was around the 1-year point and the Bone Demon/Yellow Robe must have been the 2 year making Silver Horn and Golden Horn 3 or so. So almost 1 to 2 demons years, making around a demon every 6 months.

Wukong legit says "I thought you were smart" And Sanzang "I'm smart I can't read DIRT!"

I just think its funny he stretched

SANZANG THERE IS NO REASON TO BE RUDE Even Wukong like 'damn we get it'

This head monk be a deadass little bastard

Like Sanzang likes to be CAUSAL heaven forbid they don't judge on looks

I do like how he cries like "what did I do?" like I can tell you know it was your first thought

But also Sanzang be like "I can't tell Wukong, he is going to kill these monks he hears" which wouldn't be the FIRST time Wukong threatens monks for being disrespectful but do like how he was worried about that happening again

He remembers Guanyin's head monk, he NEVER going to forget that

Sanzang legit like "I'm..... LEGIT allowed to be here?????" Fucking monk "Can't you just get the fuck out of my building you no-name little poor peasant" Wukong somewhere in the back "...I have a strange feeling that I am about to kick someone's ass"

NO SANZANG DON'T CRY! WHY YALL BEING MEAN TO HIM

Holding back tears he just wanna leave

Do love Bajie and Wukong like "Did they hit you? Yell are you? Why are you sad?"

He did WHAT to his own fillet?

NGSKNGSIEGNOSEIG SLAMS THE DOOR ON HIM RUDE

LET HIM IN

GASP!

He's learning not to kill!!

Now he is JUST threatening

Bajie like "See that is how it's done, dumbass" Sanzang can't say anything just a "shut up" Goes inside to make sure no monks are dead

Just Wukong going on about moon poems

He delighted!

They by talking about THINGS

EVEN WUJING GOT TO JOIN

Oh wait now i know which story this is

Ghost King with the Lion Demon

#jtjttw submission #jttw #journey to the west #xiyouji #sun wukong #monkey king #tang sanzang #zhu bajie #zhu wuneng #tripitaka #sha wujing #jttw reading group #jttw book club

[journeythroughjourneytothewest]

#by heaven and earth #we have reached another monkey king monday #sun wukong #monkey king #journey to the west #jttw #xiyouji

[journeythroughjourneytothewest]

It was, as always, a delight to read through your chosen quotes and commentary. Thank you for your submission @loyaltykask!

Chapter 35

@journeythroughjourneytothewest

What HASN'T Nvwa made for real

Awww actually feel bad for Golden Horn

Hehe Sassy son of a bitch, might be in poor taste but it was kinda funny

Wukong don't figure a shit about his dead bro XD He like Bailong is worth more than you're bros life, don't test me

Ohh the fan they used to fan Laozi's furnace!

Forgot something there Wukong

Aww reunions

Great Uncle 7 what luck that literally your family is dying, I'm so sorry

3 vs 300 hundred....

They never stood a chance

Wukong.... SHES A BUDDHA! Of COURSE SHE IS NEVER GOING TO MARRY

But Also Wukong being pissed that she is purposely making trails for them

It is annoying but also I get it, how else are they going to get to Buddahood by the end of the book

Sad that Silvern Horn and Golden Horn got nothing out of this but punishment and that their mom and uncle died for this sake. Like they were told to go make trouble but got a mother and an uncle who got caught up in their mess and paid for their crimes as well. There is something said about being used as a trial like that, and only a few people understand what is going on while you are a pawn in a larger game.

#jttw #journey to the west #xiyouji #sun wukong #monkey king #boddhisatva #silver horned king #golden horned king #jtjttw submission #jttw book club #jttw reading group

[journeythroughjourneytothewest]

What a delightful deluge of animal speculations! Thank you as always for your nature-based submission @nikofortuna.

JTTW Chapter 36 Thoughts

Chapter 36 for the @journeythroughjourneytothewest Reading Group!

We’ve got creatures galore this time around!

Why can’t you give us the slice of life, huh? Why can’t you, the people want to read fluff too! I know I’d love to.

So as I’m attempting to keep track of the passage of time stated in the text there seems to have been a timeskip of multiple years. The changing of seasons up until last chapter only indicated around one and a half years passing, so either Tang Sanzang is exaggerating and only half a year to one year passes, so definitely one Winter since the narration mentioned frost, or it’s really been a couple of years.

Deer, deer, deer! No fallow deer, those are muntjac deer in the Chinese Original. Cute in the silliest way.

River deer basically yes, our lovely goofy Chinese Water Deer.

Now hold it! Those are not wolves! In the Chinese Original they are either Dholes or a kind of jackal. All three are in the family of Canidae. The wolf shares the Canis genus with jackals, while dholes and jackals are of the same tribe Canini.

I’m leaning more towards Cuon Alpinus so Dholes, which range throughout Asia and are also called Red Wolf or Mountain Wolf, but that might also be personal bias for I watched the Wild Kratts episode on them.

They are really social even more so than wolves and just overall very sweet. However they are classed as endangered!

They also come in a fluffy variant.

Jackals are really neat too though, here it might specifically be the Canis Aureus commonly known as Golden Jackal, which are native to Eurasia.

From Anthony C. Yu’s notes I concur the Vajra-guardians definitely do not look like cherubs neither the modern version nor the biblically accurate one. But they might be somewhat similar in function! Cherubim are assigned to protect special places as one of their jobs, so that guardian function might be the similarity that led to the comparison.

Tang Sanzang getting pouty is so endearing, much more than any ‘scared of demon’ instance.

Though in my opinion the monastery should have been able to kick out those guys that were causing needless trouble over multiple years. Give aid to fellow people yes, but if they knowingly and wilfully act out like that they rescind their right to stay.

Again with the property damage, Sun Wukong might have already cut down on violence against people, but no door is safe from him still.

#jtjttw submission #xiyouji #journey to the west #jttw #sun wukong #monkey king #tang sanzang #jttw reading group #jttw book club #deer #dhole #jackal

[journeythroughjourneytothewest]

A succinct and delightful summary and stat update! Many thanks as always for your submission @pompomqt!

Journey to the West Chapter 36

Monkey introducing Tripitaka to others like:

Okay so in this chapter of Journey to the West with @journeythroughjourneytothewest we begin a section that I know absolutely nothing about, so that should be interesting. Let's get into it shall we?

So the group is traveling onward with renewed enthusiasm and manage to travel for quite a while without anything book worthy happening until they hit another mountain. Tripitaka who hasn't had a good track record with mountains, is worried about being attacked by yet another demon here. He also points out that they've been traveling for at least five years by now and wonders how much longer they have to go. Monkey points out that they are still very early in the morning and that they've barely left their front door. Then he has to spend ten minutes explaining what a metaphor is to Pigsy, when he asks how there could possibly be a house this big.

Anyways they continue traveling until it gets late and they luckily stumble across some buildings and Tripitaka suggests they rest here for the night. However the group has also not had a good track record with random monastery's and abbey's so Monkey asks to take a look first to make sure it's not evil or anything. Once Monkey takes a good look at the place he gives it the all clear and says it's a buddhist monastery. Which I take to mean that whatever flavor of shenanigans is about to happen, it won't involve demon's wanting to eat Tripitaka. Probably.

So they arrive at the monastery and Monkey asks which Monastery this is. Which causes Tripitaka to snap back 'How is he supposed to know? He doesn't know every monastery in the world!' Monkey points out that there's a sign, and Tripitaka snaps back that he wasn't in a position to see the sign when Monkey asked, also the sign is covered in grime. So Monkey decides to grow twenty feet tall in order to wipe the sign down and show it to Tripitaka. Tripitaka then reads the sign saying this place is apparently the Precious Grove monastery Built by Imperial Command. Anyways now that Monkey and Tripitaka are done arguing like an old married couple, Tripitaka say's he'll go inside and ask for lodging since all his disciples are so rude and ugly. Monkey's just like 'fair enough' and let's Tripitaka go in alone.

So Tripitaka goes inside admiring the architecture and doing his Buddhist thing and what not on his way in. Eventually a worker at the temple spots him and asks who he is and what he wants. Tripitaka explains his typical spiel and asks for lodging for the night. The worker explains that he doesn't have the authority to approve that so he goes to get his boss. So the worker goes to get his boss who gets all dressed in his fancy outfit and goes out to greet Tripitaka. But I guess Tripitaka failed a charisma check or something because his pretty face isn't enough to impress the Master when his clothes are so travel worn.

Anyways the Master yells that Tripitaka is just some beggar, and tells the worker to just let them squat in the corridor instead of letting them into the abbot. Tripitaka is so hurt by this he even tears up a bit. Anyways Tripitaka is upset and offended but not so upset and offended that he's willing to sic Sun Wukong on that guy just yet. So Tripitaka resolves to get the whole story first and follows after the master to question him.

So Tripitaka once again explains about his quest and asks for lodging again. The master however is unwilling to budge and points out that there is an Inn just a few miles away, so he should get his food and rest there instead of bothering him about it. Tripitaka however points out that all abbey's and monastery's are supposed to offer lodging and food to any priests who stop by. Apparently Tripitaka passes his charisma check this time because the priest now tells about his monastery's tragic back story and why he's unwilling to host Tripitaka. Which basically just comes out to he hosted some beggars once, only for those beggars to never actually leave and just continue to act like parasites to the monastery. The master wouldn't mind that much if it wasn't also for the fact that they continue to trash the place.

Anyways Tripitaka cries a little again, but wipes his tears away before going back outside to meet his disciples. He doesn't hide it well enough though since Monkey immediately notices he looks upset and asks if the monks there striked him. Tripitaka denies it, and also denies it when Monkey asks if they scolded him. Tripitaka then changes the subject and says that the Monks don't want them to stay here. To which Monkey asks Tripitaka to wait here and he'll handle this. These Monks are about to learn that the first time you get Tripitaka's form of diplomacy. But the second time you get Sun Wukong's. And his form of diplomacy involves a lot more hitting things and people with a stick.

Monkey comes in HOT. He states that he is is the disciple of the Tang Monk who came specifically to ask for lodging, and if they refuse he will start off by smashing their statues of Buddha. This gets the attention of yet another worker who is immediately intimidated into getting his manager to have him sort out this mess. The master of the place is annoyed to be disturbed yet again by these monks, but the worker explains that this is a different Monk, and is a lot more frightening then the last one.

So the master goes out to take a look, but immediately slams the door closed again as soon as he see's Monkey. Monkey however isn't having it and breaks the door open demanding that they set up 1000 rooms for them all. The master says that they don't even have a thousand rooms, they have like three hundred. The Monk once again tries to say that it's inconvenient for them to host them and asks that they try elsewhere. Monkey however has the perfect solution to this, if it's so inconvenient then *they* can just move out. He also makes sure to make his staff extra large and asks that if they truly can't move out, then one of the monks should come outside and take their punishment by being caned by him. The master immediately tries to sacrifice the poor worker to the cause, the worker however is not getting paid enough for this, so the two start arguing.

Monkey however doesn't actually want to hit them, after all if he kills them Tripitaka is going to get mad at him again. So instead he decides to just give them a little show of his power to intimidate them. He finds a conveniently placed lion statue and pulverizes the thing with one hit. This terrifies the monk master into literally crawling under the bed to hide while the worker decides to take charge and say that they'll host them after all. Monkey then asks the worker how many monks there are here, and upon receiving his answer, demands that all five hundred of them get dressed in their best robes and come out to receive Tripitaka personally. So the worker rings the bell to wake all the monks and demand that they file into line to welcome the Tang Monk. Monkey really knows how to get the red carpet rolled out for his master, all it takes is a little threat of violence to get star treatment.

Pigsy is also sure to point this out once he see's all the Monks kowtowing to them (under threat of violence) calling Tripitaka incompetent. Tripitaka meanwhile is rather embarrassed by this display and asks them to rise. Which causes the monks to plead with Tripitaka and have him convince Monkey not to hit them. Tripitaka tells Monkey not to hit them, and Monkey says that he hasn't, since if he had they would all definitely be dead by now. Which- fair enough. Anyways the monks finally rise and go to take care of the horse and all their luggage and stuff and finally lead them all inside.

Now that Monkey has these monks whipped into shape the monks wine and dine them with a fresh vegetarian meal and lead them to their rooms. However even after they lead them to the rooms, all five hundred monks are still loitering around even when Tripitaka tries to dismiss them. Only when he says that he's completely satisfied with his service please go away now, do they dare leave.

Anyways during the night Tripitaka gazes at the moon and makes a bit of poetry about it. Monkey meanwhile gives his two cents and manages to share some wisdom with Tripitaka and enlighten him a bit. Sandy is also sure to share some wisdom and enlightenment. When Pigsy tries to chime in however, he fails to enlighten Tripitaka in anyway and has him saying 'okay that's enough moon gazing for one night. Goodnight'. Anyways while the three disciples head to bed, Tripitaka decides to stay awake to meditate on the scriptures he learned in his youth.

Anyways, I guess we'll see where they are going with this in the next chapter of Journey to the West.

Current Sun Wukong Stats: Names/Titles: Monkey, The Stone Monkey, The Handsome Monkey King, Sun Wukong (Monkey awakened to the void), Bimawen (Banhorseplague), The Great Sage Equal To Heaven and Pilgrim Sun. Immortality: 5 + 94,000 years. Weapon: The Compliant Golden Hooped Rod Abilities: 72 Transformations, Cloud-Somersault, Ability to transform his individual hairs, super strength, Ability to Summon Wind, Water restriction charm, and the ability to change into a huge war form, ability to duplicate his staff, ability to immobilize others, the ability to put others to sleep, and the Fiery eyes and Diamond Pupils, intimidating horses, churning large bodies of water, sleeplessness, seizing the wind, enhanced smell, discerning good and evil within a thousand miles, Spirit Summoning, lock picking, object transformation, distance reduction and vanishing in a flash of light. Demon Kill Count: 9+ Unknown Number of Minions Human Kill Count: 1006 God's Defeated: 22 + Unknown number Defeats: 4 Crime List: Robbery, Murder, Mass Murder, Arson, Theft, Coercion, Threatening a Government Official, Resisting Arrest, Assault, Forgery, Employee Theft, False Imprisonment, Impersonating a Government Official, Treason, attempted murder, failure to control or report a dangerous fire, desecrating a corpse, breaking and entering, trespassing, violating Tree Law, looting corpses, trading counterfeit goods and Criminal Threat Cry Count: 6 + 2 fake cries Mountains Trapped Under: 4

Current Tang Sanzang stats: Names/Titles: River Float, Xuanzang, Tang Sanzang, Tripitaka Abilities: Curing Blindness, making branches point a certain direction (allegedly), reciting sutras, pretty privilege, memorization and Heart Sutra. Cry Count: 18 Tight Fillet Spell Uses: 27 Paralyzed by fear: 5 Bandit Problems: 2 Kidnapped by demons: 4 Falling Off Horses: 6

Current Bai Long Ma Stats: Names/Titles: Bai Long Ma (White Dragon Horse), Prince of the Western Ocean, and third prince jade dragon of the dragon king Aorun Abilities: Transforming into a human, a water snake, and a horse, eating a horse in one bite, flight, Magic of Water Restriction, Singing, and Sword Dancing. Cry Count: 1 Crime List: Arson, and Grave Disobedience. Contributions to the plot: 2

Current Zhu Wuneng Stats: Names/Titles: The Marshal of the Heavenly Reeds, Zhu Wuneng (Pig who is aware of ability), Zhu Ganglie, Pigsy, Idiot and Eight Rules. Weapon: Rake Abilities: 36 Transformations, parting water, fighting underwater, cloud soaring and size enhancement Demon Kill Count/Kill steals: 2 Kidnapped by Demons: 1 Human Kill Count: 1 Failed Flirtation/romances Attempts: 3 Cry Count: 1 Crime List: Sexual Harassment, Murder, Kidnapping and arson.

Current Sha Wujing Stats: Names/Titles: The Curtain-Raising General, Sha Wujing (Sand Aware of Purity), Sandy and Sha Monk Weapon: Monster Taming Staff Abilities: Fighting underwater and Cloud soaring. Demon Kill Count: Unknown number of minions. Kidnapped by Demons: 2 Human Kill Count: 1 Crime List: Breaking a Crystal Cup, murder, and desecration of a human corpse.

#jtjttw submission #xiyouji #jttw #journey to the west #sun wukong #tang sanzang #zhu wuneng #sha wujing #jttw reading group #jttw book club

[journeythroughjourneytothewest]

Hello dear pilgrims! I come to you with the weekly reminder that this Sunday will be dedicated to Xiyouji Chapter 36, in which there is a meeting of the monks.

#jtjttw housekeeping #jttw reading group #jttw book club

[journeythroughjourneytothewest]

#by heaven and gao village #we have reached another zhu bajie friday #zhu bajie friday #zhu bajie #xiyouji #journey to the west #jttw

[journeythroughjourneytothewest]

#by the western sea #we have reached another bai longma thursday #bai longma #bai longma thursday #journey to the west #jttw #xiyouji

[journeythroughjourneytothewest]

#by the flowing-sands river #we have reached another sha wujing wednesday #sha wujing wednesday #sha wujing #xiyouji #journey to the west #jttw

[journeythroughjourneytothewest]

#amituofo #we have reached another tang sanzang tuesday #tripitaka #tang sanzang #journey to the west #xiyouji #jttw #tang sanzang tuesday

[journeythroughjourneytothewest]

In the roots of the mountain

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Digital sketch of our favorite Monkey King some centuries into his time under Five Elements Mountain. Quite the throwback for this reading group!

#journey to the west #xiyouji #jttw #sun wukong #monkey king #jtjttw submission #jttw book club #jttw reading group #it's a sketch i've been working on on and off for awhile #but also wanted to do it to remind everyone that they should feel free #to submit anything they want relating to chapters that we've already covered