What theme does Journey to the West reflect?

     What theme does *Journey to the West* truly reflect?

    I've asked many colleagues and friends this question, and most believe it reflects Sun Wukong's positive and optimistic spirit, his ability to subdue demons and monsters, his fearlessness in the face of hardship, and his indomitable fighting spirit!

    Is this truly the theme of the novel? Let's not rush to conclusions; let's first examine the specific plot of the novel!

    Before escorting Tang Sanzang on his journey to the West, why was Sun Wukong so invincible, causing havoc in the Heavenly Palace, the Underworld Palace, and the Dragon Palace? Even the Jade Emperor and the Dragon King were terrified of him. At that time, Sun Wukong was incredibly powerful, defeating heavenly soldiers and generals and leaving a trail of dust in his wake. But on the journey to the West to obtain the scriptures, why couldn't he defeat one small demon after another? It wasn't that the demons were more powerful, but rather that they possessed magical treasures—treasures of Buddhism.

    If we think about it carefully, such a great disturbance in the Heavenly Palace and the Dragon Palace, yet unable to escape the Buddha's palm, reveals the theme the work intends to reflect: the Buddha's teachings are boundless; only by converting to Buddhism can one achieve enlightenment. Regardless of one's innate nature or how powerful one's abilities, a good outcome is ultimately elusive.

    In feudal times, Sun Wukong (the Monkey King) perfectly satisfied the desires of the lower classes to resist autocratic oppression, overcome dark forces, conquer nature, and yearn for freedom. Sun Wukong's positive optimism and fighting spirit are an artistic summary of the long-term struggle of the Chinese people, a product of the combination of ideals and reality. In reality, most people are merely imagining things, indulging in a fleeting urge to rebel, but lack the courage to follow Sun Wukong's path. Of course, at this point, Sun Wukong gained a certain market. People saw Sun Wukong's fiery eyes, boundless magic, and extraordinary wisdom, but ultimately overlooked his inability to escape his master's golden headband, and the fact that every demon on the journey to the West needed reinforcements—these were the real reasons for his defeats. Mao Zedong's poem "Seven-Character Quatrain: Watching Sun Wukong Thrice Beat the White Bone Demon" elevates Sun Wukong to an unwarranted level. Given this cultural background, it's difficult to change the misunderstanding surrounding the theme of *Journey to the West*.

    Therefore, with these facts, it's not hard to determine the theme reflected in *Journey to the West*. I believe this novel does not reflect or praise Sun Wukong's rebellious spirit, but rather is an ancient novel reflecting religion!

    Let's take another example: what theme does *Water Margin* reflect? Many people believe this novel praises peasant uprisings, but this is not the case. This novel actually praises the emperor. The novel defines peasant uprisings as rebellions of bandits against corrupt officials, not rebellions against the emperor! Finally, the peasant uprising army is granted amnesty by the imperial court, effectively becoming legitimate, transforming from bandits into a regular army, much like how Empress Dowager Cixi recognized the legitimacy of the Boxer Rebellion. Here, Chairman Mao Zedong aptly put it: "The beauty of *Water Margin* lies in its role as a negative example, criticizing only corrupt officials, not the emperor."

    We often too easily swayed by tradition, public opinion, and trends. Faced with tradition, public opinion, and trends, we often cease to think critically, readily accepting popular opinions. Over time, this leads to the perpetuation of misinformation.

    This post is for exchange and discussion only. What theme do novels like *Journey to the West* reflect? Everyone is welcome to speak freely, express their views, and share their opinions!

    Literature emphasizes typification, but typification is by no means synonymous with vulgarization or commonplace expression. Once we forget that we still have brains, misunderstandings become inevitable. Therefore, we should, as Lu Xun said, "use our brains, broaden our horizons, and take matters into our own hands."