Every Wednesday afternoon, someone in our class will bring materials to the class to read. I often take it and often see others organizing research groups. Actually, I want to organize it. So I found several people and organized a research group. After our discussion, I decided to study the themes of The Journey to the West's authors Wu Cheng'en and The Journey to the West.
Second, research methods.
First, we looked at the personal data of The Journey to the West author Wu Cheng'en. We found it through the internet. First of all, we typed in our research topics in the online search place: Wu Cheng'en, the author of The Journey to the West, and Journey to the West. Then, many columns on this topic appeared soon. Finally, we chose this column of Wu Cheng'en's profile. After we opened it, it really showed the introduction of Wu Cheng'en. After reading this introduction, we began to check the main figures in The Journey to the West.
Third, research results.
1. Wu Cheng'en
Wu Cheng'en (1506- 1582), whose real name is Ruzhong, was born in Huai 'an in the Ming Dynasty and was the author of the novel The Journey to the West. As a teenager, Wu Cheng'en liked to listen to stories such as the Huaihe River Water God and the Sangha Great Sage. After middle age, he began to combine the story of Tang priest's journey to the west with Tang legends, Buddhist classics, folk stories and Huai 'an local stories, and wrote hundreds of stories about the journey to the west in the study "Sheyang (Bamboo Zhaos)". As soon as this book came out, it was hailed as one of the "four classic novels" and became a treasure of the world literary world. Wu Cheng'en is good at painting and calligraphy.
2. The main figures in The Journey to the West
Tang's monk, the layman's surname is Chen, his birth name is Xuanzang, and he was the first monk in the Tang Dynasty, so he was called Tang's monk. When Emperor Taizong of Li Shimin went west to learn Buddhist scriptures, he gave Sanzang a dharma name. At the age of eighteen, Tang Priest became a monk and converted to Buddhism. He often studies Buddhist scriptures in the evening, and his understanding is extremely high. In his twenties, he was famous for China Buddhism and was deeply loved by Emperor Taizong. Later, he was secretly selected by the Tathagata Buddha, went to the Western Heaven to learn Buddhist scriptures, and got the three treasures, namely, the cassock, the nine rings and the golden hoop mantra. Tang Priest is tall and elegant, kind-hearted, and highly accomplished in Buddhist scriptures. It is 81 difficult for him to learn from the west, and he never changes his original intention. With the help of the Monkey King, Pig Bajie and Friar Sand, he finally retrieved 35 scriptures from the western Buddhist Leiyin Temple, which made great contributions to Buddhism. Up to now, he is still talked about by people and never forgets his historical achievements.
The Monkey King, a monk, is a great disciple of the Tang Priest, who can change seventy-two times and walk in clouds. A pair of eyes can see through the tricks of ghosts and ghosts; A somersault can turn 108 thousand Li; The weapon used is Ruyi Golden Hoop, which can be changed at will, from embroidery needle to indomitable spirit. Taking Guo Huashan as the king, he claimed to be the Great Sage of Qitian, disturbed the Queen Mother's flat peach victory, stole the old gentleman's elixir of life, defeated 100,000 generals in the Heavenly Palace, overreached himself and killed the Tathagata, and was crushed under the Five Elements Mountain for more than 500 years. Later, after the inspiration of Guanyin Bodhisattva, Tang Priest went to the West to learn Buddhist scriptures and was protected. Monkey King Thrice Defeats the Skeleton Demon surrendered to Hon Hai 'er and put out the flaming mountain. After 81 difficulties, he finally got back the true scriptures. He hates evil, is fearless, persevering and fearless. After learning the scriptures, it was named Doufo.
Pig Bajie, also known as Wuneng, is the second disciple of Tang Priest, who was originally Marshal Tian Peng of the Jade Emperor. He was expelled from heaven for molesting Chang 'e and reincarnated into the world, but he mistakenly threw a pig fetus, and his face was similar to that of a pig. He can transform, he can walk on clouds, and his weapon is palladium with nine teeth. When the Tang Priest passed by Zhan Yundong for Buddhist scriptures, Zhu Bajie was surrendered by the Monkey King. Since then, Pig Bajie has become a good helper for the Monkey King to protect Tang Priest's Buddhist scriptures. Bajie is gentle, honest and simple, and has great strength, but he is lazy. He likes to take advantage of petty advantages and lust after women. He is often fascinated by the beauty of monsters, and it is difficult to tell the enemy from me. He listened to his brother and was loyal to his master, which made a great contribution to Tang Priest's learning from the scriptures. He is a comic figure deeply loved and sympathized by people.
Friar Sand, who has no Buddhist scriptures, was originally the general of the shutter of the Jade Emperor in Tiangong. He was expelled from heaven for violating the dogma and made waves in the quicksand river on earth. The weapon he used was crescent shovel, who had high martial arts and was not afraid of strong enemies. Enlightened by Guanyin Bodhisattva in the South China Sea, he worshipped Tang Priest as a teacher, and together with the Monkey King and Zhu Bajie, he protected Tang Priest's Buddhist scriptures in the West. He has two treasures on him, one is a bodhisattva gourd, and the other is a collar composed of nine skeletons. Later, he took nine planes as the nine palaces, put bodhisattvas and gourds in them, and turned them into a French boat, as steady as a canoe, and successfully helped four people cross the river westward. Friar Sand protects the Tang Priest from going to the Western Heaven for Buddhist scriptures. He works hard, loyal and reliable. After studying Buddhist scriptures, it was named golden body arhat.
Fourth, study feelings.
Through this study, I know that when Wu Cheng'en was a teenager, he liked to listen to stories such as the Huaihe River Water God and the Sangha Great Sage. After middle age, he began to combine the story of Tang Priest's Journey to the West with legends, Buddhist scriptures and folk stories of the Tang Dynasty. Wu Cheng'en was good at painting and calligraphy, and he was versatile. Wrote the famous The Journey to the West. At the same time, I learned about the talents and personalities of the main characters in The Journey to the West.