Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c10.s3.t3: The Drama of Journey to the West
Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c10.s3.t3
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The Drama of Journey to the West
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‘*Xiyouji Zaju*’ is a musical drama composed by Yang Jingxian (about the 14^th century) in the early Ming Dynasty, or allegedly by Wu Changling (from late 13^th to early 14^th century) in Yuan Dynasty. It consists of six books and 24 acts and is one of the longest dramas.
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Plot
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The venerable Pilujia of the Western Heaven is reincarnated as a baby of lady Yin, the wife of Chen Guangrui, whose family is in difficulties and has to put the new-born baby into a box to drift along the Yangtze River. An old monk of the Jinshan Temple finds the baby, brings him up and gives him the name Xuanzang. He prays for rain in Chang’an and succeeds, and the Emperor thus grants him the title of ‘Tipitakacariya’, and orders him to go to Western
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[Figure: 'Criticism of the Journey to the West drama' by Yang Donglai, 06 scrolls (Yang Donglai xiansheng piping xiyouji zaju liujuan)]
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Heaven for sacred scriptures. Moska, a disciple of Avalokitesvara, gives the White-Dragon Horse to Xuanzang. Sun Xingzhe steals celestial clothes in heaven and Li Jing and Nezha are sent to arrest him. He is put under the Mountain of Flowers and Fruits. Avalokitesvara gives him the name ‘Sun Wukong’ and orders him to follow Xuanzang. The master and the disciple go to the River of Flowing Sand, and there subdue monk Sha. The three encounter with Red Boy in the mountains, and Buddha leads bodhisattvas and heavenly kings to rescue them and subdue Hariti. Zhu Bajie hoaxes and marries a girl, but is seized by Erlang Shen and his dog. He chooses to follow Xuanzang. The four pass by the Kingdom of Women, the queen of which forces Xuanzang to marry her, but they free themselves with the help of Skanda. They then come to the Mountain of Flames, and there Sun Wukong fights with the Princess of Iron Fan. They eventually arrive at the Vulture Peak in central India, and pay respects to Buddha. Accomplishing their mission, Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing pass into parinirvana. Buddha sends four persons to help Xuanzang bring scriptures back to the East Land. At last, Buddha himself escorts Xuanzang up to the Vulture Peak.
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After ‘*The Poetic Tale of the Procurement of Scriptures by Tripitaka of the Great Tang*’ in 9^th or 10^th century, in about the 11^th or 12^th century, *Tang Sanzang* also a Zaju, appeared in northern China. Regrettably, now only the repertoire is extant and the original text is lost. *Xiyouji Zaju*, together with ‘*Tang Sanzang*’ (‘Tripitaka’) and ‘*Xiyouji*’ (‘*The Journey to the West*’), constitutes an entire story of Xuanzang’s pilgrimage, and Xiyouji Zaiju is an important component as well as a product of India-China cultural exchange.
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(*Xue Keqiao*)