Journey to the West

High school (ages 12+)
Art & Creativity

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/journey-to-the-west

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the literary period?Ming Dynasty (published circa 1592)
2. What is the historical basis?The 7th-century pilgrimage of the monk Xuanzang to India
3. What is Journey to the West about?It is a Chinese story about a monk named Tang Sanzang who travels to get sacred books, and he is helped by a monkey king, a pig demon, and a river ogre. They face many adventures and learn about faith and perseverance.
4. Who is the monkey king in the story?The monkey king is Sun Wukong, born from a stone egg. He is powerful and rebellious, but he learns to protect the monk and follow discipline.

Mahayana Buddhism: A major branch of Buddhism emphasizing compassion and the path to Buddhahood for all beings.
Dharma: The teachings of the Buddha; the cosmic law and order.
Allegory: A story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one.