Journey to the Western Sky Vol 1: The Rise and Fall of the Monkey King (Journey Western Sky Series)

One of the Four Great Novels of China based on a true historic event that took place in year 629 CE when a Buddhist Monk named Xuanzang went on a 17-year journey to India on the Silk Road that took him through Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Bengal, as well as countries that were under the jurisdiction of Persia. He was an exceptionally intelligent and educated man who could communicate with and impress the foreign rulers, enabling him to receive their protection as he traversed treacherous terrains. A scholar named Wu Cheng’en added many fictional characters into this famous story, including three humorous animal-like characters who became disciples of Xuanzang, protecting him from numerous demons and goblins that they encounter throughout the journey.