After many years out of print, this famous translation, originally published in 1942, is this autumn back in the bookstores. It is a partial rendering of a 16th-century Chinese classic text, otherwise known as "The Journey to the West," by Wu Cheng-en, a collection of stories about the real-life journeys of a seventh-century monk, Hsuan Tsang.
Here the monk becomes the very mortal and not-too-bright Tripitaka who undertakes a dangerous quest to travel to India to retrieve sacred Buddhist scriptures. In his various adventures he is accompanied by his three disciples, the porcine Pigsy, the riverine Sandy, and miraculous Monkey, himself.
They have their problems as well. Toward the end of the account these are described: "Monkey was by nature too restless, Pigsy too coarse, and Sandy too simple." Yet, like the hero's three helpers in the Momotaro saga, a Japanese tale clearly inspired by this one, they indicate that nevertheless solidarity is the answer to difficulties.