The Journey to the West
Journey to the West is a 16th-century Chinese novel attributed to Wu Cheng'en, whose earliest surviving edition was printed in Nanjing in 1592 by the Shidetang Hall. It reimagines the monk Xuanzang's pilgrimage to India. Arthur Waley's abridgement, Monkey, appeared in London in 1942.
- Editions tracked
- 2
- First published
- Shidetang Hall, Nanjing (Jinling), 1592
- First UK edition
- George Allen & Unwin, 1942
The Journey to the West by Wu Cheng'en was first published in 1592. We track 2 editions.
Which edition do you have?
Editions
- Doubleday, Doran & Company1938 Hardback I own The Journey to the West, Doubleday, Doran & Company 1938 Log in to want this
- Allen & Unwin1942 Hardback I own Monkey, Allen & Unwin 1942 Log in to want this
We have not yet researched the issue points for this book. If you know how to tell the first from later printings, tell us and we will credit you once it is checked against a second source.
Awards, adaptations and setting
Adaptations
- The Cave of the Silken Web film, 1927
- Princess Iron Fan animated film, 1941
- Havoc in Heaven animated film, 1961
- Princess Iron Fan film, 1966
- Cave of the Silken Web film, 1967
- Hong Haier film, 1975
- Doraemon: The Record of Nobita's Parallel Visit to the West animated film, 1988
- Son Son II game, 1989
- A Chinese Odyssey film, 1995
- The Monkey King television series, 2001
- A Chinese Tall Story film, 2005
- Monkey King vs. Er Lang Shen film, 2007
Setting and characters
- Set in
- China
- Characters
- Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie, Sha Wujing, White Dragon Horse, Baigujing, Red Boy, Princess Iron Fan, Xuanzang
- Genre
- fantasy, gods and demons fiction, adventure fiction, Taoist literature
Read next
- Followed by
- A Supplement to the Journey to the West
In print
- Editions recorded
- 132 on Open Library, 34 in English
- Wikipedia
- Articles in 73 languages
From Wikidata and Open Library, both CC0. A prize or a new adaptation often lifts demand for the first printing.
Pictures of the book
Freely licensed pictures of the work. They are not necessarily the edition you hold: check the points on each edition's page.
Questions about The Journey to the West
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Know what you are looking at
How to Identify a First Edition
To identify a first edition, check that your copy is the first printing of the first edition. Read the copyright …
Read the guide →6 min readBook Condition Grading: Fine to Poor Explained
Book condition grading uses a six-step trade scale: Fine, Near Fine, Very Good, Good, Fair and Poor. Collectors grade the …
Read the guide →7 min readDust Jackets Explained: Why the Jacket Drives a Book's Value
For most books published since the 1920s, the original dust jacket carries a large share of the value, often most …
Read the guide →Frequently asked questions
How many editions of The Journey to the West are there?
We track 2 editions of The Journey to the West. Each has its own page with how to identify it.
Has The Journey to the West been adapted?
Yes, including +Again (adaptation), Boku no Songokū (comic), Dragon Ball (comic), according to Wikidata.
When was The Journey to the West first published?
The Journey to the West by Wu Cheng'en, Chʻeng-en Wu was first published in 1592.
What should I read after The Journey to the West?
In order, it is followed by A Supplement to the Journey to the West, according to Wikidata.
Where these facts come from
- Journey to the West, Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)
- Journey to the West (Q70784), Wikidata (wikidata.org)
- Monkey (1942), Eton College Library catalogue (catalogue.etoncollege.com)
Every fact on this page was checked against the sources listed. Checked 21 October 2026. Reviewed by Harriet Ellis; read how we check facts.