Journey to the West: The Podcast
108 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 2 years ago - ★★★ - 21 ratingsJoin us each week as we take listeners through one of China's most beloved novels. Meet Sun Wukong the Monkey King, his Buddhist master, Xuanzhang, the lustful monster Pigsy aka Zhu Bajie, and the reformed sand demon, Sha Wujing, and journey with them to India to acquire invaluable Buddhist scriptures.
This immortal tale has delighted billions of Asian children yet is relatively unknown here in the west. This podcast aims to change that!
Childhood friends Richard Tseng and James Young will read and review every single chapter of the Anthony C Yu translation of Wu Chen'en's epic book. Along the way, we'll bust myths (did the Sun Wukong really burst out of stone?) examine its impact (Which world-famous animes did this legend inspire?) and learn more about Asian culture and its myths overall (which Indian monkey god inspired our monkey king?)
So quit monkeying around Subscribe, and let's hit the silk road!
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Episodes
Keep on going with Journey of the Monkey King!
September 17, 2021 23:19 - 1 hour - 33.1 MBThis week we take you behind the scenes of the Journey of the Monkey King Podcast. If you're not quite ready to go full enlightened after our last chapter, then listen to Caoimhe and Emjay give you the Chinese classic from a whole new angle. Follow them on social at: https://twitter.com/monkeykingpod https://twitter.com/oakreef https://twitter.com/taoiseachotrash https://instagram.com/emjaystokes/
Chapter 100: You're a Buddha! And You're a Buddha! And... you're a janitor!
September 03, 2021 04:00 - 46 minutes - 19.3 MBThis week marks the conclusion of our Journey to the West! Monkey King and friends become buddhas, bodhisattvas, and arhats. But Tathagata has a special surprise waiting for Wuneng the pig... Thank you all for joining us on this trek, may you all know the root of happiness and be free of suffering!
Chapter 99: Ordeal with it!
August 27, 2021 04:00 - 33 minutes - 14.4 MBGuanyin does some quick math and realizes that the pilgrims, including Monkey King and his master, are one ordeal short of the set needed to achieve enlightenment. So they get dumped on a turtle who reminds Tripitaka of a promise he once made...
Chapter 98: How the West Was One
August 20, 2021 04:00 - 59 minutes - 25.3 MBThe Monkey King has arrived! But first, Tripitaka must cast off his earthly body and cross the river that lies before Thunderclap Mountain, and then just before they get their scriptures, the librarians want a bribe. Could this journey get any harder? Find out this week!
Chapter 97: Monkey Justice! with Monkey King researcher Jim McClanahan
August 13, 2021 04:00 - 1 hour - 40.7 MBAfter the pilgrims' awkward parting last chapter, a group of bandits descend on their hosts' home and kill Squire Kou! Kou's wife blames Wukong and the gang in her grief and everyone gets arrested. No demons and no fighting, yet this is the favorite chapter of JourneyToTheWestResearch.com Find out why this week!
Scott Park Phillips Returns For Our 100th Episode!
August 06, 2021 04:00 - 1 hour - 38.3 MBThis week we are excited to welcome back one of our favorite guests, Scott Park Phillips. In addition to enlightening us on many more fascinating aspects of Journey to the West, Scott is also launching a new course and newsletter. Sign up for fascinating insights at ScottParkPhillips.substack.com
Chapter 96: Monkey and Friends Understay Their Welcome
July 30, 2021 04:00 - 44 minutes - 18.9 MBWhen you're the last 4 monks to be fed by a philanthropist who's vowed to feed 10,000 monks, some partying is bound to ensue. But when everyone but pig Wuneng is tired of all the feasting and try to hit the scripture trail, they offend their host's wife. Ruin a party or scrap the holy mission? Find out this week!
Chapter 95: Silly Rabbit, Tripitaka's Not For Monstrous Deviates!
July 23, 2021 04:00 - 1 hour - 27.4 MBTripitaka's bride-to-be is unmasked as the Jade Hare, her divine owners come calling, and we get a heartfelt reunion between the royal family with the real princess. Plus, we discuss gender dynamics and catcalling during Monkey King's time. Don't miss it!
Chapter 94: As the Wedding Day Looms, Tripitaka's Poetry Blooms!
July 16, 2021 04:00 - 40 minutes - 17.4 MBWith the wedding of Tripitaka to the fiendish princess arranged, the feasting begins! Wuneng's having the time of his life with daily banquets, despite Wujing's disapproving jibes. Tripitaka's composing poetry to deal with his anxiety. But all is not lost, for Monkey's got a plan. Find out what it is this week!
Chapter 93: Forced to Marry a Princess! Will Tripitaka's Journey End Here?
July 09, 2021 04:00 - 49 minutes - 20.8 MBThis week Wukong the Monkey King and the gang hear about a princess who mysteriously turns up at the monastery they're staying in. Later, Tripitaka visits the capital where he's marked for marriage by her doppelganger. What's going on? Find out this week!
Chapter 92: Who's harder to control, a runaway rhino or a pillaging army?
July 02, 2021 04:00 - 34 minutes - 14.1 MBThe epic conclusion of Wukong's war with the sacrifice-demanding, oil-stealing, Buddha-impersonating rhino fiends. Dragon kings, divine forces, and all the brothers get in on the action. But after they've won, can the victors control their forces? Perhaps the most realistic portrayal of cosmic war yet, this week!
The lantern festival with the three oily Buddhas.
June 25, 2021 04:00 - 57 minutes - 23.9 MBThis week the crew attend an annual lantern festival that's so expensive that the townsfolk must starve to afford it. We wonder about what happens to old religious traditions and whether they ever really go away.
Chapter 90: Did anybody lose a nine-headed lion?
June 18, 2021 04:00 - 51 minutes - 21.4 MBThe exciting conclusion to Monkey and friends' fight with the lion kingdom! What started as a dispute over some stolen weapons has turned into an all-out war as the Yellow Lion gets his grandpappy, nine-headed lion and self-proclaimed, "Nine-fold Numina Primal Sage" involved. Will Tripitaka survive being a POW? And where did this lion come from? Find out this week!
Chapter 89: Lions, and lions, and lions, oh my!
June 11, 2021 04:00 - 36 minutes - 15.3 MBWukong, Eight Rules, and Sha Monk discover the stealer of their weapons is none other than the Yellow Lion spirit! Are there other kinds of lions? Apparently so! When the smoke clears, the thief escapes, and returns with more felines than the cast of Cats!
Chapter 88: Wanna be my disciple? Here, hold my weapon!
June 04, 2021 04:00 - 1 hour - 28.5 MBWukong and the gang show their martial magic to three princely challengers who immediately ask to become their disciples. Crisis averted, right? But just because they didn't use violence, doesn't mean they're free from bad karma. More this week!
Chapter 87: This one's for all the bureaucracy-lovers out there!
May 21, 2021 04:00 - 56 minutes - 23.6 MBHaving finally arrived in India, the pilgrims must make it rain, literally. After a fight with his wife, the local prefect knocked over some sacrificial offerings and fed them to his dogs. It hasn't rained ever since. Can Wukong navigate heaven's various departments and proper protocols or will everybody starve? Find out this week!
Chapter 86: Monkey King Sun Wukong, Head Inspector
May 14, 2021 04:00 - 51 minutes - 21.7 MBThe evil Great King of South Mountain is prepping Tripitaka for dinner and he's got a plan to get rid of the elder's disciples: convince them that he's already eaten the Tang Monk! Can the Great King outwit the Monkey King? Find out this week!
Chapter 85: That time the Monkey King "helped" his brother by almost getting him killed.
May 07, 2021 04:00 - 59 minutes - 25.1 MBThis week, we find out what happens when you shave the heads of everyone in a kingdom that's vowed to kill monks, Wukong decides to fight fair by tricking Wuneng into doing it for him, and Tripitaka meets a fellow menu item in the demon's lair. Don't miss it!
Chapter 84: The monkey, the pig, the monk, the sand monster, and the wardrobe
April 30, 2021 04:00 - 54 minutes - 22.6 MBOur pilgrims find themselves outside a kingdom that's vowed to kill 10,000 monks and just needs 4 more to complete the mission. Monkey steals some merchants' clothes and even convinces the innkeeper's wife to let them sleep in their wardrobe. Just then, bandits! How much worse can the monks' luck get? Find out this week!
Chapter 83: She tried to take my master's virginity, so Monkey is suing her father!
April 23, 2021 04:00 - 58 minutes - 23.3 MBThe Fair Girl steals Tripitaka and tries to marry him, again! Monkey's had enough so he takes the Fair Dad, Devaraja Li, to court. The father's response? "I am NOT the father, now die!" Somebody's lying, but who? Find out this week!
Chapter 82: Falling down a sex rabbit hole, and there is no bottom.
April 16, 2021 04:00 - 38 minutes - 15.7 MBTripitaka's getting married! Or, at least he would be if the Fair Girl had her way. This week's over-sexed fiend seeks to take the Tang Monk's virginity, and it's up to Monkey to, ah, explore her bottomless cave and sneak his fruit into her garden. Another innuendo-and-action-packed episode that you won't wanna miss!
Chapter 84: Hands off my stinky root!
April 09, 2021 04:00 - 50 minutes - 20.9 MBWhat did Tripitaka think would happen when he brings a gorgeous demoness into a monastery? After six young monks are found "bone-dry", Monkey pulls a bait and switch. The fiend grabs hold of more than she bargained for this week!
Chapter 81: Hands off my stinky root!
April 09, 2021 04:00 - 50 minutes - 20.9 MBWhat did Tripitaka think would happen when he brings a gorgeous demoness into a monastery? After six young monks are found "bone-dry", Monkey pulls a bait and switch. The fiend grabs hold of more than she bargained for this week!
Chapter 80: When damsels become demons: save them anyway?
April 02, 2021 04:00 - 56 minutes - 23.6 MBTripitaka's got a bad feeling about the dense pine forest they're stuck in. But when they find a beautiful maiden tied to a tree, it's Monkey who calls for caution. Will they save the damsel, even though she's a demoness? Tune in to find out!
Chapter 79: Eat my heart out... but which one?
March 26, 2021 04:00 - 1 hour - 23.2 MBWhen a befuddled king under the influence of an evil Daoist asks to devour your heart, who are the pilgrims to say no? Monkey's only got one question: which one? Two can play at the magical deception game, but when the dust settles only one will be left standing!
Chapter 78: Child sacrifices, sex control, and shadowy demonic conspiracies... what's QAnon doing in my Monkey story?
March 19, 2021 04:00 - 50 minutes - 18.7 MBThis week's chapter has all the elements of a cracking Monkey King caper, folks! A kingdom just like China but for this VERY WRONG THING they do, a heretical Daoist who may be a demon, monkey magic, and Tripitaka scared out of his wits. Plus, we discuss Ken Wilber's take on Jesus and Buddha. Don't miss it!
Chapter 77: Monks, They're What's For Dinner!
March 12, 2021 05:00 - 54 minutes - 22.8 MBThe exciting conclusion to our arc sees the three demon brothers try to steam our poor monks, Dim Sum style. Wukong falls for a fiendish prank, and Gautama Buddha himself makes an appearance!
Chapter 76: Never cut a deal with three demon brothers
March 05, 2021 05:00 - 33 minutes - 14.2 MBWhen Sun Wukong the Monkey King makes the eldest brother promise to give the pilgrims safe passage to the west, his fiendish elephant brother kidnaps Eight Rules. And he's not even the worst brother. Ever heard a monkey poke an elephant in the nostrils? You will this week!
Chapter 75: Monkey King Tastes Like a Real Bad Time
February 26, 2021 05:00 - 57 minutes - 23.6 MBWukong gets devoured by a demon, drinks too much, does calisthenics from inside his foe, and considers making chop suey out of demon guts. So, a typical Friday night for ol' Monkey that you won't find in any of his videogames.
Chapter 74: Sympathy for the Little Devils
February 19, 2021 05:00 - 52 minutes - 21.8 MBPilgrim develops a conscience! After clubbing some fiends to death, he takes a less-violent path and convinces the next bunch of fiends to desert rather than suffer death by golden-staff. Sign of compassion or strategy of war? You decide this week!
Chapter 73: Monkey gets the thousand-eyed stare!
February 12, 2021 05:00 - 49 minutes - 20.3 MBJust when the party thinks they've seen the last of the 7 Spider Women, they arrive at a Daoist Abbey and discover that their host is none other than a fellow student of the dark arts! A real villain, he serves them poisoned tea and even manages to ensnare Wukong with his powerful magic! How will they overcome this thousand-eyed fiend? Find out this week!
Chapter 72: Wuneng Goes Swimming with the Spider-Women
February 05, 2021 05:00 - 37 minutes - 15.5 MBWhen Tripitaka tells his disciples to hang back so he can beg for a meal from some seemingly harmless young maidens, he gets a harrowing reminder of why he was given guardian women. Also, would you rather shoot webs from your wrist or your navel?
Chapter 71: Teaching An Old Wolf New Tricks with the Ol' Switcheroo
January 29, 2021 05:00 - 59 minutes - 24.9 MBWhy are wolves always horny no matter which culture they appear in? How is Monkey gonna wangle his bells this time? The answers and more this week. Plus, special guest and divine goddess Guan Yin returns!
Chapter 70: The Evil King Gets His Bell Rung
January 22, 2021 05:00 - 42 minutes - 17.9 MBHaving cured the king, Wukong and pals must heal the kingdom. The Monkey King once more drops his doctor's coat and picks up the golden staff to rescue the king's kidnapped wives. But ancient definitions of heroism maybe a little less... heroic for modern tastes!
Chapter 69: Paging Dr. Monkey, Your Horse Piss is Ready!
January 15, 2021 05:00 - 57 minutes - 24.1 MBWukong's got just the cure for our ailing king, and it involves every type of medicine in the city, the ashes below an old cooking pot, and their long-suffering horse... will he cure or kill? Tune in to find out!
Chapter 68: Sympathy for the Eunuchs
January 08, 2021 05:00 - 1 hour - 25.6 MBThis week Pilgrim and Wuneng are called upon to heal the emperor. Also, we defend the much-maligned eunuch, a class of people who are no longer around to speak for themselves!
Chapter 67: Don't let your persimmons become pythons!
January 01, 2021 05:00 - 48 minutes - 18.2 MBIt's a slimy, smelly episode as Tripitaka's disciples arrive at a valley filled with rotten persimmons. Worse yet, an evil wind sweeps through the village, swallowing livestock and villagers whole! Everyone's scared, but not Wukong, as he and Wuneng get ready for a deep clean.
Chapter 66: A belly like Santa's and a mission like Jesus', it's the Buddhist Messiah!
December 25, 2020 05:00 - 56 minutes - 21.1 MBWhile we celebrate a certain Christian savior's birthday, Wukong gets a little help from Budai, aka Maitreya Buddha, the prophesied future redeemer of humanity who may have already come before. Turns out he's an even bigger prankster than Monkey!
Chapter 65: The False Buddha with the Thunderclap Trap!
December 18, 2020 05:00 - 50 minutes - 18.9 MBTripitaka's sworn to visit every monastery he passes on his way to the west, even the one that Sun Wukong is convinced is a demonic snare. What's a monkey guardian to do? Find out this week!
Chapter 64: Crafting Knotty Poetry at the Tea Party
December 11, 2020 05:00 - 58 minutes - 21.7 MBTripitaka gets whisked away to a poetry jam with some dirty old geezers by moonlight. While Monkey and his disciples search for him through the brambles, an evil temptress and her maidens arrive to tempt the poor monk. Will they find him in time to save his virtue? Find out this week!
Chapter 63: Never Let Your Daughter Marry an Insect
December 04, 2020 05:00 - 52 minutes - 19.1 MBThe conclusion to the mystery of who robbed the Golden Light Monastery of its relics! Not only do Monkey and pals take on the thief, but an entire family of dragons in their lair too. Will they emerge as dragonslayers or dragon-slain? Find out this week!
Chapter 62: The Life-Changing Magic of Pagoda Sweeping
November 27, 2020 05:00 - 41 minutes - 15.3 MBMonkey and friends arrive at a kingdom where all the Buddhist monks are being punished for a crime they didn't commit! Somebody stole the land's big holy attraction and with it the respect of its neighbors. Will they find the true culprit? Find out this week!
Chapter 61: Taking the Bull By the Fan
November 20, 2020 05:00 - 1 hour - 27 MBIt's the epic conclusion to the Bull Demon King saga! Will Monkey and friends finally extinguish the flames that block their path? And what will become of the Bull Demon King's marriage? The answer to this and more this week!
Chapter 60: That Crab Stole My Ride!
November 13, 2020 05:00 - 54 minutes - 19.9 MBMonkey finally catches up with his old blood brother, the Bull Demon King! But a lot's happened between them in the 500 years since they last saw each other. Can they patch things up and can Wukong borrow his wife's fan? Find out this week!
Chapter 59: You Look Like You Swallowed A Monkey King!
November 06, 2020 05:00 - 33 minutes - 12.4 MBThis week, everyone's favorite Buddhists find their path blocked by a flaming mountain. The only way to put out the fire is with a legendary Palm Leaf fan that just so happens to belong to Princess Iron Fan, wife of Wukong's estranged blood brother, the Bull Demon King! What's the Monkey King to do? Find out this week!
Can Buddha Cure Multiple Monkey Disorder?
October 30, 2020 04:00 - 53 minutes - 19.2 MBThe world reels as two identical Monkey Kings fight for dominance, and no Bodhisattva, Heavenly Emperor, or minion of hell can tell them apart! Can Buddha solve this dual-kong conundrum? Find out this week!
Wujing and the Tale of Two Monkey Kings!
October 23, 2020 04:00 - 44 minutes - 16.3 MBWith Sun Wukong banished, we briefly consider what the tale would be like had Wujing, the most sensible of Tripitaka's disciples, been the one to lead the party west. But we can't ruminate for long as it appears that another Monkey King has taken the first one's place! Monkey hijinks ensue this week!
Chapter 56: The Monkey's Business Goes Too Far
October 16, 2020 04:00 - 39 minutes - 14.5 MBMonkey's always been great at turning demons into meat patties, but when he starts braining bandits, Tripataka is absolutely horrified. Is Sun Wukong beyond redemption or is Tripitaka too much of an idealist? Find out this week!
Chapters 54 - 55 with Katherine Alexander: Woman's World--Tripitaka accepts a queen's proposal, Pilgrim is poisoned!
October 02, 2020 04:00 - 1 hour - 29.2 MBThis week we are joined by Katherine Alexander, Assistant Professor of Chinese at University of Colorado, Boulder for a fresh take on the book's infamous kingdom of women. Why does Tripitaka abandon a queen at the altar? Who poisoned Sun Wukong? Find out this week!
Chapter 53: The Baby-Making River and Tripitaka's Trimesters
September 25, 2020 04:00 - 47 minutes - 17.3 MBThere really is something in the water of the Women State of Western Liang and nobody bothered to tell our poor pilgrims! After quenching their thirsts, Wuneng and Tripitaka find themselves pregnant. Will Sun Wukong and Sha Monk find a cure, or will the party be joined by a piglet and monk baby (monklet?) Find out this week!