Monkey: Folk Novel of China

by Wu Cheng’en

Monkey: Folk Novel of China is an abridged retelling of Journey to the West, one of the most legendary works of Chinese literature. The story follows Sun Wukong, the Monkey King, a rebellious trickster who gains immense supernatural powers, defies the laws of heaven, and is ultimately tasked with protecting the monk Xuanzang on a pilgrimage to retrieve sacred scriptures. Full of adventure, humor, and cosmic battles between gods and demons, this novel captures the spirit of rebellion, enlightenment, and chaos—a story where divinity and mischief collide. Read it and see why Sun Wukong remains one of the most enduring figures in mythological and esoteric traditions. Because when the heavens tell you to stay in your place, sometimes you gotta smash the pillars and rewrite the script.