Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Monkey’s Journey to the West: How Manifold Versions of One Translation Helped to Disseminate a Classic Chinese Original

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Encountering China’s Past

Part of the book series: New Frontiers in Translation Studies ((NFTS))

  • 514 Accesses

Abstract

Many efforts have been made to facilitate the worldwide circulation of Journey to the West, a classical Chinese literary canon. This article studies the dissemination of Journey by focusing on one of its many English translations, namely Monkey: A Folk-tale of China. Monkey was first translated by Arthur David Waley and originally published by George Allen & Unwin in London in 1942. Based on actor-network theory, this research explores the agents that generated, and the dynamics that underpinned the network of translations (different versions of Monkey), which in turn extensively increased the circulation of the translation (Monkey). Discussions will be made based on the correspondence exchanged between a wide range of translation agents participating in the production of the English versions and the many re-translations of Monkey. Supporting data from other sources such as A Bibliography of Arthur Waley (Johns, A Bibliography of Arthur Waley, The Athlone Press, London, 1988) will be referenced where necessary. Through analysing how translation agents assembled, together with necessary resources (i.e. people and material objects), to produce and promote Monkey, the article reveals the very particular and practical translational and material conditions under which the many versions of Monkey were produced and disseminated. The article emphasises that, besides the translator, publishers were crucial in translation production and promotion, and therefore, publisher agencies should not be downplayed in translation studies.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1. 1.

    Although disputes exist over the authorship of the novel (e.g. Cai 1990 and Wu 2002).

  2. 2.

    The Tang Dynasty is the imperial dynasty that rules ancient China from 618 to 907 CE.

  3. 3.

    The full number of Indian vernacular languages that Monkey was translated into is not clear.

  4. 4.

    The same also applies to all versions except for the GA&U edition and its reprints.

References

  • Bogic, A. 2010. Uncovering the Hidden Actors with the Help of Latour: The ‘Making’ of The Second Sex. MonTI. Monografías de Traducción e Interpretación, Sin mes, 173–192.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cai, T. 1990. 关于百回本 《西游记》作者之争的思考与辩证 [Thoughts and Arguments on the Author of Journey to the West]. Journal of Ming-Qing Fiction Studies Z1: 319–332.

    Google Scholar 

  • ———. 2007. 《西游记的诞生》 [The Origins of Journey to the West]. Beijing: Zhonghua Book Company.

    Google Scholar 

  • ———. 2010. 《西遊記》資料彙編 [A Compilation of Xi You Ji Materials]. Beijing: Zhonghua Book Company.

    Google Scholar 

  • Callon, M. 1986. Some Elements of a Sociology of Translation Domestication of the Scallops and the Fishermen of St Brieux Bay. In Power, Action and Belief: A New Sociology of Knowledge? ed. J. Law, 196–233. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cao, B. 2010. 《西游记》现存版本系统叙录 (A Systematic Study on the Existent Versions of Journey to the West) Journal of Huaihai Institute of Technology (Humanities & Social Sciences Edition) 8 (10):16–21.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen, Q. 2007. 四大名著版本知多少 (The Editions of the Four Chinese Classics). 中国图书商报 (China Book Business Report), Beijing, 21 December 11.

    Google Scholar 

  • He, M., and S. He. 2016. 《西游记》 的漫漫‘西游’路 (Xi You Ji’s Long ‘Journey to the West’). 中国作家网 (China Writers Net), 19 May. Available at: http://www.chinawriter.com.cn/wxpl/2016/2016-05-19/272630.html [Accessed: 22 March 2021]

  • Holman, V. 2008. Print for Victory: Book Publishing in Britain 1939–1945. London: British Library.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hu, S. 1994. Introduction to the American Edition. In C. Wu Monkey: Folk Novel of China, trans. Waley, A.D., 1–5. New York: Grove Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jia, N. 2012. 《大话西游》 与 《悟空传》 视角下的 《西游记》(Journey to the West in ‘a Chinese Odyssey’ and ‘a Legend of Wukong’). 文教资料 (Data of Culture and Education) 33: 89–91.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johns, F.A. 1988. A Bibliography of Arthur Waley, 2nd ed. London: The Athlone Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Latour, B. 1987. Science in Action: How to Follow Scientists and Engineers through Society. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • ———. 2007. Reassembling the Social: An Introduction to Actor-Network-Theory. New York: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Li, X. 2006. 孙悟空形象在明末清初续作中之演变 [The Evolution of the Image of the Monkey in the Sequels to Journey to the West in the Late Ming Dynasty and the Early Qing Dynasty]. Journal of Ming-Qing Fiction Studies 4: 174–184.

    Google Scholar 

  • Li, R. 2014. Studies on Chinese-English Translation of Proper Name of Journey to the West from the Perspective of Text World Theory. PhD thesis, Shanghai International Studies University, Shanghai.

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu, Y. 1984. 一部传神的译作——简评亚瑟•威利的《猴子》 [A Vivid Translation: A Brief Review on Arthur Waley’s Monkey]. Chinese Translators Journal 3 (3): 41.

    Google Scholar 

  • Luo, W. 2020. Translation as Actor-Networking: Actors, Agencies, and Networks in the Making of Arthur Waley’s English Translation of the Chinese ‘Journey to the West’. New York: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morgan, G. 1974. Monkey (Book Review). Asian Affairs 5 (2): 220.

    Google Scholar 

  • Perlmutter, R. 1971. Arthur Waley and His Place in the Modern Movement Between the Two Wars. ProQuest Dissertations Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Priest, A. 1943. Monkey (Book Review). Far Eastern Survey 12 (13): 134.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Records of George Allen and Unwin Ltd (UoR AUC), Manuscript Number: MS 3282, University of Reading, Special Collections, Reading.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stefan, S. 2020. A Tale of Two Translations: Arthur Waley’s and Anthony C. Yu’s Journeys to the West. MA thesis, Nankai University, Tianjin.

    Google Scholar 

  • TNS Opinion & Social. 2012. Europeans and Their Languages. Special eurobarometer 386, European Commission. Available at: https://ec.europa.eu/commfrontoffice/publicopinion/archives/ebs/ebs_386_en.pdf [Accessed: 18 March 2021]

  • Turner, W. J. 1942. Monkey (Book Review). The Spectator 169 (5953), 31 July, 109.

    Google Scholar 

  • Unwin, S. 1960. The Truth About a Publisher: An Autobiographical Record. London: George Allen & Unwin.

    Google Scholar 

  • Waley, A. 1994. Preface. In The Way and Its Power: Lao Tzu’s Tao Tê Ching and Its Place in Chinese Thought, trans. T. Lao and A. Waley. New York: Grove Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang, L. 1980. 《西游记》外文译本概述 [An Overview of the Translations of Xi You Ji]. The Documentation 4: 64–78.

    Google Scholar 

  • ———. 1999.《西游记》在海外 (Journey to the West Overseas). 古典文学知识/The Knowledge of Classical Literature 4: 117–126.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang, W., and Y. Li. 2018. A Study on Arthur Waley’s Alteration and Simplification of Xiyouji (Journey to the West). Journal of Zhejiang International Studies University 1: 68–73.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang, X. 2004. 中国小说续书的历史发展 (The Historical Development of Sequels of Chinese Novels). PhD Thesis, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wong, L. K. P. 2013. Seeking the Golden Mean: Arthur Waley’s English Translation of the Xi You Ji. Babel, 59 (3): 360–380.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wu, C. 1994. Monkey: Folk Novel of China, trans. Waley, A. D. New York: Grove Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wu, S. 2002. 究竟谁是造物主: 《西游记》 作者问题综考辨证录 (Who Was the Creator: An Overview of the Existing Thoughts and Analysis on the Author Problem of Journey to the West). Journal of Ming-Qing Fiction Studies 4: 4–28.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yang, S. 2008. Arthur Waley’s Creatively Treasonous Translation of The Journey to the West. MA Thesis, Capital Normal University, Beijing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yao, X. 2006. 古典名著的电视剧改编 [TV Series Adaptations of Classics]. Beijing: CUCP (Communication University of China Publishing).

    Google Scholar 

  • Yu, A. C. 1977. Preface. In The Journey to the West, trans. C. Wu, A. C. Yu, Vol. 1, ix–xii. London: The University of Chicago Press,

    Google Scholar 

  • Zheng, J., and Y. Wu 2012. 《西游记》百年英译的描述性研究 (A Descriptive Study on the Translation History of Journey to the West). Social Sciences in Guangxi 10 (208): 148–153.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhu, H. 2012. A Study of the Composition of the Journey to the West from the Perspective of Western Literary Theory. Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art 5: 63–69.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhu, M. 《西游记》域外经典化的过程 (The Canonisation of Journey to the West Overseas). Chinese Social Sciences Net, 14 November. Available at: http://econ.cssn.cn/skjj/skjj_jjgl/skjj_xmcg/201611/t20161114_3274582.shtml [Accessed: 21 March 2021]

  • Zhu, Y., and Y. Liu 1983. 《西游记》资料汇编 [A Compilation of Xi You Ji Materials]. 河南 [Henan]: 中州书画社 [Zhongzhou Shuhua Publishing].

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This research is supported by the postdoctoral scheme of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and the Project of Technology Consulting Expert, Shanxi Province (山西省科技咨询专家项目).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong

    Wenyan Luo

  2. Shanxi University, China & Durham University, Durham, UK

    Binghan Zheng

Authors
  1. Wenyan Luo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Binghan Zheng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Binghan Zheng .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia

    Lintao Qi

  2. Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia

    Shani Tobias

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2022 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Luo, W., Zheng, B. (2022). Monkey’s Journey to the West: How Manifold Versions of One Translation Helped to Disseminate a Classic Chinese Original. In: Qi, L., Tobias, S. (eds) Encountering China’s Past. New Frontiers in Translation Studies. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-0648-0_6

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation