Journey to the West

[ajollypyruvate]

I have now read many versions of of this story. I've read children's books, a Pictorial Series, humourous versions, reinventions, and more. So I thought it was just about time I sat down and read a complete and true-to-the-original translationI never made it through the 3rd volume. I just couldn't take it. The style was just too annoying for me and

Comments

[leaf_kunoichi]

Sounds like when I read Romance of the Three Kingdoms.

[ajollypyruvate]

I've liked the comic versions and, after this experience, am now afraid to read any of the "Classics" in their true-to-the-original form.

[alienfish]

Ooh, don't forget the anime! The U.S. called it "Spaceketeers"!

[ajollypyruvate]

A-ha ha ha! I had no idea! I have a VHS of "Monkey God" (the DVD version is better) and I'm agog to see Princess Iron Fan when I have means by which to do so.

There was an excellent animated series on, I think, the local Channel 32 (or maybe 26 but I think 32) about 10 years ago (maybe more?) but there were no English subtitles. I actually don't remember there being any subtitles, so it may not even have been in Chinese. I'd love to see it again, too!

edit: Well, whattayaknow. I don't remember there being subtitles but I'm either wrong (probable) or it was dubbed in a different language at the time I saw it (possible).

[alienfish]

Oh, this is lovely! Actually, I was referring to something else!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulvAlt0pbbk Starzinger!

[ajollypyruvate]

My edit was referring to my not knowing who broadcast that other animated series, which was shown on one of two channels that were for the non-English/Spanish speaking Americans. :) I'd never heard of Starzinger nor, obviously, seen it. It looks as if that protagonist lacks the essential flair for being tied to pillars every third day, though. I now consider this a crucial element to any good JttW story :D

[seiberwing]

I just remember a few episodes of the anime. I remember liking it, but I also remember being ten at the time.

[ajollypyruvate]

The other versions I've read were absolutely worth and I recommend all of them. The children's series runs to 34 books, however, and my library didn't have them all. I liked how the characters were drawn in the Opera-style.

There's a DVD version of Legends of the Monkey King that is decidedly better than the VHS version but it's just the first part of the story.

[harumi]

Despite it being one of the most beloved and famous tales in east Asia, I have yet to meet anyone in my mountain of relatives who have actually read the originals. Yet everybody knows the stories in full detail, and we all have particulars we especially loved.

So yeah, I don't think it's really necessary to read them. I do wonder if part of the fail is because of the translation. After all repetitive words and long-winded idioms and metaphors don't sound half as bad in Chinese as it does in English.

[ajollypyruvate]

It's definitely the difference between the two story-telling traditions that killed it for me. I think Japanese has a similar tradition: repetitions of a word or phrase for evoking mood, for conjuring up poetic images, for pure style, etc., and it doesn't translate well for many English speakers, myself included. I found it to be tiresome and annoying. Really bummed about it; I love this story and had high hopes of settling down for a good weekend's work with all four volumes.

-Very- happy with all the other versions, though. The Pictorial Series did a great job with their translation and the pictures were gorgeous. That one was probably the most straight-forward of all the versions I've read; geared more for adults but without all the "fripperies" of language that tormented me in this other translation.