Chinese · 1500–1582
Wu Cheng'en synthesized centuries of folklore, drama, and oral tradition into Journey to the West, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. Based on the historical pilgrimage of the monk Xuanzang to India, the novel transforms the journey into comic fantasy, with the Monkey King Sun Wukong—irrepressible, powerful, and mischievous—stealing the show from the human pilgrim. Wu spent most of his life in obscurity near Huai'an, failing repeatedly at the civil service examinations. The novel was published anonymously; his authorship, though widely accepted, remains debated. The Monkey King has become one of the most beloved characters in all Asian popular culture.