Journey to the West: The Podcast Richard Tseng

Invincible warrior with no respect for authority and a rebel attitude... sound familiar? This week the battle with the Red Boy continues and Monkey calls on an old friend from the Eastern depths. But will it be enough to douse the Samadhi fires that spew from Red Boy's mouth? Find out this week!

After getting caught red-handed for stealing the Queen Mother's peaches, harassment and drinking on the job (but mainly for stealing those peaches), heaven’s forces give the Monkey King a choice: surrender, or war? Naturally, newly-fired peach guardian the Monkey King chooses open rebellion instead of accepting punishment. Is there nobody in the universe strong enough to bring ol’ Monkey to justice?
 
While the Jade Emperor sends for a monster-subduing specialist, heaven’s ‘John Wick’, the god Erlang, the Boddhisattva of Mercy, Guanyin got her own staff-swinging disciple, Moksa! Can he succeed where his brother, Nata, failed?
 
This week, Richard and James meet The Little Sage and witness more transformations than a Michael Bay blockbuster—don’t miss it!

With his forces finally defeated and the rebellious Sun Wukong himself brought to heel, one question remains: How do you punish an immortal when he’s made himself impossible to kill?
 
Everyone from the executioner to the fire department will try to end this monkey’s life. Even history’s most famous Taoist, Lao Tzu tries out his Brazier for an old-fashioned Monkey King smoke out!
 
But if public executions aren’t your thing—have no fear! This week’s episode promises more action, more simian hijinks, and a bitch slap felt 'round the universe because the embodiment of Nirvana himself is in the house. That’s right, Buddha’s here now, and he’s sure to entertain us!

What’s Buddha going to do now that the monkey madness is over? Finish his magnum opus on how to get enlightened, that’s what. And how does an ancient ascended all-knowing awakened one launch a book series before social media and Amazon? By getting Guanyin (see episode 6) to find a worthy monk from the East capable of making the perilous journey to India to get them, that’s how.
 
Now the trip to China’s capital, Chang’an, is no walk in the park even for immortals. So a human monk carrying priceless scriptures is going to need protection. Watch Guanyin’s masterful recruiting skills at work as she uses her mercy and compassion (and inspirational words of wisdom) to convert every monster she meets along the way. Plus, her disciple Moksa’s got a big stick. So when the carrots fail, thrilling combat is bound to ensue!
 
Join Richard and James as we catch up with old Monkey under the mountain and help Guanyin pave the way for some new disciples to Buddha’s cause.

Guanyin’s ready to meet the monk who will retrieve Buddha’s scriptures, and so are we! If you thought Batman’s origin was sad, just wait until you read Xuanzhang’s. It’s got echoes of Moses and Bruce Wayne, with plenty of tragedy and divine intervention to boot.


 
Plus, want an Ancient Chinese government job? Well, get your time machine ready because we’re about to tell you how! Just watch out for bandits and evil ferrymen because the relocation is fraught with peril. 
 
On a more serious note, we also take a brief look at how Ancient Chinese cultures viewed suicide and why it would pop up in an otherwise happy ending to this week’s story.
 
Not exactly a “very special episode” but one you won’t want to miss nonetheless.

We had a really great time sitting down with Jim McClanahan whose blog, Journey to the West Research is a wealth of information on all things Monkey King and his pals. Whether you’re just starting the book with us or you’ve spent more time ruminating on the book than Wukong has spent under Five Phase Mountain, there’s something new for everybody.