A Study of Mythological Elements in "Journey to the West"

• Main Authors: Gu Shu-Ting, 辜淑婷
• Other Authors: 蔡翊鑫
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2011
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/83146462222045952846

碩士 === 玄奘大學 === 宗教學系碩士在職專班 === 99 === The study gives the definition of myth as “General myth” to analyze mythological elements of “Journey to the West”. Here comes further study for the reacting of human while they facing the reality of limited life and evolve into mythological elements, “Paradise Myth” and “Transformation Myth”. Both of them are triggered originally from limited life, limited power to break through limitlessness. This is one kind of desire and reacting against to reality while people experience all kinds of pains in real life. Besides, here also has deeply investigation about “Netherworld Myth” in Chinese people’s mind. Although mythological elements have evolution for thousands of years but they still have very close relationship with Chinese customs until now. Finally, when we mention about mythological elements throughout “Journey to the West” , myths of atoning for relegation and seeking for heroes” . The whole article of “Journey to the West” mainly focused on atoning for relegation of five holy persons, so that there are sayings about western journey now. The mythological elements of “Journey to the West” express the reacting against human real life, and promote the value of literary creation. At the same time, they reveal the meanings, concepts or conflicts hiding beneath “Journey to the West”. The changes of the mythological elements had strong relationship with the politics in ancient China, and influenced social culture profoundly. “Journey to the West” not only reserves the mythological elements in primitive myth, but also integrates the religious and the legendary mythological elements into whole new mythological elements, and creates an abounding mythological world. Thus it can be seen, “Journey to the West” is not only a supernatural novel, but a mythological novel indeed.