Journey to the West

The classic Chinese epicl, Journey to the West, is the tale of four travelers (technically five: the Buddhist monk Xuanzang, Monkey, Pig, Sand Demon and a dragon prince who acts as the monk's horse), who experience many thrilling adventures before returning home to China.  This journey is a powerful myth in China, just as the Western frontier myth has been for America, as Chinese empires generally expanded westwards before contracting back upon themselves.

The myth also echoes Lao Tzu (Laozi), the legendary founder of Taoism, whose journey into the vast western desert on his water buffalo was interrupted only long enough for him to write down the Tao Te Ching.  Baum too would make his pilgrimage to the West, moving the family from Chicago to Hollywood in 1910, and calling his new home Ozcot.

Last century the journey to the West was repeated by the Communists’ Long March of 1934, before they retook the East, and the Guomintang retreated West to Chungking during World War II before taking refuge in Taiwan.  Nowadays, Beijing has designs on “its” western provinces, including opening up Tibet.  For the West, its relations with China have been literally a journey to the West, as in the defeat of Japan in World War II, the Korean and Vietnam misadventures and President Nixon’s historic trip to China in 1972.

The image below is from Shanghai Puppet Theatre's advertising for Monkey King Conquers The White Boned Demon. Interesting choice...