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Wu Cheng'en

Type Figure Region China Time c. 1500–1582 Also known as Ruzhong、Sheyang Shanren

Wu Cheng'en (c. 1500–c. 1582) was a Ming dynasty novelist and man of letters from Shanyang, Huai'an.

Timeline

  1. 1524–1560Shanyang County, Huai'an Prefecture · Shanyang CountyWu Cheng'en was born in Shanyang, Huai'an, repeatedly failed the juren examination, and later entered the Nanjing Imperial Academy as an annual tribute student. He served as county magistrate of Changxing and Ji-shan of the Jing Prince's mansion, among other posts; his official career was rough, and witnessing the darkness of officialdom gradually gave him thoughts of retiring to his hometown.
  2. 1561–1570Shanyang County, Huai'an Prefecture · Shanyang CountyDuring the Longqing era he resigned and returned home, styling himself 'Sheyang Shanren,' and wrote behind closed doors in Huai'an. This period is believed to be when he mainly composed Journey to the West, forging the historical facts of Xuanzang's pilgrimage with folk legends of the Monkey King into a chapter novel, creating classic figures such as Sun Wukong.
  3. 1571–1582Shanyang County, Huai'an Prefecture · Shanyang CountyIn his later years, beset by poverty and illness, he continued writing poetry and fiction. During the Wanli era the hundred-chapter edition of Journey to the West was printed; though the author's name was obscure, later scholars, drawing on local Huai'an documents and Qing dynasty textual research, largely identified Wu Cheng'en as the book's principal author, establishing his literary standing.

Sources