Deferment and Substitution: Supplement to Journey to the West
Resource
臺大中文學報, 35, 125-156
Journal
臺大中文學報
Journal Issue
35
Pages
125-156
Date Issued
2011-12
Date
2011-12
Author(s)
Abstract
Supplement to Journey to the West (Xiyoubu西遊補) is a sequel to Journey to the West (Xiyouji西遊記). According to its author Dong Yue (董說, 1620-1686), it is subsequent to Xiyouji’s chapter 61, “Three Tricks with the Banana Palm Fan” (三調芭蕉扇), unlike most other sequels in vernacular fiction tradition that continue the last parts of their earlier books. This obvious difference contributes to our understanding of the dialogical relationship between Xiyouji and Xiyoubu.
This paper firstly demonstrates that the narrative of Xiyoubu continually blurs the boundaries of dream spheres and lends a sense of deferment when leading readers to travel through different places with the protagonist Wukong. Given the vague boundary between dreams and reality, readers may wonder whether Wukong is finally awakened from the dream and return to the world of Xiyouji.
The other theme under discussion is substitution. In Xiyouji, Wukong often transforms himself into others to deceive monsters. In Xiyoubu, however, Wukong is disguised as Six-ear Macaque, the one who disguises himself as Wukong in Xiyouji, only to survive. This mutual substitution suggests that the subjectivity of Wukong is deconstructed and substituted. In that sense, the narrative structure of Xiyoubu does not promise an enlightened return to the world of Xiyouji but sophisticatedly negates the possibility of a homecoming to Xiyouji.
Subjects
董說、西遊補、萬鏡樓、延滯、替代Dong Yue (董說), Xiyoubu (西遊補), Tower of Myriad Mirrors (萬鏡樓), deferment (延滯), substitution (替代)
Type
journal article
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