Abstract

This thesis aims to study religious tinge in Journey to the west from the fairy-tale language characteristic.

As a fairy-tale novel, the language in Journey to the west is full of fairy-tale color. Wu Chengen uses a humorous method to state his whole attitude towards that time and to reflect religious tinge of Ming dynasty. As a confucianist, his Confucianism thoughts must leave some trail in his work and he maintains feudalism ethics morals in his work. At the same time, the thoughts of Wu Chengen are complex, and this is reflected by his complicated religious thoughts. In Journey to the west, we can notice that Wu Chengen criticizes Taoism and satires Buddhism.

Keywords: Journey to the west; fairy-tale; language characteristic; religious tinge 

Contents

Abstract

摘要

1. Introduction-1

2. Literature review-2

2.1 Languages characteristics in Journey to the west-2

2.2 Religious tinge in Journey to the west-3

3. Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism from the fairy-tale language characteristics in Journey to the west-6

3.1 The Buddhism reflected in Journey to the west-6

3.2 The Taoist characteristics reflected in Journey to the west-9

3.3 Confucianism reflected in Journey to the west-11

4. Reasons analysis-13

4.1 Historical background-13

4.2 The author’s psychology and emotion-14

5. Conclusion-16

Works Cited-18