TopPodcast.com
Menu
  • Home
  • Top Charts
  • Top Networks
  • Top Apps
  • Top Independents
  • Top Podfluencers
  • Top Picks
    • Top Business Podcasts
    • Top True Crime Podcasts
    • Top Finance Podcasts
    • Top Comedy Podcasts
    • Top Music Podcasts
    • Top Womens Podcasts
    • Top Kids Podcasts
    • Top Sports Podcasts
    • Top News Podcasts
    • Top Tech Podcasts
    • Top Crypto Podcasts
    • Top Entrepreneurial Podcasts
    • Top Fantasy Sports Podcasts
    • Top Political Podcasts
    • Top Science Podcasts
    • Top Self Help Podcasts
    • Top Sports Betting Podcasts
    • Top Stocks Podcasts
  • Podcast News
  • About Us
  • Podcast Advertising
  • Contact
Not in our directory?
Add Show Here
Podcast Equipment
Center

toppodcastlogoOur TOPPODCAST Picks

  • Comedy
  • Crypto
  • Sports
  • News
  • Politics
  • True Crime
  • Business
  • Finance

Follow Us

toppodcastlogoStay Connected

    View Top 200 Chart
    Back to Rankings Page
    Fiction

    Journey to the West: The Podcast

    Join us each week as we take listeners through one of China’s most beloved novels. Meet Sun Wukong the Monkey King, his Buddhist master, Xuanzhang, the lustful monster Pigsy aka Zhu Bajie, and the reformed sand demon, Sha Wujing, and journey with them to India to acquire invaluable Buddhist scriptures.

    This immortal tale has delighted billions of Asian children yet is relatively unknown here in the west. This podcast aims to change that!

    Childhood friends Richard Tseng and James Young will read and review every single chapter of the Anthony C Yu translation of Wu Chen’en’s epic book. Along the way, we’ll bust myths (did the Sun Wukong really burst out of stone?) examine its impact (Which world-famous animes did this legend inspire?) and learn more about Asian culture and its myths overall (which Indian monkey god inspired our monkey king?)

    So quit monkeying around Subscribe, and let’s hit the silk road!

    Advertise

    Copyright: © Copyright 2019. All Rights Reserved.

    • Apple Podcasts
    • Google Play
    • Spotify

    Latest Episodes:
    Chapter 14: Xuanzang and Wukong's First Fight Nov 22, 2019
    Show notes

    The Monkey King meets the king of monks in an encounter that's been a long time coming. And the Journey to the West is officially, finally, underway! Only, the two almost immediately get into a fight and Sun Wukong runs off to have tea with an old friend. How will Xuanzang keep his disciple loyal? Tune in to find out!


    Chapter 13: Some Monsters Invite Xuanzang for Dinner Nov 15, 2019
    Show notes

    This week the venerable Xuanzang, aka Tripitaka, begins his quest for the scriptures! And it goes... about as well as you'd expect from a few naive monks with no fighting or sorcery abilities. But just when all hope is lost, our old friend the Planet Venus makes a cameo, as does a friendly woodcutter and his family in the woods. So stop in for some game and find out why James and Richard call this the "Tom Bombadil" chapter.


    Chapter 12: Imperial Payback Nov 08, 2019
    Show notes

    In which the emperor's attempts to keep all the promises he made in the afterlife leads to the building of a grand temple and the commencement--once and for all--of the Journey to the West.

    If you were wondering what the hell was going on (pun intended) with this extended detour involving a Dragon King, royal brothers, that loan made out in the afterlife, this chapter gives you all the answers. It all had to happen so that Guan Yin could find the right disciple to get the scriptures.

    Join Richard & James this week to see how it all went down!


    Chapter 11: The Emperor Goes to Hell Nov 01, 2019
    Show notes

    It's like Dante's Inferno meets a Christmas Carol in this week's Journey to the West podcast.

    One of the greatest emperors who's ever lived confronts the ghosts of political intrigue's past when he's forced to stand trial for failing to save the Dragon King and then confront his brothers who he killed to get to the throne.

    Talk about a mortifying family reunion! Join Richard and James in this very spooky Halloween episode!


    Chapter 10: Dragon King's Lament Oct 25, 2019
    Show notes

    We go from commoners and lords to emperors and gods in this week's chapter of Journey to the West. Starting with an Ancient Chinese rap battle and ending with one of China's greatest emperors passing away into the great beyond. A dragon head will roll in this week's episode. Don't miss it!


    Episode 10: Journey to the West Research's Jim McClanahan Oct 18, 2019
    Show notes

    We had a really great time sitting down with Jim McClanahan whose blog, Journey to the West Research is a wealth of information on all things Monkey King and his pals. Whether you're just starting the book with us or you've spent more time ruminating on the book than Wukong has spent under Five Phase Mountain, there's something new for everybody.


    Chapter 9: A Sadder Origin Than Batman and Moses Combined Oct 11, 2019
    Show notes

    Guanyin's ready to meet the monk who will retrieve Buddha's scriptures, and so are we! If you thought Batman's origin was sad, just wait until you read Xuanzhang's. It's got echoes of Moses and Bruce Wayne, with plenty of tragedy and divine intervention to boot. Plus, want an Ancient Chinese government job? Well, get your time machine ready because we're about to tell you how! Just watch out for bandits and evil ferrymen because the relocation is fraught with peril. On a more serious note, we also take a brief look at how Ancient Chinese cultures viewed suicide and why it would pop up in an otherwise happy ending to this week's story. Not exactly a "very special episode" but one you won't want to miss nonetheless.


    Episode 8: Guanyin's Quest Oct 04, 2019
    Show notes

    What's Buddha going to do now that the monkey madness is over? Finish his magnum opus on how to get enlightened, that's what. And how does an ancient ascended all-knowing awakened one launch a book series before social media and Amazon? By getting Guanyin (see episode 6) to find a worthy monk from the East capable of making the perilous journey to India to get them, that's how. Now the trip to China's capital, Chang'an, is no walk in the park even for immortals. So a human monk carrying priceless scriptures is going to need protection. Watch Guanyin's masterful recruiting skills at work as she uses her mercy and compassion (and inspirational words of wisdom) to convert every monster she meets along the way. Plus, her disciple Moksa's got a big stick. So when the carrots fail, thrilling combat is bound to ensue! Join Richard and James as we catch up with old Monkey under the mountain and help Guanyin pave the way for some new disciples to Buddha's cause.


    Episode 7: Buddha's Wager Sep 27, 2019
    Show notes

    With his forces finally defeated and the rebellious Sun Wukong himself brought to heel, one question remains: How do you punish an immortal when he's made himself impossible to kill? Everyone from the executioner to the fire department will try to end this monkey's life. Even history's most famous Taoist, Lao Tzu tries out his Brazier for an old-fashioned Monkey King smoke out! But if public executions aren't your thing—have no fear! This week's episode promises more action, more simian hijinks, and a bitch slap felt 'round the universe because the embodiment of Nirvana himself is in the house. That's right, Buddha's here now, and he's sure to entertain us!


    Chapter 6: Monkey King Meets the John Wick of the Great Beyond Sep 20, 2019
    Show notes

    After getting caught red-handed for stealing the Queen Mother's peaches, harassment and drinking on the job (but mainly for stealing those peaches), heaven's forces give the Monkey King a choice: surrender, or war? Naturally, newly-fired peach guardian the Monkey King chooses open rebellion instead of accepting punishment. Is there nobody in the universe strong enough to bring ol' Monkey to justice? While the Jade Emperor sends for a monster-subduing specialist, heaven's 'John Wick', the god Erlang, the Boddhisattva of Mercy, Guanyin got her own staff-swinging disciple, Moksa! Can he succeed where his brother, Nata, failed? This week, Richard and James meet The Little Sage and witness more transformations than a Michael Bay blockbuster—don't miss it!


    Previous 1 8 9 10

    Related Podcasts

    The NoSleep Podcast – Creative Reason Media Inc.

    1

    The NoSleep Podcast – Creative Reason Media Inc. Arts
    Welcome to Night Vale

    2

    Welcome to Night Vale Comedy
    Rabbits

    3

    Rabbits Arts
    Welcome to Night Vale

    4

    Welcome to Night Vale Comedy
    LifeAfter/The Message

    5

    LifeAfter/The Message Arts
    Within the Wires

    6

    Within the Wires Arts
    footer-logo

    Contact Us

    Toll Free: 844-670-7747

    Links

    • Home
    • Top Charts
    • Networks
    • Apps
    • Independents Podcasts
    • Podcast Advertising
    • Podcast News
    • Contact Us
    • About Us
    • Analytics & Insights

    Stay Connected

      Privacy, Terms of Use & Our Code of Ethics Protecting Content Creators Copyrights