Journey to the West (1986)
Synopsis
The 1986 CCTV adaptation of Wu Cheng'en's classic Ming Dynasty novel, directed by Yang Jie and starring Liu Xiao Ling Tong as the Monkey King. With a Douban rating of 9.7, it is one of the highest-rated and most-watched Chinese TV dramas ever made, achieving over 80% viewership and more than 3,000 rebroadcasts.
Overview
The 1986 version of Journey to the West is a mythological television drama produced by China Central Television (CCTV), adapted from Wu Cheng'en's classic Ming Dynasty novel of the same name. Directed by Yang Jie, the series stars Liu Xiao Ling Tong (Zhang Jinchun), Chi Chongrui, Ma Dehua, and Yan Huaili. Filming began in 1982, with the first 11 episodes premiering during the Spring Festival in 1986, and all 25 episodes completed by 1988.
This series is a milestone in Chinese television history. Upon its broadcast, it achieved a staggering viewership rate of over 80%, has been rebroadcast more than 3,000 times, and is widely regarded as "an un-surpassable classic." It holds a Douban rating of 9.7 out of 10, making it one of the highest-rated Chinese TV dramas of all time.
Plot
Journey to the West tells the story of a Tang Dynasty monk, Tang Sanzang (Tripitaka), who travels westward to India (Tianzhu) to obtain Buddhist scriptures, accompanied by three disciples — Sun Wukong (the Monkey King), Zhu Bajie (Pigsy), and Sha Wujing (Sandy). Along the way, the four travelers endure 81 tribulations, battling demons and supernatural creatures.
Sun Wukong (played by Liu Xiao Ling Tong) is the most beloved character in the series. Born from a magical stone, he wreaked havoc in Heaven and was imprisoned under the Five Elements Mountain by the Buddha for 500 years. Freed by Tang Sanzang, he becomes the monk's disciple and protector, wielding the magical Ruyi Jingu Bang (golden staff), possessing 72 transformations and the ability to somersault across vast distances, serving as the core force of the pilgrimage.
Major story arcs include: Sun Wukong's Havoc in Heaven, Three Strikes Against the White Bone Demon, Three Borrowings of the Banana Leaf Fan, Battle with Red Boy, Stealing the Ginseng Fruit, Contest of Magic in Chechi Kingdom, and the True and False Monkey King.
Cast
| Role | Actor | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sun Wukong (Monkey King) | Liu Xiao Ling Tong (Zhang Jinchun) | From a family of Shao Opera monkey specialists, hailed as "the most beautiful Monkey King" |
| Tang Sanzang (Tripitaka) | Chi Chongrui / Wang Yue / Xu Shaohua | Three actors portrayed the role across different stages |
| Zhu Bajie (Pigsy) | Ma Dehua | Comic relief, gluttonous but loyal |
| Sha Wujing (Sandy) | Yan Huaili | Honest and steady, the burden-carrier |
| White Dragon Horse | Wang Bozhao | Third son of the Dragon King of the Western Sea |
| Guanyin Bodhisattva | Zuo Dafen | Iconic compassionate figure |
| Buddha | Zhu Longguang | Majestic and dignified |
Production
The production of this series is itself a legend. Director Yang Jie spent six years, traveling across China's famous mountains and rivers for on-location shooting under extremely limited funding — the entire series was produced on a budget of approximately 3 million RMB. The crew had fewer than ten camera operators and only one camera, yet managed to create an epic mythological world.
The production employed cutting-edge (for the time) chroma key compositing and model animation. Despite rudimentary conditions, they creatively achieved mythological effects like "riding the clouds" and "72 transformations." Liu Xiao Ling Tong underwent years of specialized monkey opera training for his role, and his performance is widely recognized as the definitive Sun Wukong in Chinese television history.
Cultural Impact
The 1986 Journey to the West has had a profound influence on Chinese popular culture:
- National Memory: Virtually every Chinese person has seen this series; it is a shared memory across generations
- Iconic Music: The theme music Yungong Xunxun and ending song Gan Wen Lu Zai He Fang, composed by Xu Jingqing, remain beloved to this day
- Cultural Export: The series aired across many Asian countries, serving as an important window for understanding Chinese mythology
- Broadcast Record: Estimated at over 3,000 cumulative rebroadcasts, setting a record in Chinese television history
- Benchmark for Remakes: Every subsequent adaptation of Journey to the West has been compared to the 1986 version, with few able to surpass it
References
- Douban - Journey to the West (1986): movie.douban.com/subject/1860099
- Baidu Baike - Journey to the West (1986 TV series): baike.baidu.com/item/西游记
- Wikipedia - Journey to the West (1986 TV series): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Journey_to_the_West_(1986_TV_series)
- CCTV Drama Channel Archives
- Yang Jie, "My Youth, My Journey to the West"
Stills & Gallery
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