''Journey to the West'' is a Chinese television series adapted from the classic 16th-century novel of the same title. The series was first broadcast on

CCTV Closed-circuit television (CCTV), also known as video surveillance, is the use of video cameras to transmit a signal to a specific place, on a limited set of monitors. It differs from broadcast television in that the signal is not openly t ...

in China on 1 October 1986. The series became an instant classic in China and was praised for being one of the most original and faithful interpretations. Unadapted portions of the original story were later covered in the second season, which was released in 1999. CCTV released the entire series online on YouTube and in addition has an edited version (all episodes are 45 minutes long) with English subtitles, making a total of 40 episodes instead of the original 41.

List of episodes

Season 1

Season 1 has 25 episodes and covers 74 chapters of the novel. The first trial episode was aired on 1 October 1986, and filming lasted until 1987. It was aired as a whole series in 1988. With the limited but relatively new special effects, the series received a viewership rate of 89.4% in 1987. The series has been rebroadcast every year since then. As of 2012, the series has been repeated on Chinese local channels more than 2,000 times.老剧再抢暑期档 86版《西游》重播超2000次
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Season 2

Season 2 has 16 episodes (covers another 25 chapters of the novel). Filming began in 1998 and finished in 1999. It was broadcast on CCTV in 2000. The internal story of the second season has the four protagonists relating to

Emperor Taizong of Tang Emperor Taizong of Tang (28January 59810July 649), previously Prince of Qin, personal name Li Shimin, was the second emperor of the Tang dynasty of China, ruling from 626 to 649. He is traditionally regarded as a co-founder of the dynasty ...

via flashbacks of their travels and adventures, (namely those episodes not depicted in the first series) upon their return to China. Season 2 differs from the format of the first season, as most episodes end on a cliffhanger, with conflicts being resolved and new ones encountered in the middle of episodes in a more fluid timeline.

Cast

:''Some of the actors played multiple roles while certain roles were played by multiple actors''

Season 1

Main cast

Liu Xiao Ling Tong Zhang Jinlai (; born 12 April 1959), better known by his stage name Liu Xiao Ling Tong (), is a Chinese actor, best known for his role as the Monkey King (Sun Wukong) in the 1986 television series '' Journey to the West'' () adapted from the cl ...

Sun Wukong The Monkey King, also known as Sun Wukong ( zh, t=孫悟空, s=孙悟空, first=t) in Mandarin Chinese, is a legendary mythical figure best known as one of the main characters in the 16th-century Chinese novel ''Journey to the West'' ( zh, ...

*Wang Yue (episodes 6, 9, 10), Xu Shaohua (episodes 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 14-16), Chi Chongrui (episodes 13, 17-25) as

Tang Sanzang Tang Sanzang () is a central character in the 16th century novel ''Journey to the West'' by Wu Cheng'en. Tang Sanzang is based on the historical Buddhist monk Xuanzang. He is also widely known by his courtesy name, Tang Seng, () or Sanzang (). ...

* Ma Dehua as

Zhu Bajie Zhu Bajie (), also named Zhu Wuneng, is one of the three helpers of Tang Sanzang and a major character of the 16th century novel ''Journey to the West''. Zhu means " swine" and Bajie means " eight precepts". Buddhist scholars consider that both e ...

Yan Huaili Yan Huaili (; 24 July 1936 – 12 April 2009) was a Chinese actor best known for his role as Sha Wujing in the 1986 television series ''Journey to the West''. Yan was a member of the Revolutionary Committee of the Kuomintang. Early life Ya ...

Sha Wujing Sha Wujing () is one of the three disciples of the Buddhist pilgrim Tang Sanzang in the 16th century novel ''Journey to the West'' written by Wu Cheng'en in the Ming dynasty, although versions of his character predate the Ming novel. In the sour ...

Other cast

:''Listed in order of appearance'' * Guan Yunjie as Puti Zhushi * Xiang Han as Horse Monkey * Ma Dehua as White Haired Monkey * Xiong Ni as Monkey * Zhang Yushan as

Jade Emperor The Jade Emperor or Yudi ( or , ') in Chinese culture, traditional religions and myth is one of the representations of the first god ( '). In Daoist theology he is the assistant of Yuanshi Tianzun, who is one of the Three Pure Ones, the three ...

* Yan Huaili as Thousand Li Eye * Xiang Han as Wind Following Ear * Li Yonggui as Old shopkeeper * Li Lianyi as Official * Wang Zhongxin as

Taibai Jinxing Taibai Jinxing () is a deity in Chinese folk religion and Taoism. He is the son of Bai Di, the White Emperor, and his name means 'Evening Star'. The Fengshen Yanyi refers to him as an aide in the entourage of the Jade Emperor. In Chinese astr ...

* Wang Yuli as Li Jing * Xiang Han as Fishmonger * Yan Huaili as Old man * Bai Chunxiang as Servant boy * Li Xijing as

Dragon King of the East Sea Ao Guang (; or ) is the Dragon King of the East Sea in Chinese folklore. He featured prominently in different works including ''Fengshen Yanyi'' and ''Journey to the West''. ''Fengshen Yanyi'' According to the ''Fengshen Yanyi'', after the passa ...

* Liu Jiang as

King Yama Yama (Devanagari: यम) or Yamarāja (यमराज), is a deity of death, dharma, the south direction, and the underworld who predominantly features in Hindu and Buddhist religion, belonging to an early stratum of Rigvedic Hindu deities. ...

* Wang Zhishan as Wuqu Xingjun * Lin Zhiqian as Demon King of Chaos * Han Shanxu as Single Horned Devil King * Yan Huaili, Wang Futang as Bull Demon King * Qian Yongkang as

Juling Shen Juling Shen () is a gigantic river god in Chinese mythology. He is usually associated with the Yellow River. Splitting Mount Hua It is said that Juling Shen split Mount Hua into two halves with his hands and feet so that the Yellow River coul ...

* Yan Huaili as Official * Zhang Jidie as Official * Xiang Han and Li Jiancheng as Black and White Guards of Impermanence * Ai Jinmei, Yang Bin as

Nezha Nezha ( 哪吒) is a protection deity in Chinese folk religion. His official Taoist name is "Marshal of the Central Altar" (). He was then given the title "Third Lotus Prince" () after he became a deity. Origins According to Meir Shahar, Nezh ...

* Zheng Rong, Yan Huaili as

Taishang Laojun Daode Tianzun (), also known as Taishang Laojun () is a high Taoist god. He is the Taiqing (太清, lit. the Grand Pure One) which is one of the Three Pure Ones, the highest divinities of Taoism. Laozi is regarded to be a manifestation of Daode ...

* Lin Zhiqian as

Erlang Shen Erlang Shen () or Erlang, also known as the Lord of Sichuan (), is a Chinese god with a third truth-seeing eye in the middle of his forehead. Erlang Shen may be a deified version of several semi-mythical folk heroes who helped regulate China ...

* Zhu Bingqian as

Taiyi Zhenren Taiyi Zhenren () is a deity in Chinese religion and Taoism. ''Taiyi'' () means "primordial unity of yin and yang" and ''Zhenren'' () is a Daoist term for "Perfected Person". According to the opening of the classical novel '' Fengshen Bang'', he ...

Zuo Dabin Zuo Dabin (; born 22 October 1943), also known by her art name Honghui (), is a Chinese actress and educator best known for her role as Guanyin in ''Journey to the West''. She was a member of the 7th and 8th National Committee of the Chinese P ...

Guanyin Guanyin () is a Bodhisattva associated with compassion. She is the East Asian representation of Avalokiteśvara ( sa, अवलोकितेश्वर) and has been adopted by other Eastern religions, including Chinese folk religion. She ...

* Guo Wei, Ren Fengpo as Lingji Bodhisattva * Zhao Quan, Ye Yimeng as

Manjusri Mañjuśrī (Sanskrit: मञ्जुश्री) is a ''bodhisattva'' associated with '' prajñā'' (wisdom) in Mahāyāna Buddhism. His name means "Gentle Glory" in Sanskrit. Mañjuśrī is also known by the fuller name of Mañjuśrīkumārab ...

* Chi Zhaopeng, Guo Wei, Jin Genxu as

Samantabhadra Samantabhadra (Lit. "All Good", or "Always Auspicious") may refer to: * Samantabhadra (Bodhisattva), a bodhisattva in Mahayana Buddhism associated with practice and meditation * ''Samantabhadra'' (Tibetan: ''Kuntu Zangpo''), the name of a Buddha, ...

* An Yunwu, Li Runsheng and Yang Yuzhang as

Fu Lu Shou The Sanxing () are the gods of the three stars or constellations considered essential in Chinese astrology and mythology: Jupiter, Ursa Major, and Canopus. Fu, Lu, and Shou (), or Cai, Zi and Shou () are also the embodiments of Fortune ( Fu), pr ...

* Wu Guiling as Immortal Zhenyuan * Kong Rui, Xiang Han as Earth Deity * Wang Xueqin, Zhang Yanyan as Seventh Fairy * Zhang Jingdi as Immortal Crane * Wan Fuxiang as

Queen Mother of the West The Queen Mother of the West, known by various local names, is a mother goddess in Chinese religion and mythology, also worshipped in neighbouring Asian countries, and attested from ancient times. From her name alone some of her most importan ...

* Han Shanxu, Jin Genxu as Barefoot Immortal * Xu Qing as Red Dress Boy * Xiang Han as Ananda * Li Jiancheng as

Mahākāśyapa Mahākāśyapa ( pi, Mahākassapa) was one of the principal disciples of Gautama Buddha. He is regarded in Buddhism as an enlightened disciple, being foremost in ascetic practice. Mahākāśyapa assumed leadership of the monastic community fol ...

* Ma Ling as Dancing fairy * Zhang Zhiming as

* Guo Jiaqing as

's incarnation * Xu Shaohua as Chen Guangrui *

Ma Lan Ma Lan (born 23 April 1962) is a Chinese performing artist of Huangmei opera who usually plays '' dan'' (female) roles. Before her abrupt (and unannounced) departure from the stage in 2000, Ma Lan was considered the most popular Huangmei opera p ...

as Miss Yin * Han Shanxu as Liu Hong * Li Jiancheng as Teahouse keeper * Zhu Longguang as

Buddha Siddhartha Gautama, most commonly referred to as the Buddha, was a śramaṇa, wandering ascetic and religious teacher who lived in South Asia during the 6th or 5th century BCE and founded Buddhism. According to Buddhist tradition, he was ...

* Qiu Peining as

Chang'e Chang'e ( ; , alternatively rendered as Chang-Er or Ch‘ang-o), originally known as Heng'e, is the Chinese goddess of the Moon. She is the subject of several legends in Chinese mythology, most of which incorporate several of the following elem ...

* Wang Bozhao as

White Dragon Horse The White Dragon Horse, known as Bai Long Ma () in Chinese, is one of the main characters in the 16th-century Chinese novel ''Journey to the West''. He is Tang Sanzang's steed who later became Babu Tianlong Guangli Bodhisattva (八部天龙广力� ...

* Yan Huaili as Dragon King of the West Sea * Li Longbin, Yu Weijie as Nine Headed Bug * Han Shanxu as Old man * He Yi as Boy * Xu Chuan as Liu Boqin * Xiang Han, Ma Dehua, Yang Bin, He Yi, Li Runsheng, Li Lianyi as robbers * Cheng Zhi as Jinchi Elder * Li Yonggui as Monk Guangzhi * Xiang Han as Black Wind Demon * Lin Zhiqian as Virapaksa * Cheng Weibing as Lingxuzi * Kong Rui as Squire Gao * Gao Yuqian as Mrs Gao * Wei Huili as Squire Gao's daughter * Xiang Han as Gao Cai * Zhang Jidie as Dibao * Xiang Ling as Maid * Sun Fengqin as

Lishan Laomu Líshān Lǎomǔ () is the goddess of Mount Li in Chinese religion. She is a popular female immortal in the Taoist pantheon, and a high-ranking one according to some late sources. Her origins are said to derive from Nü Wa, the legendary creat ...

* Guo Jiaqing as Yellow Wind Demon * Shen Huifen as Zhenzhen * Yang Fengyi as Ai'ai * He Jing as Lianlian * Ren Fengpo as Lingji Bodhisattva * Yang Bin as Muzha * Xu Ye as Fairy * Zhang Jidie as Tiger Vanguard * Wang Yang as Qingfeng * Cai Lin as Mingyue * Yang Qingxia as White Bone Demoness * Huang Fei as Old man * Liu Huimin as Old woman * Yang Jun as Village woman * Li Hongchang as Black Fox Demon * Li Lianyi as Skeleton Demon * Ren Fengpo as Yellow Robe Demon * Gu Lan as King of Baoxiang * Liu Bing as Baihuaxiu * Han Fengxia, Li Hongchang as Black Fox Demon * Yang Shubiao as Yellow Robe Demon (transformation) * Ren Wenjian as White Dragon Horse (transformation) * Yang Shubiao as Wood Wolf of Legs * Che Xiaotong as Golden Horned King * Guo Shouyang as Silver Horned King *

as Priest * Li Jiancheng as Meticulous Devil * Ji Fuji as Intelligent Bug *

as Nine Tailed Vixen * Ma Dehua as Mountain Deity * Lei Ming as King of Wuji * Xiang Mei as Queen of Wuji * Wang Haining as Crown prince of Wuji * Zhao Guangshan as Monk * Chi Chongrui as Dragon King of the well * Teng Teng as Servant boy * Dong Honglin as Evil priest * Li Jiancheng as Eunuch * Zhao Xinpei as

Red Boy Red Boy (; vi, Hồng Hài Nhi, ja, Kōgaiji) was a character featured in the 16th century novel ''Journey to the West''. Red Boy was also known as the Boy Sage Great King (聖嬰大王), and was the son of Princess Iron Fan and the Bull De ...

* Xiang Han and Xu Tinglei as Earth deities * Li Jiancheng, Li Anjian, Zhang Ziyue as Mountain deities * Xu Shaohua as Dragon King * Zhao Yuxiu as King of Chechi *

Zhao Lirong Zhao Lirong (March 11, 1928 – July 17, 2000) was a Chinese singer and film actress. Biography Before she became involved in the film industry, Zhao Lirong was a famous Pingju supporting actress on the stage. From the 1980s, Zhao started ...

as Queen of Chechi * Liu Qin as Tiger Power Immortal * Zeng Ge as Deer Power Immortal * Cai Yuge as Antelope Power Immortal * Jin Genxu and Xu Tinglei as Priests *

as Yunshui Quanzhen * Zhu Lin as Ruler of Women's Kingdom * Yang Guixiang as Royal Adviser of Women's Kingdom * Li Yunjuan as Pipa Lady * Wang Delin as Immortal Ruyi * Xu Guanchun as Sun Rooster of Hairy Head * Wang Fengxia as

Princess Iron Fan Princess Iron Fan () is a character from the 16th century Chinese novel ''Journey to the West''. She is the wife of the Bull Demon King and mother of Red Boy. She is one of the most popular ''Journey to the West'' villains, alongside her husband ...

* Zheng Yiping as Jade Faced Vixen * Ji You as Earth deity * Zhang Qing as Princess of Jisai * Zhao Baocai as Dragon King * Jin Gang as King of Jisai * Li Fengchun as Old monk * Li Zhiyi as Old abbot * Tian Jiangshui, Bai Jiancai and Gao Jifeng as Monks * Li Jiancheng as Benbo'erba * Gao Baozhong as Babo'erben * Ma Dehua, Yu Hong as Ambassadors * Cao Duo as Yellow Brows Great King * Wang Linghua as Almond Immortal (Apricot Fairy) * Tie Niu as

Maitreya Maitreya (Sanskrit: ) or Metteyya (Pali: ), also Maitreya Buddha or Metteyya Buddha, is regarded as the future Buddha of this world in Buddhist eschatology. As the 5th and final Buddha of the current kalpa, Maitreya's teachings will be aimed at ...

* Cao Duo as Guzhi Gong * Ye Bing as Jinjie Shiba Gong * Li Tiefeng as Fuyun Sou * Ye Yimeng as Lingkongzi * Tie Niu as Kangua Laoren * Li Jinshui as Ghost messenger * Gong Ming as King of Zhuzi * Zhan Pingping as Lady of Jinsheng Palace * Wang Ren as

Tai Sui Tai Sui is a Chinese term for the stars directly opposite the planet Jupiter ( ''Mùxīng'') during its roughly 12-year orbital cycle. Personified as deities, they are important features of Chinese astrology, Feng Shui, Taoism, and Chinese Budd ...

Equivalent * Zhou Caili as Youlai Youqu * Shi Chongren as Old eunuch * Han Tao as Immortal Ziyang * Ni Fuquan as Physician * Li Jianliang as Minister * Yao Jia as First Spider Demoness * Liu Qian as Second Spider Demoness * Du Xianghui as Third Spider Demoness * Yang Su as Fourth Spider Demoness * Azhi Shima as Fifth Spider Demoness * Lü Haiyu as Sixth Spider Demoness * Liu Lin as Seventh Spider Demoness * Li Hongchang as Hundred Eyed Demon Lord * Yang Qimin as Pilanpo Bodhisattva * Li Enqi as

incarnation * Yang Bin as Priest * Chang Qing as Albino rat * Wang Jie and Li Zhixiong as Monks * Wu Tang as Supervisor * Yu Xuemei and Jiang Xiuhua as Demon girls * Nige Mutu as King of Yuhua * Zhang Yang as First Prince of Yuhua * Ye Yimeng as Second Prince of Yuhua * Yang Bin as Third Prince of Yuhua * Gong Ming as Wang Xiao'er * Qu Yinglian as Wang Xiao'er's wife * Chen Qingping as Zhao's mother * Yang Yumin as Queen * Xiang Han as Tawny Lion Demon * Li Jiancheng as Nine Headed Lion * Sha Jie as Diaozhuan Guguai * He Yi as Guguai Diaozhuan * Zhu Bingqian as Taiyi Zhenren * Xiang Han and Li Hongchang as Merchants *

Li Lingyu Li Lingyu (born 9 April 1963, in Shanghai) is a Chinese singer and actress. Biography Li was born in Shanghai in 1963. She is a student of the notable singer Wang Kun. In 1980, she was admitted to the Beijing Red Flag Yue Opera Company, perf ...

Jade Rabbit The Moon rabbit or Moon hare is a mythical figure in East Asian and indigenous American folklore, based on pareidolia interpretations that identify the dark markings on the near side of the Moon as a rabbit or hare. In East Asia, the rabbit i ...

* Wang Tong as King of India * Ren Fengpo as Old monk * Yu Hong as Queen of India * Wang Xizhong as Golden Peak Immortal * Li Hongchang as Boatman * He Chengfu as Long Brows Arhat * Li Yang as Dapeng Zunzhe

Season 2

Main cast

* Xu Shaohua, Chi Chongrui as

*Cui Jingfu as

*Liu Dagang as

Other cast

:''Listed in order of appearance'' * Zhang Zhiming as

* Zheng Rong as

* Liu Jiang as

* Zhu Longguang as

* Wang Zhongxin as

* Zhang Wankun as Chen Qing * Zhang Wenhui as Chen Qing's wife * Li Qingyou as Housekeeper * Liu Lifeng as Xiaoguanbao * Hou Lei as Yipengjin * Wang Limin as King of Spiritual Touch * Ji Yu as Fish Woman * Lan Faqing as Great White Turtle * Zhang Fen as Muzha * Zhang Ziqiang as Old man * Zhang Xueqin as Old man's wife * Guan Xiaoyu as Old man's son * Yang Xingyi as Old man's daughter-in-law * Jiang Baohong as Chief robber *

as Six Eared Macaque * Jiang Hongbao as Horse Monkey * Wang Weiguo as

* Cui Jingfu, Wu Zhiyong as

* Liu Dagang as Diting * Jia Shitou as Azure Lion King * Wang Weiguo as Yellow Toothed Elephant * Guo Jun as Golden Winged Great Peng * Jin Qiaoqiao as peacock princess * Lan Jiafu as Xiaozhuanfeng * Zhu Dan as Xique * Liu Dagang as

Dragon King of the North Sea The Dragon King, also known as the Dragon God, is a Chinese water and weather god. He is regarded as the dispenser of rain, commanding over all bodies of water. He is the collective personification of the ancient concept of the '' lóng'' in C ...

* An Yaping as Water Dragon * Yang Jing as Princess of Black River * Cao Rong as Crown Prince Mo'ang * Li Hongtao as Dragon King of Jing River * Zhou Zheng as Yuan Shoucheng * Chi Guodong as Dragon King of the West Sea * Li Hongchang as Fisherman * Ge Zhixing as Deity of Black River * Ni Fuquan as Earth Deity of Mount Golden Bull * Li Hongtao as Rhinoceros King * Chen Zhongsheng as Li Jing * Zhu Qin, Wang Wei as

* Ding Jian as Fire Star * Ma Yongzeng as Water Star * Wang Hui, Zhang Wei, Zhao Shunzeng and Sun Jifeng as Four Heavenly Masters * Wen Xiang as Servant boy * Tan Feiling as Marquis of Fengxian * Ni Fuquan as Earth Deity of Fengxian * Jin Liuyi as Old man from Fengxian * Di Yuerong as Wife of Marquis of Fengxian * Wu Suying as Village woman from Fengxian * Xue Yongliang as Man from Fengxian * Sha Lin as Wind Deity * Zhang Dandan as Lightning Deity * Yang Zichun as Old man Li * Xue Chunyu as Old man Li's wife * Zhang Pingsheng as Old man Li's son * Bo Hong as Red Scaled Python * Zheng Ying as Woodcutter's wife * Wu Zhiyong as Leopard Demon * Lan Faqing as Wolf Demon * Yu Wanling as Old woman * Li Hongchang as Official from the Kingdom of Biqiu * Wang Ying as King of Biqiu * Yu Meng as Vixen spirit * Liu Jin as Deer Spirit * Qiu Yongli as Evil priest * Xu Jiansheng as Guard from the Kingdom of Biqiu * Cai Guangqing as Squire Kou * Wang Meihong as Second Madam * Wang Xia as Zhu Liya * Shu Xin as Wosi * Chen Jian as Housekeeper * Zhang Kunwu as Hui'er * Huang Zongluo as Official of Tongtai * Li Xiaobo as Civil official * Zhong Changde as Abbot of Jinping * Chen Dazhong as King of Cold Protection * Zhao Yi as King of Heat Protection * Cai Yuge as King of Dust Protection * Liu Dan as Dragon Girl of the West Sea * Lan Faqing as Wood Dragon of Horn * Jiang Baohong as Wood Insect of Dipper * Xu Jiansheng as Wood Wolf of Legs * Li Canwen as Wood Dog of Well

Music

The music for the series was mainly composed by Xu Jingqing (许镜清).

Season 1

Season 2

Accolades

''Wu Cheng'en and Journey to the West''

The original lead actors of ''Journey to the West'' (1986) —

, Chi Chongrui and Ma Dehua — reprised their roles in ''

Wu Cheng'en and Journey to the West ''Wu Cheng'en and Journey to the West'' is a Chinese television series about the life of Wu Cheng'en and his inspiration for writing the 16th-century novel ''Journey to the West''. The series was directed by Kan Weiping and consists of a total of ...

'', a 2010 television series about

Wu Cheng'en Wu Cheng'en (, c. 1500–1582Shi Changyu (1999). "Introduction." in trans. W.J.F. Jenner, ''Journey to the West'', volume 1. Seventh Edition. Beijing: Foreign Languages Press. pp. 1–22. or 1505–1580), courtesy name Ruzhong (), was a Chines ...

and his inspiration for writing the novel ''

Journey to the West ''Journey to the West'' () is a Chinese novel published in the 16th century during the Ming dynasty and attributed to Wu Cheng'en. It is regarded as one of the greatest Classic Chinese Novels, and has been described as arguably the most popu ...

''.

, however, was portrayed by Liu Dagang because Yan Huaili, who played the character in 1986, died in April 2009.

References

External links

* {{CCTV shows Television shows based on Journey to the West 1986 Chinese television series debuts 1999 Chinese television series endings Television about fairies and sprites Demons in television 1980s Chinese television series 1990s Chinese television series Mandarin-language television shows

List of episodes

Season 1

Season 2

Cast

Season 1

Main cast

Other cast

Season 2

Main cast

Other cast

Music

Season 1

Season 2

Accolades

''Wu Cheng'en and Journey to the West''

See also

References

External links