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| Aaron Vance Class of 2017 |
Looking to title this blog post and to capture what our time
in China has been like so far, I couldn’t think of any better way to talk about
Xi’an and China, than to harken it back to one of the paramount stories of
Chinese folklore. Journey to the West, a
novel account of the journey of the Tang Dynasty monk, Xuanzang, might be more
widely known in Western culture as Monkey,
which is the title of Arthur Waley’s translated and abridged version. And
from that spinoffs, T.V. shows, and movies have portrayed this account around
the world and captured the imaginations of millions, especially my own with its
tale of adventure, journey, and supernatural conflict.
Xuanzang, a
Buddhist monk from Chang’an (Xi’an), sets off to Tianzhu (India), to retrieve
scriptures and other sutras to bring them back to spread the ideas of Buddhism
across ancient China. In constant peril from the attack of monsters and demons,
Xuanzang as a character is given three protectors by a bodhisattva: Sun Wukong,
The Monkey King; Zhu Bajie, a wild boar; and Sha Wujing, and powerful monk, who
defend him on his journey. Upon retrieval of the scriptures, and return to
Chang’an, Xuanzang is made a Buddha for his heroic effort.
And while
written in the 16th century, hundreds of years after the actual
journey made by Xuanzang and the fall of the Tang dynasty, this story still
continues to enchant those who read it, and to bring them into their own
history and traditions. And it would seem in Xi’an that the people of this city
know it well and consider it reverently and with pride. Visiting the Big Wild
Goose Pagoda in the heart of Xi’an, it is evident how much this story still
means in the modern day. In front of the entrance to Pagoda and adjoining
temple, a public mall stretches for several blocks, each block with another
part of the legend captured in huge magnificent statues beginning with
Xuanzang’s departure proceeding to the other end where he becomes a
Buddha.
In the home city of Xuanzang, the
reverence for his journey can seemingly stand as an allegory for my own travel
to West before we return to the East coast of China. While a great bodhisattva
may not have provided me with the company I am traveling with to protect me on
this journey, they have taught me a lot about myself. As well they have been
great partners in navigating the modern perils of travel abroad.
In a massive nation like that of
China, much like our own experiences in the United States, many different
cultures exist across the various regions. And like our own nation, skylines
rise and cultures share many of the same defining features in cities from
Seattle to Atlanta to New York. And in China, the same could be said from
Shanghai to Beijing to Xi’an, and that the histories and nuances are the
critical part. It takes engaging with
people from each and sharing in their culture to not only understand but to
value it as well. From our initial route west-ward from the states, and West
from China’s eastern coast, the lessons we will bring back from engaging with
the people and culture of China’s ancient capital, will continue to be as
innumerable and as valuable as the lessons Xuanzang retrieved on his western
voyage, hundreds of years ago.
Aaron Vance is a senior McConnell Scholar studying political science, economics and anthropology at the University of Louisville.
