Journey to the West (1986)

Journey to the West (1986)
Episodes:	41
Year:	1986-2000
Country:	China
Seasons:	2
Seasons Breakdown:	(1) 25, (2) 16
Category:	Fantasy
Colour:	Yes
Format:	Series
Company:	CCTV, China Television Production Centre and China Railway 11th Bureau Group
Creator:	Based on Journey to the West by Wu Cheng'en (Screenplay by Dai Yinglu, Zou Yiqing and Yang Jie)
Run Time (mins):	40-62
Language:	Mandarin
Type of Show:	Live Action
Status:	Ended
Broadcaster:	CCTV
First Aired:	February 9, 1986
Last Aired:	January 28, 2000

Summary

Buddhist monk Tang Sanzang undertakes a sacred pilgrimage to India to obtain Buddhist scriptures and return them to China. He is accompanied by three formidable disciples: Sun Wukong, a shapeshifting stone monkey and trickster who once rebelled against Heaven; Zhu Bajie, formerly the Marshal Canopy of Heaven, banished for harassing the moon goddess Chang’e and subsequently reincarnated as a humanoid pig; and Sha Wujing, a former Curtain‑Lifting General expelled for breaking a celestial vase and reborn as a man‑eating monster.

Throughout their journey, the four travellers confront 81 tribulations, ranging from encounters with ordinary human affairs to confrontations with demons and supernatural beings. Many of these adversaries seek to capture Tang Sanzang and consume his flesh, believing it will grant immortality. The disciples’ principal charge is to safeguard their master as they progress toward India, navigating both worldly challenges and threats from the spirit realm.

The broadcast history of this series is highly unusual, the pilot episode aired in 1982 with the series proper starting in 1986, 4 years later. Because they ran out of money during the initial first season and were unable to complete the story, it wasn't until the year 2000 before the second series was made. 18 years after the pilot and 14 years since the first series. As the pilot was made by itself in 1982 and we don't normally include Pilots, I have taken the start of the 1st Season - 1986 as the beginning of the show.

Cast

Sun Wukong LIU XIAO LING TONG (1-2), Tang Sanzang WANG YUE (1) / XU SAHOHUA (1-2) / CHI CHONGRUI (1-2) , Zhu Bajie MA DEHUA (1-2), Sha Wujing YAN HUAILI (1), Sha Wujing LIU DAGANG (2).