There is no Christian concept of redemption in Chinese tradition. The ultimate ideal of Confucianism is to rule the world - to be a saint and a moral perfectionist. The idea of Taoism is to live a better life in this world, whether it is through the unity of man and nature or the arts of sex and alchemy, all of which are aimed at obtaining a better life in this world. The religious concept of redemption comes from Buddhism, which is also the reason why Buddhism thrives in China.
The story of Journey to the West (The Journey hereafter) itself did not entirely originate in China. There are many textual studies on the origins of the Monkey King. It is thought that its image comes from the worship of Indian monkeys, while others think that it comes from Mithraism. Others hold that The Journey is the story frame of Manichaeism's background, and there are many references to Mani in the original work of the classic book. The story of the true and false “Monkey King” is a good example of how the two substances of Manichaeism are told. It is precisely because the story's background and values are derived from the West, and the theme of redemption runs throughout the story. In the novel, the journey to the west by the one master and three apprentices after suffering is an act of redemption. Some people compare their westward journey to the 40-year wilderness journey that Jews took after leaving Egypt. The framework of redemption always grows after suffering.
However, the redemption in The Journey is different from that of Christianity in many places, even in essence. Redemption in the Chinese novel is quite in line with the spiritual characteristics of Chinese culture.
First of all, there are differences in the cause of redemption. This novel believes that it is because of the limitations of human beings and the fact that people in the world encounter and face death and suffering that cannot be changed. In Christianity, people need redemption because human sin destroys the relationship between people and God, and redemption is to repair the damaged relationship with God. In the Old Testament, this kind of redemption required offering a sacrifice, while in the New Testament, Jesus himself was crucified as a sacrifice to redeem our sins.
However, in The Journey, we see that redemption is to go to the Buddhist paradise to obtain the true scriptures. In our folk religion and Buddhism, there is a kind of worship of the true sutra, which is believed to have magic power and can bring people a kind of redemption. Salvation in The Journey is not to return to a state of restoration with God. Because there is no creation story like the Bible in The Journey, no one commits sin. Man’s salvation is only to change life and death and bring immortality. The immortal effect of the Tang Monk’s flesh becomes the motive for the monster group to catch him. In the end, it is a pity to learn from the scriptures because of the lack of passages about immortality.
Secondly, in the process of redemption, we can see that when the four scripture seekers encounter insurmountable difficulties, they often seek help from others. We can say that the difficulties described in the novel are often solved by seeking help from the gods in the sky and even the Buddha in the west. These people they seek are still dignitaries in high positions. This reflects the helplessness and hierarchy of civilians.
In Christianity, we know that no one can help us on the road to redemption. Even those in high positions are sinners like us and in deep trouble. As if relying on God and faith weren't enough, it is also against the law of faith to ask for help from other people. In the face of the devil’s three temptations, Jesus did not seek the help of others but relied on his own faith to overcome the temptation.
Thirdly, on the object of redemption, we see that the redemption in The Journey is often centered around the monster group. During the journey westward, except for the Tang Monk and his disciples, those who try to catch the Tang Monk are monsters. Tang Monk saved the Monkey King, Piggy, Little White Dragon, and Sandy Monk from the monsters. In the whole journey to the west, the rescue of people is almost never mentioned. On the contrary, Tang Monk is wary of the temptations in human society everywhere: he turned down the marriage of the daughter country and rejected the beauty of all kinds of monsters. Therefore, we can say that The Journey's salvation is the bottom line. It only redeems those who have degenerated into demons, not ordinary people.
Christian redemption is different. It does not refer to the bottom line redemption, but the top line. Among the conditions of redemption in Christianity, the emphasis on morality is strict. It is not that people need redemption after they fall, but that everyone needs redemption at any time, and redemption is to practice the teachings of Jesus. Just like Jesus’ new command to love each other, redemption requires practical action.
In The Journey, being redeemed means becoming a demon, doing all the bad things, and then waking up. Many of these monsters are descended from high-level individuals who have been redeemed or have led the redemption. That is to say, monsters have backgrounds.
Fourth, there is a significant difference in the initiative of redemption between The Journey and Christianity. The Journey begins with passivity, that is, a person or a god, who is redeemed after being punished. When the choice is between endless punishment and freedom after redemption, the Monkey King unquestionably chooses to be redeemed by Tang Monk. Therefore, redemption is the best of the two outcomes. This kind of redemption may be a utilitarian choice or a last resort. This is typical of the four disciples of Tang Monk. They were all punished for violating the dogma and were led to the road of redemption. The Monkey King is crushed by Palm Mountain, and there will never be a day of freedom; The little white dragon has been trapped in Deep Hallow for hundreds of years. In Christianity, redemption is the initiative of individuals. They convert to God, not because of punishment, but because they need redemption.
Fifth, the result of redemption is different. People will enshrine a Buddha as a result of these scripture seekers. Piggy is a net altar messenger whose main job is to eat the food people give to him. It can be seen that the ultimate goal of The Journey’s redemption is what we traditionally say: “You can be a master only if you suffer." Finally, the seekers become people to worship, like those who help them. In Christianity, being redeemed means taking on more responsibilities, paying more love, spreading the gospel, and making more people convert to God and move toward the road of redemption.
From the above comparison, we can see that the redemption of traditional culture is still beyond the secular. However, this also provides us with vigilance. We should be vigilant about the redemption of the gospel of Jesus so as not to be influenced by traditional culture and deviate from the road of His redemption.
- Translated by Charlie Li
中国传统中本没有基督教意义上的救赎观念。儒家的终极理想是王天下，成为治理天下的圣人，道德完美主义者。道家的理想是在这个世界上过美好的生活，不论是人与自然的合一，还是房中术、炼丹术等，都是为了在此世获得美好的生活。宗教意义上的救赎观念，是来自佛教，在这也是为什么佛教在中国兴盛的原因所在。
西游记的故事本身并不完全产生在中国，关于孙悟空的起源，学界有很多考证，有人认为这个形象来自印度的神猴崇拜，也有人认为来自密特拉教。还有人认为西游记是摩尼教背景的故事框架，在西游记原著中有很多提到摩尼的地方。尤其是在真假美猴王的故事，被认为是摩尼教二元论的叙事结构。正是因为西游记的故事背景和价值观念来自西方，因此故事中才贯穿了救赎这一主题。西游记中，师徒四人的西行经过苦难后的取经就是一场救赎的行动。有人将他们西行的过程和犹太人出埃及的四十年旷野对比。救赎的框架总是经过苦难之后的成长。
然而我们在西游记中看到的救赎，与基督教的救赎有很多地方是不同的。甚至在本质上也不一样。西游记中的救赎，颇符合中国文化的精神特点。
首先，在救赎的原因方面两者是不同的。这部小说认为，是因为人类自身的有限性，以及在世界上的遭遇和面临的死亡、苦难等人所无法改变的事实。在基督教中，人需要救赎是因为人的罪将人与上帝的关系破坏了，而救赎就是修补和上帝之间被破坏的关系。在旧约中这种救赎需要献上赎罪祭，而在新约里，则是因为耶稣自己钉上十字架，作为赎罪祭来完成救赎。
然而在西游记中，我们看到救赎就是去西天佛祖那里取得真经。我们的民间宗教和佛教中，对真经有种崇拜，认为经本身就具有一种魔力，可以带给人一种救赎。西游记中的救赎，不是让回到一种与神修复的状态。由于西游记中没有圣经那样的创世故事，因此也就没有人犯罪一说。人的救赎，也仅是改变生死，带来不死之身而已。在西游记中唐僧肉的长生不老效果，成为妖怪群体抓他的动机。而最终的取经，因为关于长生不老的经文缺失，而成为取经的憾事。
其次，在救赎的过程中，我们看到当师徒四人遇到无法解决的困难时，他们往往寻求他人的帮助。向天上的神仙，太上老君、托塔李天王等寻求帮助，甚至到西天寻找佛祖的帮助，我们可以说西游记中的困难，往往是寻求他助来解决。并且这些被他们寻求的人，还是身居高位的贵人。这其实反应的是平民的无助和等级观念。
而在基督教中，我们会发现，在走向救赎的道路上，没有任何人可以帮助我们。即使那些身居高位的人，也和深陷困境中的我们一样，是个罪人。除了自己坚持依靠上帝依靠信仰克服困难之外，向别人寻求帮助显然是违反了信仰的法则。耶稣在面临魔鬼的三个试探中，他没有寻求其它人的帮助，而是依靠自己的信仰胜过了试探。
第三，在救赎对象上，我们看到西游记的救赎往往集中在妖怪群体。在一路西行中，除了唐僧是个人之外，他的四个徒弟以及那些捉拿唐僧的群体都是妖怪，唐僧拯救了妖怪孙悟空、猪八戒、小白龙以及沙僧。在整部西游记中，对人的拯救几乎看不到。反而，唐僧处处提防着来自人类社会的诱惑。拒绝了女儿国的婚姻，拒绝了各种妖怪的美色。因此，我们可以说，《西游记》的救赎是底线救赎，他只对那些堕落成魔鬼的对象救赎，而对于那些普通人则不在关心的范围之内。
而基督教的救赎则不同，基督教的救赎不是底线救赎，而是顶格救赎。基督教对救赎的条件中，道德的强调是十分严格的。不是人堕落之后才需要救赎，而是每个人任何时候都需要救赎，而且救赎就是要实践耶稣的教导。就像耶稣赐下的彼此相爱的新命令一样，救赎是需要付出实际行动的。
而在《西游记》中，被救赎就是成为妖魔，干尽坏事，然后幡然醒悟。而这些妖魔鬼怪中，有很多是来自已经被救赎或者主导救赎的高层。也即是说妖怪都是上面有背景的。
第四，在救赎的主动性上《西游记》与基督教有很大的区别。《西游记》的救赎始于被动，是一个人或者一个神，堕落之后，接受惩罚中被救赎。在无尽的惩罚和救赎之后的自由相比，孙悟空当然选择被唐僧救赎。因此救赎是在两种结果中取最好的结果。这种救赎也许是功利选择或者不得已而为之。这典型的表现在唐僧的四个徒弟。他们都是因为违反了天条，而被处罚的过程中，被引上救赎之路的。孙悟空被压五指山，永无自由之日；小白龙则被困在鹰愁涧几百年。而在基督教中，救赎都是个体的主动，他们皈依上帝，不是因为惩罚，而是因为自己需要救赎。
第五，救赎的结果不同。师徒五人的结果，是成为被人供奉的佛。其中八戒是专管吃人们供奉食物的净坛使者。可见《西游记》的救赎最终落脚点是我们传统说的“吃得苦中苦方为人上人”。师徒五人最终成为人们崇拜的人上人，成为像曾经那些帮助他们的贵人。而在基督教中，被救赎则意味着承担更多的责任，付出更多的爱，传播更多的福音，让更多的人皈依上帝，走向救赎之路。
由此以上对比我们看到，传统文化的救赎仍然超脱世俗。但是，这也为我们提供警醒，我们对耶稣福音的救赎，要提高警惕，免得受到传统文化的影响，而偏离耶稣的救赎之路。
《西游记》vs《圣经》中的救赎五点区别
There is no Christian concept of redemption in Chinese tradition. The ultimate ideal of Confucianism is to rule the world - to be a saint and a moral perfectionist. The idea of Taoism is to live a better life in this world, whether it is through the unity of man and nature or the arts of sex and alchemy, all of which are aimed at obtaining a better life in this world. The religious concept of redemption comes from Buddhism, which is also the reason why Buddhism thrives in China.
The story of Journey to the West (The Journey hereafter) itself did not entirely originate in China. There are many textual studies on the origins of the Monkey King. It is thought that its image comes from the worship of Indian monkeys, while others think that it comes from Mithraism. Others hold that The Journey is the story frame of Manichaeism's background, and there are many references to Mani in the original work of the classic book. The story of the true and false “Monkey King” is a good example of how the two substances of Manichaeism are told. It is precisely because the story's background and values are derived from the West, and the theme of redemption runs throughout the story. In the novel, the journey to the west by the one master and three apprentices after suffering is an act of redemption. Some people compare their westward journey to the 40-year wilderness journey that Jews took after leaving Egypt. The framework of redemption always grows after suffering.
However, the redemption in The Journey is different from that of Christianity in many places, even in essence. Redemption in the Chinese novel is quite in line with the spiritual characteristics of Chinese culture.
First of all, there are differences in the cause of redemption. This novel believes that it is because of the limitations of human beings and the fact that people in the world encounter and face death and suffering that cannot be changed. In Christianity, people need redemption because human sin destroys the relationship between people and God, and redemption is to repair the damaged relationship with God. In the Old Testament, this kind of redemption required offering a sacrifice, while in the New Testament, Jesus himself was crucified as a sacrifice to redeem our sins.
However, in The Journey, we see that redemption is to go to the Buddhist paradise to obtain the true scriptures. In our folk religion and Buddhism, there is a kind of worship of the true sutra, which is believed to have magic power and can bring people a kind of redemption. Salvation in The Journey is not to return to a state of restoration with God. Because there is no creation story like the Bible in The Journey, no one commits sin. Man’s salvation is only to change life and death and bring immortality. The immortal effect of the Tang Monk’s flesh becomes the motive for the monster group to catch him. In the end, it is a pity to learn from the scriptures because of the lack of passages about immortality.
Secondly, in the process of redemption, we can see that when the four scripture seekers encounter insurmountable difficulties, they often seek help from others. We can say that the difficulties described in the novel are often solved by seeking help from the gods in the sky and even the Buddha in the west. These people they seek are still dignitaries in high positions. This reflects the helplessness and hierarchy of civilians.
In Christianity, we know that no one can help us on the road to redemption. Even those in high positions are sinners like us and in deep trouble. As if relying on God and faith weren't enough, it is also against the law of faith to ask for help from other people. In the face of the devil’s three temptations, Jesus did not seek the help of others but relied on his own faith to overcome the temptation.
Thirdly, on the object of redemption, we see that the redemption in The Journey is often centered around the monster group. During the journey westward, except for the Tang Monk and his disciples, those who try to catch the Tang Monk are monsters. Tang Monk saved the Monkey King, Piggy, Little White Dragon, and Sandy Monk from the monsters. In the whole journey to the west, the rescue of people is almost never mentioned. On the contrary, Tang Monk is wary of the temptations in human society everywhere: he turned down the marriage of the daughter country and rejected the beauty of all kinds of monsters. Therefore, we can say that The Journey's salvation is the bottom line. It only redeems those who have degenerated into demons, not ordinary people.
Christian redemption is different. It does not refer to the bottom line redemption, but the top line. Among the conditions of redemption in Christianity, the emphasis on morality is strict. It is not that people need redemption after they fall, but that everyone needs redemption at any time, and redemption is to practice the teachings of Jesus. Just like Jesus’ new command to love each other, redemption requires practical action.
In The Journey, being redeemed means becoming a demon, doing all the bad things, and then waking up. Many of these monsters are descended from high-level individuals who have been redeemed or have led the redemption. That is to say, monsters have backgrounds.
Fourth, there is a significant difference in the initiative of redemption between The Journey and Christianity. The Journey begins with passivity, that is, a person or a god, who is redeemed after being punished. When the choice is between endless punishment and freedom after redemption, the Monkey King unquestionably chooses to be redeemed by Tang Monk. Therefore, redemption is the best of the two outcomes. This kind of redemption may be a utilitarian choice or a last resort. This is typical of the four disciples of Tang Monk. They were all punished for violating the dogma and were led to the road of redemption. The Monkey King is crushed by Palm Mountain, and there will never be a day of freedom; The little white dragon has been trapped in Deep Hallow for hundreds of years. In Christianity, redemption is the initiative of individuals. They convert to God, not because of punishment, but because they need redemption.
Fifth, the result of redemption is different. People will enshrine a Buddha as a result of these scripture seekers. Piggy is a net altar messenger whose main job is to eat the food people give to him. It can be seen that the ultimate goal of The Journey’s redemption is what we traditionally say: “You can be a master only if you suffer." Finally, the seekers become people to worship, like those who help them. In Christianity, being redeemed means taking on more responsibilities, paying more love, spreading the gospel, and making more people convert to God and move toward the road of redemption.
From the above comparison, we can see that the redemption of traditional culture is still beyond the secular. However, this also provides us with vigilance. We should be vigilant about the redemption of the gospel of Jesus so as not to be influenced by traditional culture and deviate from the road of His redemption.
- Translated by Charlie Li
Five Differences in the Redemption Between Journey to the West and the Bible
