Wu Cheng'en

1 universe Last reviewed 2026-08-30

Wu Cheng'en was born around 1500–1505 in Lianshui, Jiangsu province, China, and later moved to Huai'an. His father, Wu Rui, was an artisan with literary interests who inspired his son's enthusiasm for classical literature and popular stories, despite the family's modest means preventing Wu Rui himself from pursuing higher education. Wu acquired a deep love of literature from childhood and attempted the imperial examinations multiple times in hopes of becoming a mandarin, initially without success. In middle age he entered the imperial university in Nanjing and obtained minor official postings in Beijing and Changxing County, but he disliked bureaucratic work and eventually resigned, spending his later years as a self-described hermit writing and critiquing the corruption of his society. He remained poor throughout his life and had no children. Wu is widely credited as the likely author of Journey to the West, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature, published anonymously in 1592 and centered on the pilgrim monk Xuanzang and his supernatural companions, including the Monkey King. He also wrote poems and prose, including A Record of the Tripods of Emperor Yu, much of which survived through a family compilation titled Remaining Manuscripts of Mr. Sheyang. He died in either 1582 or 1580, in Huai'an, Jiangsu.

Universe(s)

Books

• Journey to the West (1592) · Journey to the West Core Canon

Aggregate across all universes

• Total Core Canon books across all universes: 1 book
• Award recognitions across all universes: 0 (None recorded)

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