My copy of volume 3 starts at chapter 51, with chapter 50 still in volume 2. Does yours organize the chapters differently? I'm reading a digital copy, not a physical one. Maybe that's the reason.

My digital copy finishes at 49, I don't know about others :(

Chapter 49 is in and volume 2 is out!

We will start reading volume 3 the 3rd of May, in case someone needs time to borrow it from the library. Until then, rest, adventurer.

You're so right about minions being the real idea havers. Not to mention that it's always they getting squashed, while many bosses are simply moved somewhere else to atone!

Also, thank you for teaching me what numinous meant! I have a year of Latin from university (10 years ago, hahaha) and I still thought it meant "cloud-ly"! Truly the most enlightening (hehey!) email I'll get this week!

I had to look it up because I thought it was something related to money and I teach latin... Kms.

Chapter 48 is out!

I understand the monk urge to shave your head to get rid of distractions. When my hair (which is long for an A4 guy) gets greasy and needs a wash, I always think "ugh! I should just shave the whole shit off (Norwegian expression) and I'd be free of distractions and better able to concentrate! ):<"

I don't fuuuuully understand Monkey's plan to get eaten, but it's been a few days since I read it. No doubt Zhu Bajie will be a perfect undercover agent and not say anything to mess it up!

Bonus mpreg to brighten my Sunday :^) I wonder who the pale ladies are! Are all actresses just pale? I imagine people were nice and tan back then (disclaimer: I know it's mythological, not historical)

I too share your strange when I have dirty hair, there's not a day where I don't want to become a monk.

About the actresses, pale skin has always been very valued. If you're not familiar with Chinese Dramas, the main characters are always pale, most of all if they are ladies. The only tan people are those actors walking in the background who play food sellers or peasants :(

Besides the Ash Lad shenanigans, I really love how wishy-washy the king is! Sometimes, in the subject Democracy In Practice, I do debates on topics with my middle school pupils, and I can make them change sides with a flick of my hand, since they're so impressionable. This felt like that! I could have made this king denounce the death penalty and then champion instant beheading upon the first j'accuse! Monkey absolutely styled it out. He's so fun and cool, and he made those guys look soooo stupid.

As a teacher, I too relate to your experience :) This king was too impressionable, more than a child.

Chapter 46 is out, with more Daoism references!

I recommend that you take a peak at these Taoists paintings by Zhang Lu, and listen to this short talk about one of the protagonists of the paintings.

love this guy. Gave him a long tail for the gestures :]

Hi, I just wanted to let you know that I love this pro and to thank you for it! While I haven't been able to acquire the books, I follow along with the newsletter faithfully. I also wanted to let you know that one of my favorite podcasts, myths and legends, has been relaying the tale as well. They are also using translations to give their own spin on it, and it has lots of funny moments that I think will be interesting to other readers. While they aren't all lumped in together in sequenced episodes, all of the stories are tagged as 'monkey king' to be easy to follow and they follow the book order iirc. I follow them on Spotify but I think they are available in other services too if you would like to give it a listen! And again thank you for your work in this ♥️

Thank you for such a loving message <3 When I don't feel like reading the new chapter or doing research, I remember how many people is reading the newsletter and it gives me strength.

This is the podcast, for everyone who wants to follow as well: https://www.mythpodcast.com/tag/monkey-king/

I didn't know there were persecutions of Buddhists in China, but it's interesting that all those four were before the year 1000! People in this story are very kind to the lads, and in the excellent "The Monk and the Gun," they are, too, so I suppose monks did have some privileges, strange as it may seem to my Norwegian eyes

The Monk and the Gun, that is a title.

Yes, they were persecuted, but thank god it is over (The Tibet situation is diverse, let's not get into that).

Chapter 45 is out ☸️🐒

Thank you for doing such good legwork on the Buddhist references! I tend to gloss over them I'm afraid, but I usually read at night when I'm oh so sleepy, ehehe

I get it, they are not the lightest read 🙃 Thank you for your comments as always ❤️

It is! JTTW in general is more political satyre than anything, even if we are surrounded by religion all the time. It is a critique of Ming Dynasty politics.

Since he had also taken the lives of many of my water kin, I had no choice but to file suit against him in the ocean. I didn't expect that the Dragon King of the Western Ocean was his maternal uncle, who threw out my plaint and told me instead that I should allow the monster to stay in my home. I wanted to go to Heaven to bring charges, but a humble deity and minor official like me would not get an audience with the Jade Emperor.

Family connections breed corruption, and rank is essential to seeking justice. Presumably this bit is more political satire than religious instruction.

Episode 44 is out! There were some Buddhist references in this chapter which I had to research. Enjoy!

Chapter 43 is out 🐉🌊🐒 Enjoy!

Chapter 41 is out 🐒