| It was summer 2000 when I visited China for the first | | | | In addition to this "Monkey God" story, there were a lot |
| time in my life. It was almost funny that I have not | | | | of Chinese Historical Books in junior and senior high |
| visited China until then, because I have almost grown | | | | school days, such as "3 Countries History" whereas 3 |
| up with Chinese History Books. So the feeling of mine | | | | countries kings fight for unified China, "Sui-Fu" -Story of |
| was like filling my own missing link. | | | | Private Organization fight against old and corrupted |
| It was when I was age 5, even before elementary | | | | government-, so on and so forth. In this way, in addition |
| school when my grand mother gave me this cartoon | | | | to the fact that China is my wife's home country, I did |
| book called "Sai-Yu-Ki" - Travel to West-. That was | | | | not feel China to be foreign country for long time. |
| the cartoon book about adventurous trip of a Chinese | | | | In that trip to China, my wife took me to Beijing, Great |
| priest to Afghanistan and India to obtain Buddhism | | | | Walls, Anshan, Sheng Yung. I visited China several |
| Book to China. In this book, of course more than half | | | | times since then. But, I have not visited there for more |
| fiction, other than this priest existed in Chinese History | | | | than 3 years now. My wife and I are planning to go to |
| and he traveled to India to get Buddhism book to | | | | China coming summer. I am looking forward to it. I am |
| localize Buddhism to China. | | | | looking forward to see my wife's family and friends. |
| In the story, this priest accompanies three monsters | | | | While my wife's favorite city is Shanghai, my favorite is |
| guards, Monkey Monster, Pig Monster, and Sand | | | | Beijing. Beijing is old castle city. Its history goes all the |
| Monster assigned by Buddha. They all have special | | | | way back 3000 years ago, when it was originally |
| fighting powers and skills. This was the story of | | | | called Yan Jing. It is not just history, the food there is |
| Monkey Monster exercising his miraculous fighting | | | | excellent and reasonably priced. It was my 3rd trip |
| power and skills, fighting against all odds and evil | | | | while waiting for our table is ready in world famous |
| monsters to protect his master priest to safely bring | | | | Peking duck restaurant, my Chinese friend offered me |
| Indian Buddhism Books to China. | | | | and almost forced me to eat Scorpion fry. It was |
| This Monkey Monster grows in protecting his master | | | | weird, but it was not as bad as first felt. It tasted like |
| priest, learning from his master, and practicing | | | | shrimp. |
| Buddhism. Going through all the fighting and adventure | | | | In there, I can feel exactly how Japanese people |
| helping the priest's safety, he brings himself closer and | | | | before World War II felt so eager to get out of Japan |
| closer to Buddhism principle and finally became | | | | to go and live in China. China has dynamism that Japan |
| Monkey God, as one of Buddha's protective guards, | | | | does not have. The country is definitely one of my |
| after he finished his mission to send his master priest | | | | favorites. |
| to India. | | | | |