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Two Asian Classics
Nov. 23rd, 2017 10:58 pmSep-Oct 2016
The Story of Hong Gildong – tr. Minsoo Kang - Penguin, 2016 / Monkey - Wu Cheng'en tr. Arthur Waley, Penguin 1961
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As part of a reverse grand tour celebrating my half century, I spent an interesting two weeks in China, which made me realise how little Asian classical literature I have read. Monkey seemed a good place to start, and Hong Gildong came up as a recommended accompaniment. Although set in very different societies and at different periods in history, they share a similar approach, not least in their overpowered heroes and in the way they challenge and subvert social norms.
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