My name is Jim R. McClanahan, and I have a degree in Anthropology and minors in Chinese and art history. I’m a big fan of the great 16th-century Chinese Classic Journey to the West. This blog will serve as an archive for my research into the historical, religious, and folklore origins of the novel.

Check back for updates to older articles.

Note: My name has recently been appearing in online discussions claiming that I’m a professor of Journey to the West studies. For the sake of transparency, I should point out that I do not currently have a PhD, nor am I associated with any particular university. I am simply an independent researcher with a fiery passion for the novel.