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Encyclopedia of Fantasy (1997)
Waley, Arthur

Tagged: Author.

Pseudonym of UK scholar, critic, translator and writer Arthur David Schloss (1889-1966), whose renderings of Japanese and Chinese literature – beginning with 170 Chinese Poems (anth trans 1918) – were of central importance in bringing much great poetry and fiction to the West. Of greatest importance to fantasy is his version of Hsi Yü Chi ["Journey to the West"] (circa 1550) by Wu Ch'êng-ên (circa 1505-circa 1580), which he rendered in his partial translation as Monkey (trans 1942), after the Trickster demigod (see Monkey) who accompanies the priest Hsüan-tsang on a marvel-filled journey to India in search of the Tripitaka or "three baskets" containing Buddhist scriptures in scroll form. In The Real Tripitaka and Other Pieces (coll 1952) Waley provides historical background for the pilgrimage described in Monkey; the rest of the volume incorporates The Lady Who Loved Insects (1928 chap), along with other original and adapted Oriental Fantasies, including "Mrs White", about a Shapeshifting white python who becomes enamoured of a mortal. [JC]

Arthur David Schloss

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