“Dragon Ball” celebrates its 40th anniversary this Wednesday. The emblematic work made its debut in Shonen Jump magazine on November 20, 1984. For his manga, Akira Toriyama, who died on March 2024, was inspired by a classic of Chinese literature, “The Journey to the West », signed Wu Cheng’en. A fantastic story about the adventures of a Buddhist monk and his escort, including the Monkey King Son Goku.
One of the most important works of Asian culture. Published in China in the 16th century, the book “Journey to the West” by novelist Wu Cheng’en served as inspiration for Akira Toriyama when he created the manga “Dragon Ball” in November 1984 (and it will not be not the only one).
This fantastic story takes place across Central Asia, and follows the adventures of a Buddhist monk who will find himself confronted with numerous monsters determined to devour him, his pure flesh being reputed to be capable of making them immortal.
Fortunately, the Buddhist monk is not alone in his journey, since he is surrounded by four fantastic characters in charge of his protection: a sand ogre, an anthropomorphic pig, a dragon horse (which evokes Shenron), as well as Monkey King Son Gokū, known for his irreverent personality, and his ability to fly on a cloud with his magic staff in hand.
In November 2023, Éditions 2024 released a complete version of the illustrations of the Japanese edition, bringing together all the engravings produced between 1806 and 1837 at the request of the booksellers of Ōsaka, Japan, in order to offer an illustrated edition of the work thanks to these prints made by artists of the Edo period. An excellent way to discover “the narrative power of Japanese prints, the visual breeding ground of modern manga”.
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