The novel is a fictionalised account of the legends around the Buddhist monk Xuanzang's (also known as Tripitaka) pilgrimage to India in order to obtain Buddhist religious texts called sūtras. The Bodhisattva Guan Yin, on instruction from the Buddha, gives this task to the monk and his three protectors/disciples: Sun Wukong (Monkey King), Zhu Bajie (Pigsy) and Sha Wujing (Sandy). Together with a dragon prince who acts as Xuanzang's steed. These four characters have agreed to help Xuanzang as atonement for past sins.