吴承恩 (Wú Chéng'ēn) was a Chinese novelist and poet, best known for his classic work, 西游记 (Journey to the West). Born in the 16th century during the Ming Dynasty, he is believed to have lived in the city of Huai'an in Jiangsu Province. His writing reflects a blend of folklore, mythology, and Buddhist philosophy. 西游记 tells the story of the monk Xuánzàng and his journey to India to obtain sacred texts, accompanied by magical companions like the monkey king 孙悟空 (Sūn Wùkōng). This novel is considered one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature and has had a profound influence on Chinese culture and storytelling.