Make Humor the Main Thread, Not the Whole Story
Zhu Bajie is funny, but he is not only a comic character. He is greedy, lazy, and easily scared, yet he also carries the luggage, scouts the road, and fights monsters on the journey. For a handwritten newspaper, a good theme is “Laughs on the Journey, but Bajie Matters Too.” This keeps the project humorous while still showing character growth.
Possible titles include “Tales of Bajie,” “Marshal Tianpeng’s Pilgrimage,” or “Looking at Bajie with a Smile.” Choose the title first, then decide on scenes, columns, and colors.
Scenes from Journey to the West That Fit the Project
Pick scenes that each show a different side of Zhu Bajie, so the content has variety.
- Meeting the master at Gao Village: He is captured by Sun Wukong and must join the pilgrimage, showing his love of comfort.
- The Four Saints Test the Mind: He wants to stay and marry, which shows his greed and foolishness.
- Stealing the ginseng fruit: He urges Sun Wukong to take the fruit and causes trouble, showing his appetite and mischief.
- Fighting at Flowing Sand River: He battles Sha Wujing and later becomes his fellow disciple, marking the forming of the team.
- Three Strikes on White Bone Demon: He stirs up trouble between Tang Sanzang and Sun Wukong, showing how easily he is swayed.
- Being banished from Heaven: A short note about his past as Marshal Tianpeng makes the character file more complete.
Columns That Make the Newspaper Easy to Read
Character File
Include his Buddhist name Zhu Wuneng, other names Zhu Bajie and Marshal Tianpeng, his weapon the nine-tooth rake, his master Tang Sanzang, his senior brother Sun Wukong, and his junior brother Sha Wujing. Keywords can be “greedy, simple, lazy, helpful when it matters.”
Bajie Says
Choose one or two short quotes and add your own explanation. A line like “Brother, you have dragged me into trouble” shows that he complains, but it also adds fun.
My View of Zhu Bajie
Write two or three sentences: he has many faults, but he is not evil; he gets scared, but he still helps; he makes the journey livelier.
Fun Quiz
Add a small quiz such as “What would Bajie most like to eat?” or “What is Bajie’s job on the journey?” Three or four questions make the newspaper interactive.
Layout and Color: Warm Tones with Clear Story Space
Use warm yellow, pink orange, grass green, and brown. Draw Zhu Bajie in the lower right corner or center, with small decorations like his rake, a watermelon, or a steamed bun. Do not let the picture take up too much space.
- Title area: Put it at the top with one subtitle.
- Character file: Use a box or cloud shape in the upper left.
- Story area: Give it the largest space in the middle and divide it into three short parts.
- Reflection and quiz: Place them in the lower right.
Step by Step: Plan, Write, Then Color
- Sketch the title, boxes, and picture area lightly in pencil.
- Write the main title, then the small column titles.
- Shorten the chosen scenes into clear sentences.
- Draw Zhu Bajie, the rake, and small food decorations without crowding the page.
- Outline titles and borders in color, then erase pencil lines.
If you are short on time, open the Wisdom Handwritten Newspaper mini program in WeChat, choose a character-story template, and fill in your own text. It can save a lot of layout work.
Two Common Mistakes to Avoid
First, do not write only jokes. The humor should come from the story, not from repeating “greedy” or “foolish” jokes. Second, do not copy the original text only. A handwritten newspaper needs columns and short sentences. Add a line such as “What I learned from Zhu Bajie” to make it a complete reading project.
