In Chinese mythology, Sun Wukong also known as the Monkey King, is a trickster god who plays a central role in Wu Cheng’en’s adventure novel Journey to the West.
Wukong has ability to change into 72 different animals and objects in addition to possessing unrivaled superhuman strength. In addition to his magical ability to control fire, water, and wind, each hair on his head possesses the ability to transform. Characterized by his short temper, impatience and proclivity towards anger, Sun Wukong is one of the most important and beloved literary figures in Chinese culture.
Sun Wukong stands out from the other gods due to his unusual appearance—he is a monkey. Wukong is typically portrayed as a naked macaque before he becomes enlightened. after he dedicated himself to the Buddhist monk Tang Sanzang Wukong, is usually depicted wearing full warrior regalia with unique accessories like an eight-ton staff that can shrink to the size of a needle, a golden chainmail shirt, a phoenix-feathered cap, cloud-walking boots, and so on.
From Stone to Monkey
In ancient times, a magical rock rested on top of Mount Huagou. One day, a stiff breeze blew upon the rock and caused a fully formed monkey to burst forth from its stone face. Despite having just been born, the young monkey was already able to walk and speak.
Upon opening his eyes, Wukong's pupils emitted golden beams of light that broke through the clouds and startled the Jade Emperor. A young monkey was all that the Jade Emperor saw when he searched for the source of the strange light. Assuming that the light could not have come from such a source, the Jade Emperor brushed the incident from his memory.
The Rise of the Monkey King
Sun Wukong chose to live among the other monkeys after finding them while exploring the forest. While lounging by a waterfall one day, the group decided to play a game: the King of Monkeys would be named to the person who had the courage to jump through the falls and locate the source of the stream.
Without delay, Sun Wukong leaped over the waterfall and headed upstream to locate the source of the stream. After a successful mission, he promptly returned and proclaimed himself king. With the support of the forest monkeys, Sun Wukong quickly established himself as a powerful forest demon that would go on to battle the Dragon King and other sea demons. His exploits earned him a number of powerful weapons, including his signature gold chainmail shirt, phoenix cap, cloud-walking boots, and magical eight ton staff.
Wukong was prepared when it came time for Yan Wang and the Kings of Hell to take his soul. He deceived Yan Wang into granting him permission to come back to Earth without going through reincarnation. Wukong was able to remove his name and the names of all other forest monkeys from the Book of Life and Death before departing from Hell. Yan Wang begged the Jade Emperor for help, troubled that a simple monkey was upsetting the delicate balance of life.
Heavenly Misadventures and Heavenly Imprisonment
Upon hearing about the irascible demon of Mount Huaguo, the Jade Emperor felt the best way to subdue Wukong was to let him live in Heaven with the other gods so that he would feel a sense of importance. Wukong accepted his invitation with great enthusiasm. The Monkey King departed from his friends and headed towards the Jade Palace.
However, Sun Wukong found upon arriving that he had been given the lowest duty in Heaven, which was to watch over the Jade Emperor's horses. It did not take him long to realize that the other gods would never consider him a peer. After all, he was a monkey. The Monkey King became obsessed with the idea of immortality and dedicated himself to the pursuit of eternal life in an attempt to find a way to prove himself an equal. Wukong mocked the Jade Emperor when he urged him to pursue other, more lucrative endeavors:
‘Can this sort of practice lead to immortality?’ asked Wukong. ‘Impossible! Impossible!’ said the Patriarch. ‘I won't learn it then,’ Wukong said.
The Jade Emperor threw a party one day to honor his wife, Xiwangmu. When Wukong, who had been mistakenly left out of the celebration, decided to stop by, the other gods laughed him out of the hall. Distressed by his colleagues' deeds, Wukong proclaimed himself to be Qítiān Dàshèng, which translates to "Great Sage Equal to Heaven." In addition, he created a massive banner to mock the Emperor.
A battalion of soldiers was dispatched by the Jade Emperor to capture Wukong for his impudence, but they were no match for him. The Monkey King triumphantly exclaimed, "Remember my name, Great Sage Equal to Heaven, Sun Wukong!" after defeating the final soldier.
The Jade Emperor was forced to concede the Monkey King's victory. The Jade Emperor gave him a promotion to guard Xiwangmu's Peaches of Immortality in appreciation of his talent. But the Monkey King, who genuinely thought he was the Jade Emperor's equal, found this insufficient. Sensing this promotion as just another slight, Wukong finally had enough. Wukong finished off the peaches in the garden with a final act of defiance. Enraged, the Jade Emperor pursued the Monkey King with two battalions. But once more, Wukong defeated them all.
The Jade Emperor had run out of options, so he told Buddha what had occurred and pleaded with him to step in. Wukong was immediately expelled by Buddha from Heaven and imprisoned beneath a mountain so that he could reflect on his actions.
Journey to the West
Beneath the weight of Buddha's mountain, Wukong lay immobile for 500 years. The Monkey King was eventually discovered by Tang Sanzang, a traveling monk, who offered to release him in exchange for his repentance and willingness to become a monk's disciple.
The Monkey King initially turned down the monk's proposal. Sun Wukong would serve no one, especially not a human. But Wukong quickly changed his mind as Tang began to move away. In return for his release, he would gladly serve the monk.
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| Sun Wukong with Tang Sanzang |
The goddess of mercy Guanyin gave the monk a magical band that gave him control over the Monkey King before Tang set Wukong free. Sun Wukong joined Tang's other demonic traveling companions, Zhū Bājiè, also known as "Piggy," and Shā Wùjìng, also known as "Sandy," after he was released from the mountain's weight.
Happy to be freed from prison, Sun Wukong accompanied Tang on their journey to India, dutifully serving him and gladly facing demons when necessary. Sun Wukong eventually attained enlightenment and put an end to his resentful, greedy, and envious tendencies through his noble deeds and devotion to Tang's teachings.