In the classic novel Journey to the West, the Jade Emperor mockingly appoints the Monkey King, Sun Wukong, as the “Bimawen” (also translates to “BanHorsePlague”, or “epidemic-avoiding monkey”) to oversee heavenly horses.
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The Three Realms in Journey to the West
In Journey to the West, the tales of immortals, demons, mortals, and ghosts unfold across the three realms (Heavenly, Mortal, and Underworld), which reflects the Daoist cosmology.
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Converting the Hu People into Buddhists
In Journey to the West, the story of “Lord Lao Zi Converting the Hu People into Buddhists” stems from historical debates between Taoism and Buddhism. According to legend, Laozi (Lao-Tzu), revered as an incarnation of Taishang Laojun (the Supreme Elder Lord), rode westward on his blue ox, later giving rise to the claim that he taught the “barbarian” peoples, thereby founding Buddhism.
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The Origin of Zhu Bajie
The full name of the pig character in Journey to the West is Zhu Bajie, where “Zhu” means “pig” and “Bajie” translates to “Eight Precepts” or “Eight Prohibitions”.
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The Supreme Formula of Celestial Immortal
In the novel Journey to the West, Sun Wukong, the Monkey King, learned several crucial skills and knowledge from his first master, Subhuti. Key highlights include:
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Monkey of the Mind
The journey of the Tang Monk and his disciples is, in essence, an inward pilgrimage. Buddhist and Taoist perspectives play a vital role in shaping this spiritual allegory.
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