After bestowing the name “Wukong” (悟空, “Awakened to Emptiness”) upon the Monkey King, Master Subhuti declared the following words, which carry profound Taoist and Buddhist connotations:
At nebula’s parting he had no name.
Smashing stubborn void needs Wake-to-the-Void.
At the world’s dawn, there were no distinctions, labels, or notions of spirituality—only formless chaos. To unlock true wisdom, one must grasp the meaning of emptiness. This is the essence of Sun Wukong’s name, embodying the quest for truth and freedom beyond societal conventions and rigid norms.
These lines echo the chapter’s title and convey a unified message. Subhuti’s teachings awakened the Monkey King’s supernatural abilities and spiritual potential. Yet, he remains flawed—trapped by a dualistic mind (distinguishing self from others), ignorance, afflictions like greed and anger, and earthly attachments. Thus, his journey requires cultivating the mind to attain enlightenment and truly comprehend the Tao (the Way).
Key Themes
- Emptiness (空): Not nihilism, but the Buddhist truth of interdependence and impermanence.
- Awakening (悟): Breaking free from delusion to perceive reality’s fluid, essence-less nature.
- Dualism: The illusion of separateness that fuels suffering, which Wukong must transcend.
This duality—divine power paired with human frailty—drives the Monkey King’s arc, mirroring the Buddhist path from ignorance to liberation.
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