In the “True and False Monkey King” chapter of Journey to the West, readers face puzzling questions: Why did the imposter possess an identical Compliant Golden-Hooped Rod? Why did he wear a Tight-Fillet that responded to the spell? How dared he confront celestial, underworld, and Buddhist authorities — risking exposure before deities like the Jade Emperor, King Yama, Guanyin Bodhisattva and Buddha?
Core Question: Identity and Connection
These mysteries hinge on one enigma: Who was the false Monkey King? What was the relationship between Six-Eared Macaque and Sun Wukong?
Surface Level: A Perfect Clone
- Physical Resemblance: Identical to Sun Wukong, fooling Tang Monk, Zhu Bajie, and Sha Wujing.
- Equal Power: Mastered 72 Transformations and Somersault Cloud, battling Wukong “to a standstill for days.”
- Replicated Artifacts: Wielded a staff mirroring the Compliant Golden-Hooped Rod and simulated agony under the Tight-Fillet Spell — even Guanyin couldn’t distinguish them.
Symbolic Depth: The Externalized Inner Demon
Six-Eared Macaque embodies Sun Wukong’s shadow self. Despite embracing Buddhism, Wukong retained wild defiance: resenting the fillet’s pain, complaining of hardship, and abandoning the mission after the White Bone Spirit incident.
The imposter magnified these dark impulses:
- Assaulting Tang Monk (defying authority)
- Abandoning the pilgrimage (betraying duty)
- Attempting to steal merit (succumbing to greed)
Wukong’s execution of Six-Eared Macaque symbolizes conquering inner demons — a pivotal moment affirming his commitment to enlightenment.
Thus, Six-Eared Macaque functions both as a plot-driven antagonist and a metaphor for spiritual struggle. This duality epitomizes the novel’s core theme: True cultivation is the mastery of one’s own heart.
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