The Golden Cicada (Jin Chanzi) was the second disciple of the Buddha Sakyamuni and the previous incarnation of Tang Sanzang (Xuanzang) in Journey to the West. In a past life, the Golden Cicada formed a karmic connection with Zhenyuanzi during the Ullambana Assembly (Lanpen Hui), where he personally served tea to Zhenyuanzi as a gesture of respect. Thus, in the episode at Wuzhuang Temple, Zhenyuan Daxian (Zhenyuan Great Immortal) instructed his disciples to honor Tang Sanzang with ginseng fruits.
The Golden Cicada was once banished to the mortal world for inattentiveness during the Buddha’s sermon and reincarnated as Tang Sanzang. The name “Jin Chan” is deeply symbolic: “Jin” (gold) represents the radiance of the Buddha, while “Chan” refers to Buddhist meditation – homophonous with “chan” (cicada) in Chinese. Beyond its Buddhist connotations, the cicada also symbolizes rebirth and immortality in Daoism, as it sheds its exoskeleton to emerge anew. Hence, the Golden Cicada’s reincarnation as the eminent monk of the Great Tang dynasty subtly echoes the image of the cicada molting – symbolizing spiritual transformation and renewal. This symbolism underlies the popular belief in Journey to the West that eating Tang Sanzang’s flesh grants eternal life.
Tang Sanzang’s origin as The Golden Cicada (Jin Chanzi) destined him to be the one and only candidate in Guanyin Bodhisattva’s eyes for the sacred scripture-retrieval mission. His dual identity – past and present – embodies a clear karmic continuity. Indeed, the Golden Cicada’s former status powerfully propels the narrative of the pilgrimage. As both a reincarnated Buddhist disciple and a virtuous monk recognized by Confucian, Buddhist, and Daoist traditions alike, Tang Sanzang becomes a unique bridge connecting the human world, the Western Paradise (Buddhist heaven), and the Celestial Court (Daoist heaven). This tripartite role ensures the success of the scripture-fetching quest. Throughout Journey to the West, his enigmatic yet persistent backstory weaves through the narrative like a golden thread, giving the novel a cohesive, string-of-pearls structural quality.
Leave a Reply