The One-Horned Demon King in the novel Journey to the West serves as a metaphor for Sun Wukong’s inner demons.
As they were drinking wine and conversing happily, someone came to report: “Great King, there are two one-horned demon kings outside who want to see you.” “Show them in,” said the Monkey King. The demon kings straightened out their attire, ran into the cave, and prostrated themselves. “Why did you want to see me?” asked the Handsome Monkey King. “We have long heard that the Great King is receptive to talents,” said the demon kings, “but we had no reason to request your audience. Now we learn that our Great King has received a divine appointment and has returned in success and glory. We have come, therefore, to present the Great King with a red and yellow robe for his celebration. If you are not disdainful of the uncouth and the lowly and are willing to receive us plebeians, we shall serve you as dogs or as horses.”
— Journey to the West, Chapter 4
In Chinese, the term “demon” (gui 鬼) often represents evil intentions, hidden agendas, or corrupted desires. The One-Horned Demon King’s physical horns—a common symbol of malevolence in Chinese folklore—visually underscore his role as a manifestation of Wukong’s moral decay.
He could be good;
He could be bad;
Present good and evil he could do at will.
He’d be an immortal, a Buddha, if he’s good;
Wickedness would cloak him with hair and horn.— Journey to the West, Chapter 7
One’s path hinges on choice: to act virtuously or indulge in vice. Choosing virtue leads to Buddhahood; choosing vice risks becoming a horned, hairy beast.
This passage highlights Wukong’s internal struggle. His once-pure mind, now tainted by ambition, craves fame, wealth, status, and dominion over the Three Realms (Heaven, Earth, and the Underworld).
Wukong’s Moral Decline
- Early Arrogance: After learning supernatural skills, Wukong flaunts them to his peers.
- Defiance: He forcibly seizes weapons and armor, destroys the Book of Life and Death, and demands divine titles.
- Hubris: His ultimate aspiration—to be the Great Sage Equaling Heaven—exposes his corrupted heart.
The One-Horned Demon King embodies:
- Inner Corruption: Wukong’s unchecked desires and moral failings.
- Cosmic Manipulation: Heaven’s calculated schemes to control wayward forces.
- Fate vs. Free Will: The tension between celestial destiny and personal choice.
This episode underscores the novel’s Buddhist-Taoist themes: true enlightenment requires conquering inner demons, not just external foes.
Historical Parallel: The Chenqiao Mutiny
The One-Horned Demon King’s act of offering Wukong the Yellow Robe (a symbol of imperial authority) mirrors the Chenqiao Mutiny (960 CE), where Zhao Kuangyin was draped in a yellow robe and proclaimed emperor. This gesture symbolizes rebellion against cosmic order, framing Wukong’s ambition as a celestial insurrection.
Celestial Conspiracy Theory
When Wukong returns to the Flower and Fruit Mountain, the One-Horned Demon King appears immediately—suggesting he was tipped off by someone in the Heavenly Court. Notably, the demon is swiftly captured by celestial troops after his first battle, implying the Jade Emperor orchestrated his role as a planted agent to manipulate Wukong’s rebellion and justify heavenly retribution.
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