In Journey to the West, Chapter 14, titled “Mind Monkey returns to the Right – The Six Robbers vanish from sight”, introduces six robbers who ambush Tang Sanzang and Sun Wukong.
Their names and symbolism draw directly from Buddhist teachings on the Six Roots and Six Dusts, representing sensory attachments that obstruct spiritual liberation.
The Six Senses and Six Bandits: A Buddhist Allegory
Six Roots (Internal Senses)
- Eye – Sight
- Ear – Hearing
- Nose – Smell
- Tongue – Taste
- Body – Touch
- Mind – Thought
Six Dusts (External Objects)
- Forms – Visible objects
- Sounds
- Scents
- Flavors
- Textures
- Mental Phenomena
In Buddhist practice, these sensory faculties and their objects are called “Six Bandits” because they “steal” inner peace by fueling desire and delusion.
The Six Robbers in Journey to the West
- Eye – Observer of Joy
- Ear – Listener of Anger
- Nose – Smeller of Love
- Tongue – Taster of Thought
- Mind – Desirer of Wants
- Body – Feeler of Worry
Each name pairs a sensory root (e.g., Eye) with an emotional attachment (e.g., Joy), symbolizing how sensory experiences trap the mind in cyclical suffering.
Cultural and Philosophical Significance
When Sun Wukong declares, “I am the master of these six thieves!”, he reveals his role as the tamer of sensory desires.
“You are nothing but six hairy brigands,” said Wukong laughing, “who have failed to recognize in me a person who has left the family, your proper master. How dare you bar my way? Bring out the treasures you have stolen so that you and I can divide them into seven portions. I’ll spare you then!”
— Journey to the West, Chapter 14
By slaying the robbers, Wukong symbolically purges Tang Sanzang’s attachments, marking the first step in their spiritual journey.
The battle represents the Buddhist imperative to subdue the Six Roots and transcend worldly cravings. Wukong’s violent act, while seemingly contradictory to Buddhist non-violence, underscores the harsh discipline required to conquer inner demons.
Later, Guanyin Bodhisattva gifts Tang Sanzang the Tight-Fillet Crown to control Wukong—another metaphor for taming sensory chaos (Wukong) with spiritual discipline (the fillet).
The Six Bandits episode is not just an adventure but a spiritual primer, teaching that enlightenment begins with mastering the senses.
The episode distills complex Buddhist teachings into narrative form, making them accessible to readers.
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