In Journey to the West, power manifests in multiple forms, making it difficult to rank deities and demons by dominance alone. The novel distinguishes three key types of power.
Strength
Refers to physical prowess or martial skill. For example:
- Sun Wukong wields his Golden-Hooped Rod to battle demons and suppress evil through brute force.
- Combat-focused deities like Erlang Shen rely on martial mastery and divine weapons.
The Strength embodies raw Yang energy, representing action and rebellion, yet often limited against higher spiritual or cosmic forces.
Mana
Encompasses magical or divine abilities, particularly through incantations and mantras. Examples include:
- Tang Sanzang subdues Sun Wukong using the Tightening Curse, the Mind-Control Spell.
- Buddha seals Sun Wukong under the Five Elements Mountain(Five Phases Mountain) with the divine words. This mantra, rooted in Sanskrit, holds profound Buddhist significance. Known as the Six-Syllable Great Bright Mantra, it symbolizes compassion, wisdom, and cosmic order.
- Sun Wukong himself employs spells like the Water-Avoiding Charm or Invisibility Spell, showcasing how mana transcends physical limits.
While strength dominates physical battles, mana prevails in spiritual conflicts. This mirrors Daoist teachings: “Softness overcomes hardness”. Mana often surpasses mere strength, as it taps into cosmic laws and spiritual discipline.
Authority
The supreme power, rooted in cosmic hierarchy and divine mandate. Examples:
- The Jade Emperor commands universal reverence, embodying the Mandate of Heaven. Even rebellious figures like Sun Wukong ultimately bow to his decrees.
- Buddha’s authority transcends both strength and mana; his edicts shape fate itself (e.g., defining the pilgrims’ journey).
Authority operates through sacred bureaucracy—deities and demons alike are bound by heavenly ranks and karmic laws.
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