As Sun Wukong’s first teacher, Master Subhuti plays a pivotal role in Journey to the West. He imparts Wukong with supernatural abilities, including the 72 Transformations and Cloud Somersault. However, after his initial appearance, Subhuti vanishes mysteriously and is never mentioned again, leaving his fate as enigmatic as that of Zen Master Wu Chao.
The Paradox of Sun Wukong’s Loyalty
In Chapter 34, while infiltrating the Crushed Dragon Cave(or Dragon-Crushing Cave), Wukong reflects:
In times past, he could have entered a giant tripod of boiling oil, and even if he had been fried for seven or eight days, he would not have shed half a tear. It was, however, the thought of the misery inflicted on him on account of the Tang Monk’s going to acquire scriptures that moved him to tears. He thought to himself, “If old Monkey had displayed his ability and changed into a little fiend to invite this aged monster, there would be absolutely no reason for him to speak standing up. I must kowtow when I see her! A hero all my life, I have only kowtowed to three persons: I bowed to Buddha of the Western Heaven, Guanyin of the South Sea, and four times to Master when he saved me at the Mountain of Two Frontiers. For him I have used up even my innards and my bowels! Ah, how much could a roll of scripture be worth? Yet, I’m forced to prostrate myself before this fiend today.
— Journey to the West, Chapter 34
This passage contains a hidden contradiction:
- Wukong claims to have knelt only to Buddha Tathagata, Guanyin, and Tang Sanzang, yet he had previously knelt to Subhuti during his apprenticeship.
- The omission of Subhuti raises questions: Are Subhuti and Tathagata Buddha the same entity?
Subhuti’s Identity
Subhuti is a Taoist immortal, yet his teachings blend Taoist and Buddhist principles. His sudden disappearance mirrors the novel’s theme of hidden celestial agendas. Subhuti’s role in training Wukong—equipping him with skills critical to the mission—suggests a deeper collaboration between Taoist and Buddhist forces.
Some scholars theorize that Subhuti is an incarnation or alter ego of Buddha Tathagata, orchestrating Wukong’s journey from behind the scenes. It is because, as the architect of the scripture quest, Tathagata is the ultimate beneficiary of the pilgrimage.
While Journey to the West never explicitly equates Subhuti with Tathagata Buddha, their roles are deeply intertwined. Subhuti’s mentorship plants the seeds of Wukong’s potential, while Tathagata’s grand design harvests it for Buddhist ends. This duality mirrors the novel’s broader message: enlightenment transcends sectarian labels.
The unanswered question of Subhuti’s fate invites readers to ponder the fluid boundaries between teacher and deity, mortal and immortal—a testament to the story’s enduring mystery and depth.
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