SuaveG – The Gentle Path

Tag: Journey to the West

[Journey to the West] Dialogues between the Fisherman and the Woodcutter

In Chapter 9 of Journey to the West, significant space is devoted to a philosophical exchange between a fisherman named Zhang Shao and a woodcutter named Li Ding.
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April 21, 2025
[Journey to the West] The Diviner – Yuan Shoucheng

In Journey to the West, gods and demons wield immense supernatural powers, while mortals are typically portrayed as frail and vulnerable. Yet, there are rare exceptions—figures like Liu Boqin, Wei Zheng, and Yuan Shoucheng.
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April 21, 2025
Why does Wukong hold great respect for the Gold Star of Venus?

In Journey to the West, Sun Wukong(the Monkey King) is notoriously prideful, showing little deference to most gods and buddhas—even high-ranking figures like the Jade Emperor, Tathagata Buddha, and Laozi. However, he harbors genuine respect for two deities: Guanyin Bodhisattva and Taibai Jinxing (the Great White Star, also known as the Golden Star of Venus, Gold Star of Venus, Planet Venus from the West or Long-Life Spirit of the Planet Venus).
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April 19, 2025
The Ullambana Festival and Journey to the West

The Ullambana Festival(also known as the Feast of the Ullambana Bowl), a traditional Buddhist ceremony, originated during the reign of Emperor Wu of Liang, Xiao Yan, and is observed annually on the 15th day of the seventh lunar month.
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April 19, 2025
The hidden purpose of the Pilgrimage to the West

On the surface, the stated goal of the westward journey to retrieve Buddhist scriptures is to fulfill Emperor Taizong of Tang’s desire for Mahayana teachings to “save lost souls” and redeem his own karmic debts.
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April 19, 2025
[Journey to the West] The secret of a mortal living 270 years

In Journey to the West, immortality is the common aspiration eagerly pursued by deities, demons, cultivators, and mortals alike. Immortals and deities often boast lifespans spanning thousands or even tens of thousands of years.
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April 18, 2025
Door Gods and Journey to the West

Since ancient times, Chinese folklore has upheld the tradition of pasting images of Door Gods on household gates during the Lunar New Year.
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April 18, 2025
[Journey to the West] The mystery of Heavenly King Li’s adopted daughter

In Journey to the West, Heavenly King Li Jing (also known as Devaraja Li, or Li Tianwang) is famously known for his three sons—Jinzha, Muzha, Nezha and the little daughter Zhen Ying. However, many readers are puzzled by the connection between Heavenly King Li Jing and his adopted daughter, the Mouse Demon.
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April 18, 2025
[Journey to the West] Devaraja Li and his pagoda

In Journey to the West, Devaraja Li (also known as Heavenly King Li, Li Jing, Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King or Devaraja Pagoda-Bearer) is the supreme military commander serving the Jade Emperor. His character merges the Buddhist deva-king archetype (Buddhist guardian deity Vaiśravana, one of the Four Heavenly Kings) with the historical General Li Jing from Emperor Tang Taizong’s court, a fascinating blend of Buddhist cosmology and Chinese Daoist mythology.
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April 18, 2025