Laozi

  • [Journey to the West] The Mystery of the Stolen Peaches

    In Journey to the West, the theft of the Peaches of Immortality from the Heavenly Orchard is a pivotal episode. While Sun Wukong (the Monkey King) is the apparent culprit, the incident is shrouded in doubt, layered with political intrigue and celestial manipulation.

  • Three Heads and Six Arms in Journey to the West

    The phrase “Three Heads and Six Arms” originates from Buddhist iconography, where it describes the fearsome yet divine appearance of certain Buddhas and Dharma protectors. Over time, it evolved into a metaphor for supernatural prowess in Chinese mythology. In Journey to the West, this ability is depicted as a combat spell granting the user…

  • Has the Monkey King ever eaten human flesh?

    In Journey to the West, the question of whether Sun Wukong (the Monkey King) consumes human flesh is a topic of debate. While many demons, including Tang Sanzang’s disciples Zhu Bajie (Pigsy) and Sha Wujing (Sandy), have cannibalistic pasts, Wukong’s relationship with human flesh is more complex and symbolic.

  • The Three Realms in Journey to the West

    In Journey to the West, the tales of ‌immortals‌, ‌demons‌, ‌mortals‌, and ‌ghosts‌ unfold across the ‌three realms‌ (Heavenly, Mortal, and Underworld), which reflects the Daoist cosmology.

  • [Journey to the West]Converting the Hu People into Buddhists

    In Journey to the West, the story of “Lord Lao Zi Converting the Hu People into Buddhists” stems from historical debates between Taoism and Buddhism. According to legend, Laozi (Lao-Tzu), revered as an incarnation of Taishang Laojun (the Supreme Elder Lord), rode westward on his blue ox, later giving rise to the claim that…

  • Immortality and Journey to the West

    In many cultures, immortality is regarded as a noble ideal. Ancient Chinese myths, legends, and texts are rich with stories and figures pursuing eternal life.

  • Dao De Jing – Chapter 81

    Sincere words are not fine; fine words are not sincere. Those who are skilled (in the Dao) do not dispute (about it); the disputatious are not skilled in it. Those who know (the Dao) are not extensively learned; the extensively learned do not know it.The sage does not accumulate (for himself). The more that…

  • Dao De Jing – Chapter 80

    In a little state with a small population, I would so order it, that, though there were individuals with the abilities of ten or a hundred men, there should be no employment of them; I would make the people, while looking on death as a grievous thing, yet not remove elsewhere (to avoid it).Though…

  • Dao De Jing – Chapter 79

    When a reconciliation is effected (between two parties) after a great animosity, there is sure to be a grudge remaining (in the mind of the one who was wrong). And how can this be beneficial (to the other)?Therefore (to guard against this), the sage keeps the left-hand portion of the record of the engagement,…