SuaveG – The Gentle Path

Tag: Monkey King

[Journey to the West] Sworn Brotherhood with a King

Xuanzang was about to leave the desert and enter an oasis. Ahead awaited the 36 Western kingdoms. How would these distant lands, far removed from Chinese civilization, receive a monk from the Tang Empire?
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April 22, 2025
[Journey to the West] The Stowaway

In the novel, the monk and the emperor swore brotherhood in the palace, and the Tang Monk, accompanied by his horse, set off westward.
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April 22, 2025
Pilgrimage to the Realm of Buddha

Over the past two months, we have explored the Chinese classic Journey to the West. Though a mythological narrative, it is rooted in historical events.
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April 22, 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
[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
[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.
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April 18, 2025
[Journey to the West] Is Wukong Male or Female?‌

The question of whether the Monkey King (Sun Wukong) is male or female arises frequently, as Journey to the West never explicitly portrays him having sexual desires toward men or women.
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April 17, 2025
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 enhanced power and omnidirectional awareness.
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April 16, 2025
Monstrous King of Havoc in Journey to the West

In Journey to the West, the first demon killed by Sun Wukong (the Monkey King) is the Monster King of Calamity(or Monstrous King of Havoc). This episode carries profound symbolic meaning rooted in Taoist cosmology.
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April 16, 2025