SuaveG – The Gentle Path

Chinese mythology, folktales, and literature

pilgrimage

  • The Kingdom of Women in History and Journey to the West

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    In the novel Journey to the West, the ‌Women’s Kingdom‌ is one of the nations that the monk Tang Sanzang and his disciples pass through during their quest for Buddhist scriptures.

  • [Journey to the West]Subhuti vs. Tathagata Buddha

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    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.

  • Who are Sun Wukong’s parents?

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    In Journey to the West, Sun Wukong (the Monkey King) has no biological parents. He is born from a magical stone nurtured by heaven and earth’s primordial energies on the Mount of Flowers and Fruits.

  • The two Scholar-Hermits in Journey to the West

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    In Journey to the West, Zhang Shao and Li Ding are two distinctive yet minor characters. A fisherman and a woodcutter, respectively. Traditionally, these professions symbolized an idyllic life detached from worldly strife, embodying the Taoist ideal of reclusive simplicity.

  • [Journey to the West]The Prototype of Sha Monk

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    Sha Wujing, also known as Sandy, Friar Sand, or Sha Monk, is the youngest disciple of Tang Sanzang in Journey to the West. The Prototype of Sha Monk (Sha Wujing) can be traced to multiple images in Buddhist stories and historical documents.

  • [Journey to the West]The Origin of Zhu Bajie

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    The full name of the pig character in Journey to the West is Zhu Bajie, where “Zhu” means “pig” and “Bajie” translates to “Eight Precepts” or “Eight Prohibitions”.