Tang monk

  • Which is the hardest tribulation in Journey to the West?

    Which was the hardest of the eighty-one tribulations faced by the Tang Monk and his disciples on their journey to fetch the scriptures? In Journey to the West, the four pilgrims battled demons and overcame obstacles all the way to the Western Heaven. Each trial seemed arduous. But comparing them, which one posed the…

  • How old is Sun Wukong? [Journey to the West]

    We previously roughly calculated Tang Monk’s age in the novel Journey to the West. Today, let’s examine how old Sun Wukong was. Unlike Tang Monk, Wukong was not an ordinary mortal; he was both a demon and an immortal, so his lifespan was naturally much longer than a human’s. Now, let’s attempt to calculate…

  • How old is the Tang Monk?

    In the novel Journey to the West, there is no explicit mention of the ages of Tang Sanzang (Tripitaka), Sun Wukong (Monkey King), Zhu Bajie (Pigsy), Sha Wujing (Sandy). However, we can estimate their ages based on certain details and time references throughout the story. Let’s focus on the main character –Tang Sanzang in…

  • The Secret of Tang Sanzang’s Purple Gold Alms Bowl

    In Journey to the West, the Purple Gold Alms Bowl was bestowed upon Tang Sanzang by Emperor Taizong of Tang (Li Shimin) before his pilgrimage. While providing attendants and a horse was practical, the emperor’s deliberate choice of this sacred vessel demands scrutiny.

  • Is Wukong’s Fiery Eyes and Diamond Pupils really that powerful?

    In an earlier post, we discussed how powerful is the Monkey King and completed a catalog of Sun Wukong’s magic abilities and skills. Today, we will talk about one of his controversial magic powers, the Fiery Eyes and Golden Pupils (also called Fiery Eyes and Diamond Pupils or Fiery Eyes Golden Gaze) which he…

  • Journey to the West – Episode 156 – Picture story

    Trembling from head to toe, Tripitaka desperately clung to Wukong and pleaded: “Help me escape this predicament!”

  • Journey to the West – Episode 155 – Picture story

    Tang Monk was so terrified by what he had just heard that his bones seemed to turn to jelly.

  • Journey to the West – Episode 154 – Picture story

    Tripitaka and his disciples left the Lion-Camel Kingdom and continued their journey westward. After several months, winter came again. Ignoring the icy winds, they pressed forward, eating and sleeping in the wilderness despite the wind and rain.

  • Journey to the West – Episode 153 – Picture story

    Gradually, Wukong began to question his fate:“This is all Tathagata’s fault! He sits comfortably in his paradise, hoarding scriptures! If he truly cared about spreading truth, he should have delivered them himself to the East. Instead, he sent us through endless trials. Now my master lies dead! I’ll confront Buddha—demand the scriptures or freedom…