SuaveG – The Gentle Path

Tag: tang sanzang

[Journey to the West]Conflict and Reconciliation of Religions from Zhen Yuanzi’s Perspective

In traditional Chinese culture, the conflict and fusion between Buddhism and Taoism underwent a prolonged historical process, a phenomenon vividly expressed and embodied in Journey to the West.
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April 12, 2025
[Journey to the West]Guanyin Bodhisattva and Zen Master Wu Chao

In Journey to the West, Zen Master Wu Chao (Crow’s Nest Zen Master) is a mysterious, wise monk who imparts the Heart Sutra to Tang Sanzang and foretells the pilgrims’ trials. Despite his enlightened demeanor, Sun Wukong harbors deep resentment toward him, culminating in a violent attack.
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April 12, 2025
[Journey to the West]The Truth Behind the Pseudonyms: A Trap of Temptation

In Journey to the West (Chapter 23: “Four Saints Test the Zen Heart”), the four bodhisattvas disguise themselves as a widow and her three daughters to test the pilgrims’ spiritual resolve. Their names are riddled with homophonic puns and double meanings, critiquing worldly illusions.
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April 12, 2025
Crow’s Nest Chan Master and Heart Sutra in Journey to the West

In Journey to the West, Master Subodhi (Subhuti) and Zen Master Wu Chao stand out as two of the most enigmatic figures. Both characters make only brief appearances in the novel before vanishing without a trace. Despite their fleeting presence, they play pivotal roles in shaping the story’s progression and spiritual undertones.
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April 11, 2025
Why Wukong burned down the Guanyin Temple?

In Journey to the West, the Guanyin Zen Monastery (also known as Guanyin Hall, Guanyin Zen Temple or Guanyin Chan Hall) is the domain of the Goddess Guanyin Bodhisattva. Sun Wukong’s fiery destruction of the monastery was both accidental and inevitable.
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April 11, 2025
Strength, Mana and Authority in Journey to the West

In Journey to the West, power manifests in multiple forms, making it difficult to rank deities and demons by dominance alone. The novel distinguishes three key types of power.
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April 10, 2025
The Mind-Control Spell in Journey to the West

In Journey to the West, Guanyin Bodhisattva grants Tang Sanzang the ‌Tightening Curse‌ (Tight-Fillet Spell) and its accompanying ‌golden fillet‌ to subdue Sun Wukong.
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April 10, 2025
The Six Bandits in Journey to the West

In Journey to the West, Chapter 14, titled “Mind Monkey returns to the Right – The Six Robbers vanish from sight”, introduces six robbers who ambush Tang Sanzang and Sun Wukong.
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April 10, 2025
Liu Boqin: The Tiger-Slayer of Journey to the West

In ancient Chinese society, tigers and humans coexisted in close proximity, leading to inevitable clashes for survival. As society and culture advanced, human activity expanded, intensifying these conflicts.
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April 10, 2025