In the novel Journey to the West, Sun Wukong, the Monkey King, learned several crucial skills and knowledge from his first master, Subhuti. Key highlights include:
Chapter 69 employs military metaphors to unveil the Daoist philosophy of ‘retreating to advance’ and ‘softness overcoming hardness’. Lao Tzu first references ancient military wisdom: ‘I dare not take the initiative but prefer to respond; I dare not advance an inch but prefer to withdraw a foot’. This emphasizes avoiding provocation, resisting rash aggression,…