In Journey to the West, most female spirits or demons capture the Tang Monk because they desire to marry him. Only two exceptions exist: the White Bone Spirit and the Seven Spider Spirits. Both groups sought the Tang Sanzang’s “flesh” (for immortality) and showed no sexual or romantic interest in men.
(more…)Tag: wukong
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[Journey to the West] Why are there only women in the Kingdom of Western Liang?
The Women’s Kingdom (Women State) in Journey to the West is an all-female society sustained by supernatural and cultural mechanisms.
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Has the Monkey King ever eaten human flesh?
In Journey to the West, the question of whether Sun Wukong (the Monkey King) consumes human flesh is a topic of debate. While many demons, including Tang Sanzang’s disciples Zhu Bajie (Pigsy) and Sha Wujing (Sandy), have cannibalistic pasts, Wukong’s relationship with human flesh is more complex and symbolic.
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[Journey to the West] Wukong and Zhang Liang
In Chapter 14 of Journey to the West, Sun Wukong kills six bandits (symbolizing the ”Six Roots” of desire in Buddhist teachings) and is harshly rebuked by Tang Sanzang. Angered, he storms off and visits the Dragon King of the Eastern Sea.
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