The phrase “Three Heads and Six Arms” originates from Buddhist iconography, where it describes the fearsome yet divine appearance of certain Buddhas and Dharma protectors. Over time, it evolved into a metaphor for supernatural prowess in Chinese mythology. In Journey to the West, this ability is depicted as a combat spell granting the user enhanced power and omnidirectional awareness.
Characters who master this ability
In Journey to the West, two iconic characters who master this ability are Sun Wukong (the Monkey King) and Nezha, the celestial warrior. Another demon who wields this spell is the One-Horned Bull King.
Nezha (Nata)
Nezha, a celestial warrior and the third son of the Heavenly King Li Jing (Tower-Bearing Deva), is a key divine figure in Journey to the West. Originally a Buddhist guardian deity, he is renowned for his ”Three Heads and Six Arms” form and mastery of powerful magic weapons like the Wind-Fire Wheels, Universe Ring, and Red Armillary Sash.
Lifting his head to look, Nata saw the words, “Great Sage, Equal to Heaven.”
“What great power does this monstrous monkey possess,” said Nata, “that he dares claim such a title? Fear not! Swallow my sword.”
“I’ll just stand here quietly,” said Wukong, “and you can take a few hacks at me with your sword.”
Young Nata grew angry. “Change!” he yelled loudly, and he changed at once into a fearsome person having three heads and six arms.
— Journey to the West, Chapter 4
Sun Wukong (the Monkey King)
So with one shake of his body he changed into a creature with six arms and three heads. One wave of the compliant rod and it turned into three; his six arms wielded the three rods like a spinning wheel, whirling and dancing in their midst. The various thunder deities could not approach him at all.
— Journey to the West, Chapter 7
Great King One-Horned Buffalo (Green Bull Spirit)
A powerful demon, also known as the One-Horned Ox King, who is later revealed to be the Green Bull Spirit under Laozi’s command.
Treading on the cloudy luminosity, Deng and Zhang, the two squires, were just about to attack when they saw the prince resorting to magic. Shaking his body, he changed himself into someone with three heads and six arms holding six kinds of weapons to attack the demon. The demon king also changed himself into someone with three heads and six arms, using three long lances to defend himself.
— Journey to the West, Chapter 51
Bull Demon King(the Mighty Bull Demon King)
The Bull Demon King is one of the most formidable demon lords in Journey to the West. A former sworn brother of Sun Wukong (the Monkey King).
Shouting “Change!”, the prince immediately changed into a figure having three heads and six arms. He leaped onto the bull’s back and brought his monster-cleaving sword down on the bull’s neck: the bull was beheaded at once. Putting away his scimitar, the devarāja was about to greet Pilgrim when another head emerged from the torso of the bull, his mouth belching black air and his eyes beaming golden rays. Naṭa lifted his sword once more and cut off the bull’s head; as soon as it dropped to the ground, another head came out. It went on like this more than ten times.
— Journey to the West, Chapter 61
Although there is no direct description of the Bull Demon King using the “Three Heads and Six Arms” technique, during the Battle of Flaming Mountain, after being decapitated by Nezha’s “Three Heads and Six Arms” divine form, the Bull Demon King demonstrated the ability to regenerate his head continuously. While debates persist over whether the Bull Demon King truly possessed this specific ability, there is no doubt that he exhibited similar divine combat capabilities.
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