In Journey to the West, the tales of immortals, demons, mortals, and ghosts unfold across the three realms (Heavenly, Mortal, and Underworld), which reflects the Daoist cosmology.
Three Regions in the context of Taoism
- The Heavens: The abode of deities and divine beings.
- The Earth: The physical world inhabited by humans, where mortal life, challenges, and experiences unfold.
- The Underworld: The subterranean realm where souls journey after death.
The Three Realms in Journey to the West
Heavenly Realm
Governed by the Jade Emperor, it includes celestial palaces (e.g., the Lingxiao Palace and Peach Garden), the Thirty-Three Heavens, and sacred spaces like Lihen Tian (the abode of Taishang Laojun or Laozi, the Daoist deity of alchemy).
Connected to the mortal world via the Southern Heavenly Gate, while Mount Kunlun serves as a cosmic pillar linking Heaven and Earth.
Mortal Realm
Divided into the Four Great Continents:
- Dongsheng Shenzhou (the East Pūrvavideha Continent, home of the Monkey King’s birthplace, the Flower-Fruit Mountain),
- Xiniu Hezhou (the West Aparagodānīya Continent, where the Buddha resides),
- Nanshan Buzhou (the South Jambūdvīpa Continent, the central human domain),
- Beiju Luzhou (the North Uttarakuru Continent, a barren land).
Populated by humans, demons, and earthly immortals. Demons often occupy remote areas (e.g., caves), while Daoist sages like Zhenyuanzi dwell in blessed lands.
Underworld
Ruled by King Yama, it includes the Yellow Springs (path to the afterlife), Hell’s Courts, and the Eighteen Layers of Hell, where souls are judged and reincarnated.
Sun Wukong’s act of erasing his name from the Book of Life and Death highlights the Underworld’s authority over mortal lifespans.
Cultural Synthesis and Conflicts
The Jade Emperor oversees celestial governance, while Buddhist forces (led by Tathagata Buddha) dominate the West. The Underworld nominally answers to Heaven but incorporates Buddhist concepts (e.g., Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva overseeing hells).
Heaven is Daoist-dominated but coexists with Buddhist power (e.g., the Journey to the West itself is a Buddhist mission endorsed by Heaven).
The Underworld merges Daoist King Yama with Buddhist Ksitigarbha, reflecting blended cosmology.
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