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.
Surface Cause: Greed and Deception
Wukong deliberately agitates Abbot Jinchi by flaunting Tang Sanzang’s Brocade Cassock, inciting the monks’ greed. Despite Tang Sanzang’s repeated attempts to stop him, the Monkey King insisted on displaying the cassock and flaunting it before the elder Jinchi.
Glancing at them one by one, Pilgrim saw that they were all pieces of fine silk intricately woven and delicately embroidered, splashed with gold.
He laughed and said, “Fine! Fine! Fine! Now pack them up! Let’s take ours out for you to look at.”
Pulling Pilgrim aside, Tripitaka said softly, “Disciple, don’t start a contest of wealth with other people. You and I are strangers away from home, and this may be a mistake!”
“Just a look at the cassock,” said Pilgrim, “how can that be a mistake?”
“You haven’t considered this,” said Tripitaka. “As the ancients declared, ‘The rare object of art should not be exposed to the covetous and deceitful person.’ For once he sees it, he will be tempted; and once he is tempted, he will plot and scheme. If you are timid, you may end up yielding to his every demand; otherwise, injury and loss of life may result, and that’s no small matter.”
“Relax! Relax!” said Pilgrim. “Old Monkey will assume all responsibility!”
— Journey to the West, Chapter 16
When Jinchi sets the temple ablaze to cover his theft, Wukong retaliates by amplifying the fire with his magic, burning the temple to ashes.
Underlying Motive: Revenge Against Guanyin
Wukong’s actions are not merely impulsive but calculated defiance. In reality, the Monkey King took the opportunity to exact revenge on Guanyin Bodhisattva. From the beginning, Sun Wukong sought opportunities within the temple. This explains why he would deliberately disrupted the peace by striking the bell when he just arrived at the Guanyin Temple.
Later, upon discovering the greed of Abbot Jinchi, Sun Wukong resolved to exploit this flaw to provoke conflict. By weaponizing the elder’s avarice, he not only sought retribution against the abbot but also aimed to strike at the temple’s true authority—Guanyin Bodhisattva.
Wukong’s grudge against Guanyin
Earlier, Guanyin had instructed Tang Sanzang to use the Golden Headband (a torture device) to control Sun Wukong.
Lowering his clouds, the Guardian went past Tripitaka and headed straight for the edge of the stream, saying to Pilgrim, “The Bodhisattva has arrived.” When Pilgrim heard this, he jumped quickly into the air and yelled at her: “You, so-called Teacher of the Seven Buddhas and the Founder of the Faith of Mercy! Why did you have to use your tricks to harm me?”
“You impudent stableman, ignorant red-buttocks!” said the Bodhisattva. “I went to considerable effort to find a scripture pilgrim, whom I carefully instructed to save your life. Instead of thanking me, you are finding fault with me!” “You saved me all right!” said Pilgrim. “If you truly wanted to deliver me, you should have allowed me to have a little fun with no strings attached. When you met me the other day above the ocean, you could have chastened me with a few words, telling me to serve the Tang Monk with diligence, and that would have been enough. Why did you have to give him a flower cap, and have him deceive me into wearing it so that I would suffer? Now the fillet has taken root on old Monkey’s head. And you even taught him this so-called ‘Tight-Fillet Spell,’ which he recites again and again, causing endless pain in my head! You haven’t harmed me, indeed!” The Bodhisattva laughed and said, “O, Monkey! You are neither attentive to admonition nor willing to seek the fruit of truth. If you are not restrained like this, you’ll probably mock the authority of Heaven again without regard for good or ill. If you create troubles as you did before, who will be able to control you? It’s only through this bit of adversity that you will be willing to enter our gate of Yoga.
— Journey to the West, Chapter 15
Why Did Wukong Dare?
The scripture quest is ultimately Tathagata’s design. Guanyin, as his emissary, operates under his mandate. Wukong, aware of his indispensable role in the pilgrimage. As a key player in the Buddha’s cosmic drama, Wukong enjoys a degree of impunity. Burning the temple tests divine tolerance but does not derail the mission.
Burning the temple symbolized Wukong’s indirect defiance of Guanyin’s authority.
Also the temple’s corruption—Jinchi’s greed despite being a monk—exposes the moral decay of institutions under Guanyin’s oversight. Wukong’s arson critiques the gap between divine ideals and earthly practice.
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