In Journey to the West, the Abortion Stream in the Child Destruction Cave, Male-Undoing Mountain of the Woman Kingdom had always been public property.
Then one day, the True Immortal Compliant — brother of the Bull Demon King — arrived in the kingdom. He forcibly seized the spring as his own, monopolized its water for profit, held the entire population hostage, and began living in luxury and wealth.
Why Wukong spared the True Immortal Compliant?
We know Sun Wukong had a fiery temper and deeply detested demons on the pilgrimage, usually eliminating them root and branch. The True Immortal Compliant was weak in power yet openly exploited the Woman Kingdom’s nobles and commoners, repeatedly intercepting Wukong’s attempts to fetch water. Why then did the Monkey King still spare him?
Non-Lethal Nature of the Conflict
The True Immortal Compliant blocked Wukong’s access to the Abortion Spring out of resentment for Red Boy’s subjugation by Guanyin Bodhisattva.
Red Boy was the son of the Bull Demon King and nephew of the True Immortal Compliant. The Red Boy once kidnapped Tang Monk, trying to eat his flesh for immortality. When Wukong tried to rescue his master, Red Boy’s Samadhi True Fire proved nearly unbeatable — even burning Wukong’s eyes. Wukong sought Guanyin’s help. She subdued Red Boy with a Golden Hoop and recruited him as her attendant, Sudhana.
Though the True Immortal refused to offer water to Tang Monk and hindered the pilgrimage, his actions constituted obstruction — not lethal intent against Tang Monk. That was out of a personal grudge between him and Wukong. Thus, the conflict centered on quest interference, not mortal enmity.
Guanyin’s Karmic Influence
As Red Boy’s uncle and now a righteous Sudhana Attendant under Guanyin, killing the immortal risked straining Wukong’s relationship with the Bodhisattva — a crucial benefactor throughout the journey. Prudence demanded respecting this karmic connection.
The Pilgrims’ Evolving Code
Aligned with Buddhism’s “compassion first” ethos, the late-stage pilgrimage emphasized reformation over slaughter:
Wukong increasingly subdued foes (e.g., intimidation, minor punishment)
- Offered redemption if obstacles ceased
- Killing reserved only for irredeemable threats
Sparing the immortal exemplified this moral growth.
This is confirmed by Wukong’s statement to the True Immortal as below.
“If old Monkey is willing to use his real abilities to fight with you, don’t say there is only one of you so-called True Immortal Compliant. Even if there are several of you, I would beat you all to death. But to kill is not as good as to let live, and so I’m going to spare you and permit you to have a few more years.”
— Journey to the West, Chapter 53
In fact, Wukong himself also revealed another two reasons why he choose not to kill the Daoist, the True Immortal as follows.
Legal and Moral Legitimacy
The True Immortal’s control over the Abortion Spring, although detrimental to the people, was likely to be sanctioned by divine will and authorized by the Queen of Woman Kingdom.
When the Great Sage heard this, he stopped the hook with his iron rod and said, “I was about to exterminate you, but you have not committed a crime. Moreover, I still have regard for the feelings of your brother, the Bull Demon King.”
— Journey to the West, Chapter 53
Familial Diplomacy
As the Bull Demon King’s brother, True Immortal Compliant belonged to Wukong’s former “sworn brotherhood” network. Wukong had already antagonized the family by subduing Red Boy. Sparing True Immortal Compliant was a strategic concession to avoid total estrangement from powerful demon clans.
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