In traditional Chinese culture, the dragon symbolizes supreme power, auspicious blessings, and spiritual totemism. It represents emperors, good fortune, and national identity.
The Diminished Stature of Dragons
Yet in the novel Journey to the West, dragons occupy a unique position: they are numerous but hold relatively low status, diverging from their divine portrayal in classical Chinese mythology.
Original descriptions frequently show Dragon Kings rising hastily to greet the Monkey King upon his arrival at their palaces, accompanied by dragon offspring, shrimp soldiers, and crab generals.
Aoguang, the Dragon King of the Eastern Ocean, arose immediately; accompanied by dragon sons and grandsons, shrimp soldiers and crab generals, he came out for the reception.
— Journey to the West, Chapter 4
This suggests the Dragon Kings lack exalted standing.
Hierarchy and Power Dynamics
Dragons in the narrative are diverse, including the Dragon Kings of the Four Seas and the White Dragon Horse, among others. Notably, dragon meat is served as a delicacy at celestial banquets.
A table inlaid with five-color gold,
And a green jade pot of a thousand flowers.
On the tables were dragon livers and phoenix marrow,
Bear paws and the lips of apes.
Most tempting was every one of the hundred delicacies,
And most succulent the hue of every kind of fruit and food.
— Journey to the West, Chapter 5
Tathāgata was asked to be seated high on the Numinous Terrace of Seven Treasures, and the rest of the deities were then seated according to rank and age before a banquet of dragon livers, phoenix marrow, juices of jade, and immortal peaches.
— Journey to the West, Chapter 7
As water deities of the mortal realm, Dragon Kings rank as ghost immortals within the celestial hierarchy: Heavenly, Earthly, Divine, Human, and Ghost Immortals. In stark contrast, Sun Wukong achieves the highest tier — Heavenly Immortal.
When the Three Stars heard these words, they became distressed also. One of them said, “Monkey, you’re completely ignorant of people! That Master Zhenyuan is the patriarch of earthbound immortals, while we belong to the lineage of divine immortals. You may have just claimed as the junior Heavenly Immortal, but you have yet to attain an authentic rank. How could you possibly expect to escape from him?”
— Journey to the West, Chapter 26
This stems from his origins as a spirit born of Heaven and Earth and his mastery of the Great Pinnacle of Immortality Art taught by Patriarch Subhuti, which elevated him to Great Immortal of Grand Unity.
Sun Wukong’s Attitude Toward Lower Immortals
Heavenly Immortals inherently feel superior to Ghost Immortals. Coupled with Sun Wukong’s brash personality, this leads to his lack of respect toward mountain gods, earth deities (local spirits), and Dragon Kings. However, as Wukong harbors no malice — beyond occasional dismissiveness — these lower immortals generally treat him with deference.
Critically, this dynamic reflects political status, not comparative magical power or combat prowess.
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