Tales of the Monkey King are based on a true story of a famous monk called Sun Wukong, of the Chinese Tang Dynasty (602-664 B.C.). After over ten years of trials and penances he arrived on foot to what is now known as India, the birthplace of Buddhism. It was said he was there for the Holly books of Buddhism. When he returned, Sun Wukong translated the Indian scripts into Chinese, thus making a great contribution to the development of Buddhism in China.
Sun Wukong (the monkey king, see Figure 10.1) was born out of a rock, fertilized by the grace of Heaven and Earth. Being a quick learner, he has learned all the magic tricks and gongfu quickly from an immortal Taoist master. Now he can transform himself into seventy-two different images such as a tree, a bird, a beast of prey, or an insect. According to Chinese legends he can travel 108,000 kilometers at a single somersault.
Figure 10.1
He claimed to be ‘The King in defiance of the only authority over the heaven,
the seas, the earth and the subterranean world,’ or "The Great Emperor of
Jade." That act of high treason, made him have many enemies, from hell and
Heaven. In fact, the monkey king went into the Dragon King’s domain for his
crown treasure: a huge gold-banded iron rod used to control and tame all waters.
Able to expand or shrink at his command, the precious iron rod becomes the
monkey Kings favorite weapon in his later feats. The first test of its power
came when the monkey stormed into hell and threatened the Hadean king into
sparing him and his followers’ mortal life so that they all could enjoy
eternity.
Monkey king started getting followers and his most well known followers are Pigsy and Sandy
One day the monkey king, Pigsy and sandy traveled to the white tiger mountain. Monkey king offered to scout ahead but before leaving he drew a circle to protect his disciples. While he is away the white boned demon took a form of a young maiden and approached the circle where Pigsy and Sandy were. The monkey king sensed danger and rushes back to protect his disciples from the unknown danger. The monkey king saw through the disguise and hit the demon with his staff. The demon disappears and came back as an old man. The monkey king saw through the disguise again and after a ferocious battle the white boned demon disappeared forever.
Monkey king started getting followers and his most well known followers are Pigsy and Sandy
One day the monkey king, Pigsy and sandy traveled to the white tiger mountain. Monkey king offered to scout ahead but before leaving he drew a circle to protect his disciples. While he is away the white boned demon took a form of a young maiden and approached the circle where Pigsy and Sandy were. The monkey king sensed danger and rushes back to protect his disciples from the unknown danger. The monkey king saw through the disguise and hit the demon with his staff. The demon disappears and came back as an old man. The monkey king saw through the disguise again and after a ferocious battle the white boned demon disappeared forever.
Eventually, the heavenly army, enlisting the help of all the god warriors with diverse tricks, managed to capture the nearly invincible monkey King. Having a bronze head and iron shoulders, the monkey blunted nearly all the weapons used at him. As the last resort, the angered celestial emperor (see figure 10.2) commanded that he be incinerated in the furnace where his Taoist minister Tai Shang Lao Jun created his pills of immortality. Instead of killing the monkey, the fire and smoke sharpened his eyes so that he now can see through things that others can not. He fought his way back to earth again.
At his wit's end, the celestial emperor asked Buddha for help. Buddha imprisoned the monkey under a great mountain known as Wu Zhi Shan (The Mount of Five Fingers).
While Buddha was away monkey king escaped with the help of his Taoist master. The gods were enraged when they found out and led all their warriors to eliminate monkey king and his followers. The battle ended in the gods favor and monkey king and his followers never troubled the gods again.
Figure 10.2
At his wit's end, the celestial emperor asked Buddha for help. Buddha imprisoned the monkey under a great mountain known as Wu Zhi Shan (The Mount of Five Fingers).
While Buddha was away monkey king escaped with the help of his Taoist master. The gods were enraged when they found out and led all their warriors to eliminate monkey king and his followers. The battle ended in the gods favor and monkey king and his followers never troubled the gods again.
Figure 10.2