Monkey King: The World's Most Popular Superhero?
If you are a fan of superheroes, you may have heard of Superman, Batman, Spider-Man, or Wonder Woman. But have you heard of Sun Wukong, aka the Monkey King? He is one of the most beloved and enduring figures in Chinese literature and folklore, and he has been introduced to Western culture as well. In this article, we will explore who the Monkey King is, where he came from, why he is so popular, and how he has been portrayed in various media over the centuries.
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Introduction
Who is the Monkey King?
The Monkey King is a cloud-leaping, shape-shifting, demon-killing, and magic staff-wielding immortal who can transform into 72 different animals and objects. He is extremely strong, fast, smart, and mischievous. He can make copies of himself from his hairs, fly on a cloud, see through illusions, and fight against the best warriors of heaven. He is also a loyal friend and protector of the monk Xuanzang, who is on a quest to obtain Buddhist scriptures from India.
Where did the Monkey King come from?
The Monkey King first appears in The Journey to the West, one of the four great classic novels of Chinese literature. It was written by Wu Cheng'en in the 16th century CE and tells a fictionalized version of Xuanzang's real-life pilgrimage in the 7th century. However, the book is more than a travelogue it is a fantasy epic that blends historical facts, folk beliefs, Daoist and Buddhist traditions, and the figure of the Monkey King. It is likely that the Monkey King was inspired by the Hindu monkey god Hanuman, who appears in the Ramayana, an ancient Indian epic poem. The similarities between the two monkey immortals are striking, suggesting a foreign influence on one of China's great folk heroes.
Why is the Monkey King's appeal so widespread and enduring?
In many ways, the Monkey King is the archetype of the folk hero, or in modern terms, the superhero. He has many qualities that make him attractive to audiences of different ages, cultures, and times. He is rebellious but righteous, powerful but playful, cunning but compassionate. He challenges authority but respects wisdom. He overcomes obstacles but learns from mistakes. He is humorous but heroic. He represents freedom, adventure, justice, and loyalty. He is also a symbol of Chinese culture and identity, as he embodies many aspects of Chinese philosophy, religion, art, and values.
The Monkey King in Literature and Folklore
The Journey to the West: The Classic Novel of the Monkey King
The Plot and Characters of the Novel
The novel consists of 100 chapters that narrate the adventures of Xuanzang and his four disciples: Sun Wukong (the Monkey King), Zhu Bajie (a pig-like creature), Sha Wujing (a sand demon), and Yulong (a dragon prince who transforms into a white horse). They travel across China and Central Asia to India to obtain Buddhist scriptures that will bring enlightenment to China. Along the way, they encounter various monsters, demons, gods, spirits, bandits, kings, monks, and other characters who either help or hinder their journey. They also face many trials and tribulations that test their faith, courage, wisdom, and friendship.
The Themes and Symbolism of the Novel
The novel is not only an entertaining story The novel is not only an entertaining story, but also a rich source of allegory, symbolism, and commentary on various aspects of Chinese culture and society. For example, the Monkey King represents the human mind, which is restless, curious, creative, and rebellious. He also represents the Daoist ideal of achieving harmony with nature and oneself through self-cultivation and mastery of the arts. The pig-like Zhu Bajie represents the human body, which is greedy, lazy, lustful, and gluttonous. He also represents the Confucian ideal of fulfilling one's social obligations and moral duties through loyalty and discipline. The sand demon Sha Wujing represents the human spirit, which is humble, diligent, faithful, and repentant. He also represents the Buddhist ideal of attaining enlightenment and liberation from suffering through compassion and wisdom. The dragon prince Yulong represents the human potential, which is noble, powerful, generous, and adaptable. He also represents the imperial ideal of ruling with benevolence and justice through virtue and authority.
The Monkey King in Other Stories and Adaptations
The Monkey King in Chinese Opera and Puppetry
The Monkey King has been a popular subject of Chinese opera and puppetry for centuries. He has appeared in various forms of traditional theater, such as Peking opera, Cantonese opera, Kunqu opera, shadow puppetry, and glove puppetry. His exploits have been dramatized in various ways, such as singing, dancing, acrobatics, martial arts, and special effects. His costumes and makeup have been designed to highlight his distinctive features, such as his furry face, golden eyes, red lips, pointed ears, and crown. His personality and emotions have been expressed through his gestures, movements, voice, and facial expressions.
The Monkey King in Comics and Animation
The Monkey King has also been a popular subject of comics and animation for decades. He has appeared in various forms of sequential art, such as comic books, graphic novels, manga, manhua, webcomics, and cartoons. His adventures have been adapted in various styles, genres, and formats, such as comedy, fantasy, sci-fi, horror, romance, action-adventure, historical fiction, satire, parody, and educational. His appearance and abilities have been modified to suit different audiences and purposes, such as making him more cute or cool, more human or animal, more realistic or stylized, more heroic or anti-heroic.
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The Monkey King in Movies and Video Games
The Monkey King has also been a popular subject of movies and video games for years. He has appeared in various forms of audiovisual media, such as live-action films, animated films, documentaries, short films, TV shows, and video games. His stories have been retold in various ways, such as faithful adaptations, loose adaptations, modernizations, reinterpretations, crossovers, and original creations. His role and relationships have been changed to suit different plots and themes, such as making him the protagonist or antagonist, the mentor or student, the friend or enemy, the lover or rival.
Conclusion
The Monkey King's Legacy and Influence
The Monkey King is more than a fictional character he is a cultural icon that has transcended time and space. He has influenced countless artists and creators who have drawn inspiration from his legend. He has entertained millions of people who have enjoyed his stories in various media. He has represented many values and ideals that resonate with different people from different backgrounds. He is a symbol of China's rich heritage and diversity. He is a hero that everyone can relate to and admire.
FAQs
Q: What is the name of the Monkey King's magic staff? A: The name of his staff is Ruyi Jingu Bang (如意金箍棒), which means "the compliant golden-hooped rod". It is a weapon that can change its size according to his will. It was originally a pillar that supported the undersea palace of the Dragon King of the East Sea.
Q: What is the name of the Monkey King's cloud? A: The name of his cloud is Somersault Cloud (筋斗雲), which means "the cloud that can perform somersaults". It is a mode of transportation that allows him to travel 108000 li (54000 km) in one leap. It was originally a gift from his master Subhuti (须菩提), a Daoist sage.
Q: What is the name of the Monkey King's master? A: The name of his master is Xuanzang (玄奘), which means "the mysterious master". He is a Buddhist monk who travels to India to obtain the sacred scriptures. He is A: The name of his master is Xuanzang (玄奘), which means "the mysterious master". He is a Buddhist monk who travels to India to obtain the sacred scriptures. He is also known as Tang Sanzang (唐三藏), which means "the Tripitaka master of the Tang dynasty". He is based on a historical figure who lived from 602 to 664 CE and wrote a famous account of his journey.
Q: What is the name of the Monkey King's birthplace? A: The name of his birthplace is Huaguo Shan (花果山), which means "the mountain of flowers and fruits". It is a paradise-like island in the Eastern Sea, where he was born from a stone egg. It is also the home of his monkey tribe, whom he became the king of after defeating the Demon King of Confusion.
Q: What is the name of the Monkey King's nemesis? A: The name of his nemesis is Erlang Shen (二郎神), which means "the second son god". He is a powerful deity who serves as the nephew and general of the Jade Emperor, the ruler of heaven. He has a third eye on his forehead that can see through anything, and a faithful dog companion. He is the main antagonist of the Monkey King, who often clashes with him over various conflicts and disputes.
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