Orientation Lecture
Monkey King by Wu Ch’eng-en
Info about Novel
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Monkey King, known to the Chinese old and young as Xi You Ji
(Journey to the West), is one of the renowned classical Chinese novels
dated back some four hundred years ago
Monkey King is based on a true story of a famous monk, Xuan Zang of
the Chinese Tang Dynasty (602-664). This monk journeys to the west to
get the true Buddhist scriptures.
Monkey King is an allegorical rendition of the hero’s journey, mingled
with Chinese fables, fairy tales, legends, superstitions, popular beliefs,
monster stories, and whatever the author could find in the Taoist,
Buddhist, and Chinese popular religions.
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While average readers are fascinated with
the prowess and wisdom of the Monkey
King, many reviewers agree that the
protagonist embodies a rebellious spirit
against the then untouchable feudal rulers.
Monkey’s Character
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Monkey is indeed rebellious. Being extremely intelligent, he has learned
all the magic tricks from an immortal Taoist master. Now he can
transform himself into seventy-two different images and using clouds as
a vehicle, he can travel 108,000 miles at a single somersault.
He claims to be The King in defiance of the only authority over the
heaven, the seas, the earth and the subterranean world -- Yù Huáng Dà
Dì, or "The Great Emperor of Jade." That act of high treason, coupled
with complaints from the masters of the four seas and the Hell, incurs
the relentless scourge of the heavenly army.
After many showdowns with the fearless Monkey King, the heavenly
army has suffered numerous humiliating defeats. The celestial monarch
offers the monkey an official title in heaven with little authority. When
Monkey has learned the truth that he is nothing but an object of ridicule,
the enraged monkey revolts, fighting all his way back to earth to resume
his original claim as The King.
Monkey’s Punishment & Release
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Eventually, the heavenly army, enlisting the help of all the god
warriors with diverse tricks, manages to capture the barely
invincible monkey. He is sentenced to capital punishment.
 However, all methods of execution fail. Having a bronze head
and iron shoulders, the monkey dulls many a sword inflicted upon
him. As the last resort, the emperor commands that he be
incinerated, but the fire and smoke therein sharpened his eyes so
that he now can see through things that others can not. He fights
his way back to earth again.
At his wit's end, the celestial emperor asks Buddha for help.
Buddha imprisons the monkey under a great mountain known as
Wu Zhi Shan (The Mount of Five Fingers). The tenacious
monkey survives the enormous weight and pressure.
 Five hundred years later, there comes to his rescue the Tang
Monk, Xuan Zang, whom we mentioned at the beginning of the
story. The Monk needs monkey’s help on his quest for the
Buddhist scriptures.