The animated series “Journey to the West” holds a special place in my fond memories from childhood. Adapted from the classic novel of the same name, it remains a delightful watch for me even today.
To provide a brief overview of the storyline: a Buddhist monk named Tang Seng embarks on a perilous journey to the Western regions (primarily India) to retrieve sacred scriptures. Traveling on foot, he faces numerous dangers, notably from demons eager to consume him to attain immortality. Accompanying him on this treacherous quest are three disciples seeking redemption for their past wrongdoings:
- Sun Wukong: A cunning and incredibly strong monkey, born from a rock, who once rebelled against the heavenly order and was punished by Buddha for his proud defiance.
- Zhu Bajie: A one-time deity turned into a gluttonous pig-monster as retribution for his greedy and lascivious behavior.
- Sha Wujing: An unassuming water spirit, often seen as the least interesting of the trio.
Additionally, there’s a white dragon that transforms into a horse for Tang Seng’s travels. While the plot may seem erratic at first glance, it draws heavily from various elements of Chinese mythology.
Upon reminiscing with my husband about this series, we discovered a common sentiment: that Tang Seng was, in fact, the true antagonist of the tale. We often witnessed the following scenario: Wukong, endowed with the ability to see through disguises and transform at will, would vanquish a demon masquerading as harmless in a bid to earn Tang Seng’s trust. Despite being the epitome of pacifism, Tang Seng would erupt in fury, leading to a familiar exchange that occurred repeatedly throughout the series:
Tang Seng: “Wukong, you must go. You have greatly disappointed me.”
Wukong: “Master! I beg your forgiveness. Please don’t cast me away.”
BaJie: “Brother! How could you bring such shame upon our master?!”
Tang Seng: “Wukong, I believed I could mend your violent ways, but I was mistaken. Depart! I wish to see you no more!”
Wukong: (with tears) “I understand, Master. I shall take my leave. Take care and stay safe.”
Isn’t it infuriating?
You can witness an instance of this frustrating dynamic in a clip if you’re curious and understand Chinese (or at least can glean the interactions from the emotional cueing and music).
At times, Tang Seng even recites a spell that causes Wukong severe headaches through the circlet on his head. For someone who wouldn’t harm a fly, he is quick to inflict pain on one of the few allies trying to assist him on his journey!
Wukong, feeling dejected, often flies away. In the subsequent episode, their team is instantly besieged by enemies, left vulnerable after having banished their most powerful protector. That’s when Tang Seng and the others realize they were in the wrong and regret their earlier decision.
Tang Seng and comrades: “Wukong, we don’t care how you accomplish it—just please come to our rescue!”
It seems the moral high ground is not nearly as gratifying when faced with danger.
Ultimately, Wukong must come to the rescue again—whether it’s returning opponents to their true forms or saving them from ridiculously oversized hazards—only for the cycle to repeat as more disguised enemies emerge. One might expect that after a couple of instances, Tang Seng would grasp the necessity of Wukong’s contributions, but alas, he does not. Spoiler alert: his ignorance persists! It’s not as if Wukong acted without reason; he often clarified his actions and sometimes provided tangible proof supporting his claims. Yet, that never seemed to matter in the end.
I imagine the original literary work is far richer in detail than its animated adaptation. Nevertheless, it infuriated me immensely as a child; I found myself watching the series repeatedly, always skipping the episodes where Tang Seng unjustly punished Wukong, which was quite frequent. I’m still a bit irked writing this out. While Tang Seng did save Wukong from being trapped beneath a mountain for eternity, it still feels like Wukong deserves much more respect. We need justice for Wukong!
