Overview

Sun Wukong, often referred to as the Monkey King, stands as a pivotal figure in Chinese mythology, particularly in Wu Cheng’en’s famed literary work, Journey to the West. This trickster god possesses extraordinary strength and the remarkable ability to morph into 72 unique animals and items. Each of his hairs holds transformative capabilities, enabling him to wield elemental forces like wind, fire, and water. His temperament is marked by impatience and a quick temper, which only adds to his stature as one of the most beloved characters within Chinese literary tradition.

Etymology

The name Sun Wukong is composed of three Chinese characters: “孫” (sūn), meaning “grandson”, “悟” (wù), which translates to “awakened”, and “空” (kōng), meaning “emptiness”. While “sūn” is typically understood as relating to grandsons, in this context, it denotes the monkey species. Therefore, his name literally indicates “the monkey awakened by emptiness”, symbolizing his spiritual evolution from a naïve and impetuous monkey to a wise and compassionate being. In Japan, he is commonly known as Son Goku.

Attributes

Sun Wukong’s monkey nature gives him a one-of-a-kind appearance unique within the pantheon of gods. Initially depicted as a naked macaque, following his enlightenment, he is often shown donned in warrior armor, equipped with impressive items like a golden chainmail shirt, a cap adorned with phoenix feathers, boots that allow him to walk on clouds, and his iconic eight-ton staff, which can shrink to a needle’s size.

Family

Having emerged from a mystical rock, Sun Wukong has no biological relatives. Before aligning himself with the Jade Emperor, he presided over a band of wandering monkeys who revered him as their leader.

Mythology

The narrative surrounding Sun Wukong first made its presence known in the adventure novel Journey to the West during the Song Dynasty. This story chronicles the journey of a modest Buddhist monk, Tang Sanzang, as he travels from Southern China to India in a quest to retrieve sacred texts to spread enlightenment. After being liberated from a mountain where he was confined for 500 years, Wukong became the monk’s devoted protector throughout the perilous expedition.

Origins

Long ago, atop Mount Huagou, an enchanting rock awaited its destiny. One day, a powerful gust of wind caused this stone to give birth to a fully formed monkey, capable of speech and walking. Upon opening his eyes, brilliant golden rays emitted from his gaze, astonishing the Jade Emperor (玉皇). Initially dismissing the unusual occurrence as mere folly, the Jade Emperor tried to ignore it while Wukong embarked on exploring the surrounding woods.

In the forest, the young monkey discovered a community of others, eventually deciding to be a part of their clan. One day while relaxing near a waterfall, an adventurous game was proposed—to leap through the falls and discover the stream’s source, earning the title of King of Monkeys. Wukong eagerly accepted the challenge and succeeded, thereby declaring himself king and gaining the allegiance of the forest monkeys. He quickly rose to power as a formidable forest demon and engaged in fierce confrontations with the Dragon King and other sea demons. This success awarded him with powerful artifacts, including his signature gold chainmail shirt and magical eight-ton staff.

When Yama (閻王), the King of Hell, sought to collect Wukong’s soul, he attempted to trick him into reincarnation. Outwitting Yama, Wukong escaped reincarnation, even erasing his name and those of his monkey kin from the Book of Life and Death, only causing further disarray in the natural order. Concerned, Yama sought the Jade Emperor’s help.

Sun Wukong and the Jade Emperor

Recognizing the chaotic potential of the trickster DJon Mount Huaguo, the Jade Emperor concluded that bringing Wukong to Heaven would help placate him. There, Wukong would hopefully find significance among the other gods. Accepting the invitation, he left his wild companions for the Jade Palace, only to discover he was assigned the lowly duty of caring for the Jade Emperor’s steeds. This indignation led Wukong to understand that as a monkey, he would never be equals with the other deities.

Desiring to establish his worth and achieve immortality, the Monkey King became fixated on eternal life. Ignoring the Jade Emperor’s advice to pursue different goals, he defiantly questioned, “Can such practices truly lead to immortality?” The Patriarch’s insistence on its impossibility only fueled Wukong’s determination.

During a grand celebration for the Jade Emperor’s wife, Xiwangmu (西王母), Wukong felt slighted when not invited. He chose to attend anyway, only to be ridiculed by the other deities. Enraged, he proclaimed himself Qítiān Dàshèng (齊天大聖), the “Great Sage Equal to Heaven”, and created a banner to challenge the Emperor’s authority. In response, the Jade Emperor dispatched soldiers to capture Wukong, but he easily defeated them, exclaiming, “Remember my name, Great Sage Equal to Heaven, Sun Wukong!” This forced the Jade Emperor to take notice of Wukong’s might.

As a result, Wukong was elevated to guarding Xiwangmu’s Peaches of Immortality, but this only served to further his grievances, leading him to devour the entirety of the sacred fruits. The enraged Jade Emperor sent throngs of soldiers after him, yet each battalion fell victim to Wukong’s prowess. As a last resort, the Jade Emperor turned to Buddha for aid. Buddha promptly banished Wukong from Heaven, securing him under a mountain to ponder his reckless behavior.

Journey to the West

Imprisoned beneath Buddha’s mountain for 500 years, Wukong’s fate changed when the traveling monk Tang Sanzang stumbled upon him. The monk offered to liberate Wukong on the condition that he would repent and serve as his disciple. Initially, the Monkey King rebuffed the idea of serving a human, but as Tang turned to leave, Wukong shifted his stance and accepted the terms enthusiastically.

Before his release, Guanyin (觀音), the goddess of mercy, gifted Tang a magical band to exert control over Wukong. Upon his release, the newly freed Monkey King joined the monk alongside other demonic companions, Zhū Bājiè (猪八戒), known as “Piggy,” and Shā Wùjìng (沙悟浄), or “Sandy.” Filled with gratitude for his newfound freedom, Wukong loyally battled alongside Tang in their journey to India, facing demons and trials. Through his bravery and adherence to Tang’s teachings, Sun Wukong eventually reached enlightenment, relinquishing his former anger, greed, and jealousy.

Pop Culture

While not widely worshipped within Buddhist or Taoist traditions, Sun Wukong remains a significant figure in Chinese culture, appearing in various television series, films, and theatrical productions. Journey to the West has seen numerous adaptations, with a notable remake from Stephen Chow in 2013. Moreover, the character Son Goku in the anime Dragon Ball draws inspiration from the tale of Sun Wukong, evident in his superhuman abilities and tail. Sun Wukong has also influenced characters in the video games Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes, League of Legends, and others.