monkey king a Chinese superhero

Monkey King: A Chinese Superhero Introduction
The Monkey King was a powerful Chinese hero who could fly through the air and defeat armies with his magic staff. A character from one of the classics of Chinese literature, Journey to the West, the Monkey King has been a superhero to Chinese children for centuries. Find out why he continues to feature in TV shows, movies, music and other entertainment.
Background information
Entering Cave 3 of the Yulin Grottoes,sister caves to the more famous Mogao Grottoes, you see in one corner the curious picture of a monk with a white horse behind him. Standing beside the horse is a monkey wearing clothes.
The monk in the picture is Xuanzang, who traveled from the capital of China, Chang’an on a 19-year journey through Central Aisa and India in search of Buddhist scriptures, some of which he then brought back to China. His journey was the stuff of legend, and many stories were created about him and his adventures. As his journey took this legendary quality, traveling companions were soon added—a white horse, another monk with a large red beard, a man-pig, and a monkey.
Journey to the West
During the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), many of these stories were put together in what became one of the great classics of Chinese literature, Journey to the West. In this novel, Xuanzang is given the title Tang Sanzang and he makes a journey through western China to Xitian—Western Heaven—accompanied by his white horse, Monk Sha, Pigsy, and the Monkey King.
Tang Sanzang is serious and determined, in a sense like the real—life Xuanzang. But while Tang Sanzang is grounded in real life, the other main characters are all base on flights of fancy. For example, in the story the white horse is really a dragon who has changed himself into a white horse in order to carry Tang Sanzang to Xitian. Though loyal and good, for the most part the white horse never speaks. Monk Sha and Pigsy are both bodyguards for Tang Sanzang. Though Monk Sha is a little slow and does not speak much, he has a kind heart. Pigsy, on the other hand, is lazy, and a lover of food and women, and he sometimes gets himself—and the rest of the group—into trouble. However, the main character in the book is the Monkey king.
Character profile
The legends of the Monkey King (the clue)
●Born from a magic stone
●Be the Monkey King on the Mountain of Flowers and Fruit ●Discover how to become immortal and a sage
●Gain the Buddhist name, Sun Wukong
●Given a powerful weapon by the dragons of the seas
(a staff with gold bands on either end, which he could make
into any size, when in no use, he could shrink it to the size of a needle, and hide it in his ear)
●Summoned by Death and taken down into the World of
Darkness
●Remove all the monkey names from the Book of Life and Death ●Invited to be the Keeper of the Horses in Heaven by the Jade
Emperor
●Disappointed, Name himself the Great Sage, Heaven’s Equal ●Rebel against the Jade Emperor, defeat an army of 100000
heavenly soldiers
●Survive from the furnace with penetrating eyesight
●Make an agreement with Buddha
●Fail to leave Buddha’s hand and imprisoned under a mountain ●Make a deal with Guanyin, the Goddess of Mercy
●Promise to help Tang Sanzang reach Xitian
●Become Tang Sanzang’s disciple and wear a magical gold band ●Fight against monsters and save the day during the journey
Analysis of the novel
The novel has many fantastic elements and most of the characters are not human, but they show recognizable human characteristics. This human element is one reason for the novel’s popularity. People see themselves in the characters. A good example of this is the Monkey King himself. He enjoys playing pranks and some of his behavior at times made Tang Sanzang punish him or even send him away. Yet, loyal to the end, Sun Wukong always showed up when needed to rescue his master, showing no hard feelings. Another reason for the novel’s popularity is that it is more than just an adventure story. In many ways it shows true psychological and philosophical depth in its approach to the human condition. The story is more than just a group’s journey to the West, but is a spiritual journey where the characters were forced to examine the nature of good and evil and right and wrong. For example, in their journey, they faced both demons and gods. Yet, through enlightenment some of the demons became gods, and because they chose to do wrong some of the gods became demons. In the end, the novel shows that individuals cannot be understood by their outer qualities, but by the good or bad that is in their own hearts.
Of course, the main reason for the novel’s popularity is Sun
Wukong himself. He has faults, but at heart he is brave, loyal, good-hearted, and righteous. And while in his youth he had been a little wild, in time and through faith and discipline he learned to protect the weak and the powerless, to be helpful and kind, and to put others first. In a real sense, he had the same life journey that so many people have had through the ages. When he was young in the Mountain of Flowers and Fruit, he was able to escape all of the problems in life, but he had to grow up and face the real world, with all its worries. In doing so, he changed from someone who loved to play pranks and stir up trouble, to someone who is self-disciplined and faithful.
Looking at his life, many Chinese see many of the things they admire. But they also see in him a mirror of their own struggles in life as they learn to protect and help others, to stand for what is right, and to grow in maturity becoming responsible members of society—in a sense, to become a hero of their own life.
Conclusion
Sun Wukong is such an attractive figure with China that for centuries he has been a feature of the Beijing Opera and other forms of popular entertainment. In modern China, he is a frequent subject of movies, television, cartoons, and animated films. Indeed,
he is such an important modern cultural icon that it is easy to forget that some of the stories involving Sun Wukong are hundreds of years old, and even 800 years ago stories about the monkey were such a part of life that he was included in a wall painting in a Buddhist cave.
Xuanzang traveled through the area of the Yulin Grottoes and may have even stopped by the very river in front of the caves. The artist who created the painting of Xuanzang many years later no doubt had this in his mind when he made it. Yet, he included the monkey in the painting as well, for in a sense the monkey might be just as real and important to him as Xuanzang and the images of Buddha in the paintings.
This feeling somehow stays in one’s mind when you visit the region today. Leaving the cave after having looked at the paintings, you can easily imagine seeing Tang Sanzang and his group on their journey, walking beside this same river on their way to Xitian, with Sun Wukong leading the way, protecting them from the danger.
China’s Four Great Literacy Classics
The Romance of the Three Kingdoms (14th century)
by Luo Guanzhong
Covering over 110 years—from 169 to 280—this historical novel is full of war and adventure. As the Han Dynasty falls and is divided into many separate parts, three main kingdoms rise up to take its place. But which kingdom will finally succeed in ending the years of war and unite the country in peace? This 120-chapter book is the source of many of China’s most popular stories from history and legend.
Water Margin (14th century)
b y Shi Nai’an
In the 12th century, 108 outlaws rebel against the Song Dynasty (960-1279). The novel explains how the group comes together to help the weak and fight against injustice, how it defeats the Song army in battle, and how the Song emperor then gets it to fight against his enemies. Based on a true story, this novel tells about these brave men and women as they win fame throughout China for their exploits.
Journey to the West (16th century)
by Wu Cheng’en
It is seventh-century China, and a Buddhist monk named Tang Sanzhang decides to go on a journey of faith. But who should join him and help him on his mission? A dragon that turns into a white horse, another monk with a flaming red beard, a man-pig, and a monkey with a magic staff. Part adventure story and part philosophical journey, this novel – which focuses on the exploits of the Monkey King, as he fights monsters and protects Tang Sanzhang—is a delight for both children and adults.
Dream of the Red Mansions (18th century)
by Cao Xueqin
The novel contains the story of four large wealthy families. While focusing on a love triangle between three cousins, the novel is a psychological journey through the lives of some forty-odd main characters and hundreds of minor ones, providing a close study of their struggles as the family gradually falls into decline. With so many characters, the novel helps us understand how life was for people of different classes at that time and offers a social panorama of ancient China. It is perhaps the greatest of all Chinese novels.。