Journey To The West”

Story

Sun Wukong, also known as the Monkey King, is one of the main characters in the iconclastic Chinese novel, "Journey to the West." He is a powerful and mischievous monkey who possesses extraordinary strength, agility, and intelligence. He is also known for his magical abilities, including his ability to transform into different animals, summon clouds to fly on, and use a staff that can change size at will. According to the novel, he was born from a stone and acquired hispowers through years of Taoist training. He becomes rebellious and seeks to overthrow the gods who rule over the heavens, leading to his imprisonment under a mountain for five hundred years.When the monk Tang Sanzang embarks on a journey to the west to retrieve Buddhist scriptures, he meets Sun Wukong and recruitshim to be his disciple. Together with the pig demon Zhu Bajie and the water monster Sha Wujing, they encounter various obstacles and enemies on their journey, including demons, monsters, and gods.

Despite his mischievous nature and tendency to cause trouble, Sun Wukong proves to be a loyal and indispensable ally to Tang Sanzang. He uses his cunning and strength to overcome challenges and protect his master, demonstrating his deep sense of honor and loyalty. His journey to enlightenment, as well as his misadventures, make him one of the most beloved characters in Chinese literature.

The “Monkey Mind” is a term used in Eastern philosophy to describe the restless and unsettled nature of the human mind. Like Sun Wukong, our minds are constantly jumping from thought to thought, never settling down and often causing us to feel anxious and stressed

The lesson of the allegory is that, like Sun Wukong, we must learn to control our Monkey Mind in order to achieve inner peace and happiness. This can be done through meditation, mindfulness, and other spiritual practices that help us to focus our minds and calm our restless thoughts. Ultimately, the allegory of Sun Wukong serves as a reminder that we are all capable of great power and potential, but that we must first learn to master our own minds before we can achieve our goals and live a fulfilling life.

Interpretation STRESSED

Zhu Bajie: Pigsy

An Illustration from the 18th Century.

A lazy and gluttonous pig who also becomes one of Xuanzang's disciples.

Monkey Mind

Sun Wukong: Depiction of Sun Wukong in ancient chinese scriptures.

Sha Wujing: Sandy An Illustration from the 18th Century.

A former heavenly general who has been banished to Earth and becomes the third of Xuanzang's disciples.

Sun Wukong: Depiction of the Jade Emperor also known as the First Emperor of China. Sun Wukong: In the Story, Sun Wukong symbolises the “Monkey Mind.” It’s a term used in Eastern philosophy to describe the restless and unsettled nature of the human mind.

Journey to the West: An Illustration from the 18th Century.

Pigsy is enticed by earthly temptations in a trick from the Gods.

The Monkey King and Xuanzang are unmoved.

Sun Wukong: Monkey King

An Illustration from the 18th Century.

Sun Wukong is a mischievous and powerful monkey who is known for his ability to transform into different shapes and sizes, and for his incredible strength and agility. He is plagued by an insatiable curiosity and restlessness.

Journey to the West:

Sun Wukong depicted when he returns from the journey after an arguement with the buddhist monk. His loyal followers lay beneath him. feasting on large bundles of fruits.

Tang Sanzang: Tripitaka

An Illustration from the 18th Century.

A Buddhist monk who is on a journey to India toobtain Buddhist scriptures. Sun Wukong becomeshis disciple and accompanies him on his journey.

He is sent on a mission to India to obtain Buddhist scriptures, and he sets out on his journey with Sun Wukong and other disciples.

Journey to the West: An Illustration from the 18th Century.

Sun Wukong travelling through mountains along a river..

Journey to the West:

Sun Wukong being brought in front of the Jade Emperor to join the Buddhist monk on his journey to India in search of ancient scriptures.

Journey to the West: The adventures walking through farm land that is owned by evil women aimed trap Sun Wukong and the other travellers as a test by the Jade Emperor to see they’re loyal to the cause.

Sun Wukong and his companions venturing through mythological Mountain Ranges that span 1000s of miles.

Sun Wukong being disbanded from the group after a disagreement about his morality by his monk master.

A depiction of the eastern philosophy idea of monkey mind as an abstract term, in a traditional chinese illustration design.

Monkey Mind

Gained magical abilities such as the capability to transform into 72 different creatures, supernatural strength and a staff that allows him to fly using clouds.