Reading Notes: The Monkey King Part A

Origin of Son Wukong is that he came from a rock on an island imbued with magical powers. Out came a stone ape who became a leader of the apes for 500 years. He ventured on a quest to find gods and sainted spirits to learn about immortality. They are the Buddhas. He sailed across the Western Sea and reached the land of the West. He journeyed to a high mountain with quiet valleys and heard a man singing. The man leads the Ape King to the master. The master gave the ape the name Son Wukong (means awakened to Buddha-Nature (emptiness)). Wukong learned about sweeping and cleaning, writing, and tending the fields. The master wanted to teach him magics and other things but Wukong refused all of them and only wanted to learn about immortality. He continued to learn for many years and gained abilities like keeping guard over his soul and spirit, transformation, and flight by stepping on clouds. He turned into a pine tree and the master get angry at him. He was exiled. He returned to his island and learned that the Devil-King of Chaos from the North are kidnapping his children. He defeated him by transforming into thousands of clones and overpowered him. The Monkey King needs a weapon he journey to see Dragon-King of the Eastern Sea. He acquired a staff called Ruyi Jingu Bang. He also got a magical golden mail (armor), magic boots and helmet by refusing to leave without one. He went to the Nether World and fought the ten Princes of the Dead. He wrote in the Book of Life and then the apes on the Mountain became immortal.

Son Wukong at Flickr

Bibliography: "The Monkey King" edited by R. Wilheim and translated by Frederick H. Martens. source.