I finally finished Monkey King / Journey to the West by Wu Cheng’en.
I’ve always loved the Monkey King. Ever since I was a kid watching movies with him in it; and more recently thanks to Black Myth: Wukong. he’s been one of those characters that just sticks with you. So when @Clear-Decision4303 suggested I read the actual book, I immediately bought it and jumped in.
I also don’t know much about Chinese culture, tradition, or mythology, so I was genuinely curious to learn more and see where all of this came from.
First off, the book is really well written. Surprisingly witty too. I laughed out loud more than once, which I honestly did not expect from something this old.
Monkey King is THAT GUY.
He has never given a flying f@#% about what anybody else thinks. Including the gods. Especially the gods. And yet somehow, he’s also weirdly family-oriented and compassionate for someone who seems so selfish and chaotic.
I loved how he never turned away from an opportunity to fight. Ever. He stood ten toes down since day one. His ferocity earned him some absolutely villainous nicknames:
The Monstrous Monkey.
The Monkey Demon.
The Snarling Simeon.
And more!
I’m pretty sure his monkeys back home call him Vonn, not Wukong. Lol
He was a terror to earth, heaven, and even hell. Kings, demons, and gods alike trembled at the very mention of his name.
The Ape who turned heaven upside down.
The Chimp who defied the gods.
And he did it all with a sense of humor! laughing at his own jokes while disrespecting the entire cosmic order.
Now, with the book being so old, the stereotypes and slightly racist undertones weren’t lost on me. But I was able to smile and snicker at them with forbearance, understanding the time period it came from.
What really stood out was how much this legend has influenced modern stories. You can see it everywhere:
The blank scroll referenced in Kung Fu Panda.
The dragons, villains, and Pigsy parallels in Nezha.
And of course, this being the direct source material for Black Myth: Wukong.
And I’m sure there’s more that I missed
In summary: I’m glad I read it. Honestly feels like a bedtime tale I’d read to my kids if I had any…
(with a few censored parts) 😅
Absolute classic. Monkey King. 🐒👑
by Caffeine_And_Regret
2 Comments
Dude yes, Wukong is absolutely unhinged in the best way possible
That part where he literally erases his name from the Book of Death because he’s too stubborn to die had me rolling. The audacity of this monkey is just *chef’s kiss*
Also you’re spot on about the influence – once you read it you start seeing Wukong everywhere in modern media, it’s wild how much this one chaotic monkey shaped storytelling
I bought the four volume translation by Anthony Yu from University of Chicago Press last year.
I was interested in both the Buddhist aspect and the fantasy that I had seen in some Shaw Brothers films and other Chinese popular culture.
I’ve only read part of the first volume about the Monkey, but I need to start over because I got distracted.