Week 9: The Monkey King (Asia) Part B

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Image on Wikipedia
This is a continuation of my Monkey King (Asia) reading notes. I chose to read about the journey of the Monkey King because it is a story known by everyone where my boyfriend is from, Hong Kong. He keeps trying to get me to watch movies about the Monkey and the various gods associated with him, but they all look so cheesy! :’-D
While reading the second half of the Monkey King’s story, I realized that he is a very different character than what I imagined he would be. I originally assumed that he would be a character widely respected by other gods and goddesses. However, the Monkey King is really a pretty unlikable character. He is constantly doing whatever pleases him and does not think about how his actions affect other people. He also thinks so highly of himself that every time he has dialogue, I am instantly annoyed. The Monkey refers to himself as “venerable”, demands a high-status position in the heavens, and eats all of the Queen-Mother’s peaches that provide immortality.
I mentioned in my last set of notes that I thought the Lord of the Heavens would be called on to confront the hapless actions of the Monkey and his subjects. This is exactly what happened in the beginning of the second half of the reading. It is clear that the Monkey King is very powerful, but I was still surprised to learn that even the Lord’s son and other subjects were not able to overcome the Monkey. It is bizarre to think that a self-taught Monkey could become so powerful that he could not be defeated by the Lord. Perhaps that is why the Monkey is so famous.
The character that I admired the most throughout this tale was the Evening Star. The Star proves to be the true voice of reason and is constantly looking for the most realistic solutions to the problems that the Monkey creates. For example, when the Monkey King is unsatisfied with the position of stable master in the heavens, the Star suggests giving the Monkey the title that he desires, but without any real meaning behind it. The Evening Star seems to represent a point of balance between the rambunctious and ridiculous Monkey and the rest of the gods and goddesses in the heavens.


If you would like to read the story of the Monkey King, click here: link.
Wilhelm, R. “The Ape Sun Wu Kung.” The Chinese Fairy Book, 1921.

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