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Orientation Lecture

Orientation Lecture. Monkey King by Wu Ch’eng-en. Info about Novel. Monkey King , known to the Chinese old and young as Xi You Ji (Journey to the West), is one of the renowned classical Chinese novels dated back some four hundred years ago

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Orientation Lecture

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  1. Orientation Lecture Monkey King by Wu Ch’eng-en

  2. Info about Novel • Monkey King, known to the Chinese old and young as Xi You Ji (Journey to the West), is one of the renowned classical Chinese novels dated back some four hundred years ago • Monkey King is based on a true story of a famous monk, Xuan Zang of the Chinese Tang Dynasty (602-664). This monk journeys to the west to get the true Buddhist scriptures. • Monkey King is an allegorical rendition of the hero’s journey, mingled with Chinese fables, fairy tales, legends, superstitions, popular beliefs, monster stories, and whatever the author could find in the Taoist, Buddhist, and Chinese popular religions. • While average readers are fascinated with the prowess and wisdom of the Monkey King, many reviewers agree that the protagonist embodies a rebellious spirit against the then untouchable feudal rulers.

  3. Monkey’s Character • Monkey is indeed rebellious. Being extremely intelligent, he has learned all the magic tricks from an immortal Taoist master. Now he can transform himself into seventy-two different images and using clouds as a vehicle, he can travel 108,000 miles at a single somersault. • He claims to be The King in defiance of the only authority over the heaven, the seas, the earth and the subterranean world -- Yù Huáng Dà Dì, or "The Great Emperor of Jade." That act of high treason, coupled with complaints from the masters of the four seas and the Hell, incurs the relentless scourge of the heavenly army. • After many showdowns with the fearless Monkey King, the heavenly army has suffered numerous humiliating defeats. The celestial monarch offers the monkey an official title in heaven with little authority. When Monkey has learned the truth that he is nothing but an object of ridicule, the enraged monkey revolts, fighting all his way back to earth to resume his original claim as The King.

  4. Monkey’s Punishment & Release • Eventually, the heavenly army, enlisting the help of all the god warriors with diverse tricks, manages to capture the barely invincible monkey. He is sentenced to capital punishment. • However, all methods of execution fail. Having a bronze head and iron shoulders, the monkey dulls many a sword inflicted upon him. As the last resort, the emperor commands that he be incinerated, but the fire and smoke therein sharpened his eyes so that he now can see through things that others can not. He fights his way back to earth again. • At his wit's end, the celestial emperor asks Buddha for help. Buddha imprisons the monkey under a great mountain known as Wu Zhi Shan (The Mount of Five Fingers). The tenacious monkey survives the enormous weight and pressure. • Five hundred years later, there comes to his rescue the Tang Monk, Xuan Zang, whom we mentioned at the beginning of the story. The Monk needs monkey’s help on his quest for the Buddhist scriptures.

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