Orientation Lecture

1
Orientation Lecture

• Monkey King by Wu Cheng-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
  heros 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
Monkeys 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
Monkeys 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 monkeys help on his quest for the Buddhist
  scriptures.