thin king

Sun Wukong is an imaginary character created in the book Journey to ​the ​ West by Wu Ch'eng-en who lived in the sixteenth century. This book however is about a real monk Xuan Zang who lived in the seventh century. According to history, Xuan Zang was a famous Chinese monk who travelled west to India to obtain the Sutra, the Buddhist holy book, which he took back to China and translated it into Chinese. This book became one of the four renowned classic Chinese novels. 

In the story Xuan Zang was accompanied by four fictitious characters, Sun Wukong, Pigsy, Sandy and the Horse. These travelled as disciples and ​bodyguards. All of them except the holy Xuan Zang had special powers, but of the four, Sun Wukong was the most extraordinary. Their journey was perilous all the way, fraught with demons of all sorts, all out with deceptions, tricks and traps to capture and eat the monk at every turn. Xuan Zang was the flesh that would make them immortal. Such was the journey. 

Sun Wukong was born a full-fledged monkey out of a​ very ancient mysterious rock; he emerged in possession of all his faculties. Quickly he became the Monkey King of the monkeys. He was superior to all the other animals, and where he roamed became his domain. He needed a weapon befitting his style, and in his search he wrested the Golden Staff from the Eastern Sea dragon king. This super weapon could transform itself at its master’s whim; and he became more powerful; and many kingly spirits and demons sought allegiance with him. Yet Sun Wukong wanted to be immortal, and he deleted his name from the Book of Life and Death. This act was reported to the Jade Emperor of Heaven. 

The Jade Emperor made Sun Wukong the Protector of the Horses in a move to control him. But when Wukong discovered that this was the lowest job in heaven he rebelled and released the Cloud Horses, and proclaimed himself the Great Sage, Equal of Heaven. The Celestials then assigned him as the guardian of the Heavenly Garden. But there was a banquet and Wukong was not invited. This infuriated Wukong and he retaliated by consuming the Peaches of Immortality, ​the Pills of Longevity and the Royal Wine. Thereafter he escaped to his own kingdom. 

Sun Wukong has now become very powerful and he had rebelled. The Celestials employed all means to capture and subdue him. Wukong fought against all the celestial powers, armies, generals, kings and deities, and proved himself equal to the best of the Heavenly forces. At one time he was captured by Guanyin and locked in Laozi's Crucible where immortality pills were distilled​ and refined​ ​ . He was subjected to the most intense fire, but after the ultimate treatment Wukong emerged even more powerful, with the ability to recognize evil in any form. But finally Wukong was trapped within the palm of Buddha through a tricky bet, and he was sealed in a mountain.​ 

Five centuries later, in exchange for freedom, Wukong volunteered as a disciple to ​escort Xuan Zang in his journey. Knowing Wukong’s rebellious and wilful nature Guanyin gave Wukong a magical headband, a ploy to maintain his obedience. When Wukong put it on it remained irremovable;​ ​ ​ he was thus manageable as this would give him a severe headache whenever Guanyin chanted.