Monkey King Sun Wu Kong——Journey to the West

If you ask an average Western reader, they might say it is because the book has flying monkeys, demons who can turn into beautiful women, and magical bottles that can hold the entire sky. It sounds a bit like an Eastern version of The Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter, full of magic and adventure. But if you only read it as a fantasy story, then you are probably only seeing the surface of the book. It is like looking only at the clothes a person is wearing, without noticing the beating heart beneath them.

Among Tang Monk's three disciples, Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie always stand out, while Sha Wujing seems to be the one most easily overlooked. When you think back on the whole journey to the West, Sun Wukong's image is all about incredible powers and daring to rebel. Zhu Bajie's image is all about loving food, being a bit lazy, and having a funny, charming personality. But what about Sha Wujing? For most people, the impression might just be: carrying the luggage, leading the horse, and repeating a few lines like, "Big Brother! Master's been captured by a demon!" But today, let's talk about Tang Monk's third disciple—Sha Wujing.

Today’s question is this: why do some people say that Juu Baa Jyeh was actually the disciple Tang Sanzang liked the most? Now I know a lot of you might disagree right away. After all, throughout the entire journey to the West, Sun Wukong was clearly the main fighter. Every single time Tang Sanzang was captured by demons, it was Sun Wukong who risked his life, who battled fiercely, who ran around calling in favors from gods and immortals. That’s how Tang Sanzang made it safely all the way to India. So logically speaking, shouldn’t Sun Wukong be the favorite disciple?

In Journey to the West, there are countless powerful gods and immortals， Each member of the four person team is capable and extraordinary， So why is it that only Sun Wukong became a world level hero?

The two honored ones obeyed. They served the four an immortal meal. Afterward, they led them to receive the scriptures. Ananda smiled and asked. “What gift have you brought from so far away?” Tang San Zang replied that he had none. The scriptures were given anyway. Juu Baa Jyeh and Sha Seng carried them. The four bowed again to the Buddha and joyfully descended the mountain.

Tang San Zhang, Sun Wu Kong, Juu Baa Jyeh, and Sha Seng returned to the main road. As they traveled, they slowly realized that this place was truly different. They had entered the land of the Buddha. It was nothing like the places they had passed before. Here, the people practiced kindness in every home. Every household willingly offered food to monks. No one avoided them and no one looked down on them.

A royal wedding hides a dangerous secret. When a princess is revealed to be a disguised demon, Sun Wukong steps in to uncover the truth. A chase across heaven and earth follows, raising one question—can the real princess be saved before it is too late?

The king of the Kingdom of Tianzhu usually loved mountains rivers and flowers. Two years ago. The king took his consorts and the princess. Together they enjoyed the moon and flowers in the imperial garden. On that very day. A monster arrived. While no one was paying attention. The monster kidnapped the real princess. Then changed herself into the princess’s appearance.

The blacksmith had been rushing his work for several days. He hammered iron during the day. He kept the furnace burning at night. He had not rested properly for many days in a row.

The cabinet was locked and they could not open it right away. Several thieves leaned in and discussed it. This cabinet is so heavy. There must be valuable stuff inside. Let us lead the horse away and carry the cabinet outside the city. Out there we can open it slowly. Then we split the silver.

Sunn Wuh-kong immediately told the monks to prepare vegetarian food. The monks became very busy, washing rice, cooking, making flatbread, steaming buns, and preparing soup. In no time, four or five tables of food were set out. Before long, a gust of wind rose. As the wind blew, it carried a wave of fragrance. Sunn Wuh-kong looked up and saw a very beautiful woman walking over. The woman walked up to the little monk, hugged him tightly, and said. "Little master, what scripture are you chanting."

After hearing it Ruu-lye Fwo-tzu did not get angry but instead smiled slightly and said.Those three demons have great powers and you truly could not handle them alone. This time I will go myself.Ruu-lye Fwo-tzu took Manjushri Bodhisattva and Samantabhadra Bodhisattva and headed toward Lion Camel Kingdom together.Ruu-lye Fwo-tzu said to Sunn Wuh-kong. You go outside the city first and challenge them to draw the demons out.Then pretend you cannot win and turn around and flee. Sunn Wuh-kong agreed.

After escaping danger, the four master and disciples continued westward.Not long after, they encountered another infamous mountain, the Eight Hundred Li Lion Camel Ridge.In the mountain lived three great demon kings, with more than forty seven thousand little demons under them, all living by eating humans. While Sunn Wuh-kong was gathering information, he met a mountain patrol demon.

Sunn Wuh-kong flew all the way, rushing across the sky, until he finally landed on a tall mountain. He put away his somersault cloud and got ready to search for the demon’s cave. Just as he was looking around, he saw a little demon coming down the path. This little demon carried a yellow flag, had a scroll of documents on his back, and was walking while knocking a small brass gong, muttering to himself as he went.

In the clearing stood an old, broken temple. Sunn Wuh-kong took one look and said, “This place is wrong. Something is off here.” Before he even finished speaking, a gust of gloomy wind blew by. An old man who claimed to be “the Local Land of this place” came out with a ghost servant behind him, a blue-faced, red-bearded fellow with his upper body bare, carrying a plate of steaming hot steamed buns on his head. The moment Juu Baa Jyeh saw food, he wanted to reach out and grab some,

Tung Sahn-zung said: “I planned to enter the palace to exchange the travel documents. But since we have encountered these monks, I cannot ignore them. Besides, when I departed from the Fa-men Temple in Chang’an, I made a vow: on the road to the Western Heaven, whenever I see a monastery, I must burn incense; and whenever I see a pagoda, I must sweep it. Since we are here, I should take a look.Sunn Wuh-kong, go find a new broom. After I bathe, I will go up the pagoda to sweep it and see what really happened. We will meet the king tomorrow and explain everything.”

Lingji Bodhisattva took out a small silk pouch from his sleeve. He then took out the Wind-Fixing Pill from the pouch and carefully tucked it inside Sunn Wuh-kong’s collar. The Bodhisattva was worried that Sunn Wuh-kong might be careless, or that the pill might fall out. So he took a needle and thread and sewed the collar tightly, stitching the silk pouch firmly inside.

Tung Sahn-zung was riding alone on the White Dragon Horse, slowly moving forward along the mountain road. As soon as that gong stopped echoing, more than thirty men suddenly rushed out from the grass on both sides of the road and from behind the dirt slopes. They surrounded Tung Sahn-zung in an instant, blocked his way, and shouted at him in a noisy chorus, “Hand over your money! Hand over your gold and silver! Quickly give us everything valuable you’ve got on you!”

That river was called the River of Sons and Mothers. If a woman drank the water, she would carry a male fetus. If a man drank the water, he would carry a female fetus. Anyone who drank the river water would show “symptoms of pregnancy.” Tung Sahn-zung was so anxious that sweat poured down his face. “Wuh-kong, Wuh-kong! Save me !”

The White Dragon Horse didn’t dare take a single step forward. Tung Sahn-zung asked where the river came from. Juu Baa Jyeh took a look and said the river must be at least ten li wide—crossing it wouldn’t be easy. While they were still talking, a small wooden boat drifted down from upstream. A boatman rowed it to shore and warmly shouted that he could ferry them across.

After the evening meal, the officer also arranged people to tidy three meditation rooms and let them rest. Everyone left. Tung Sahn-zung told his disciples to sleep first. He himself wanted to recite scriptures a while longer. Tung Sahn-zung recited until the third watch of the night, then closed the scroll. He had just gone to sleep when he suddenly heard a sound outside the door, and a gust of wild wind rose. But he was too sleepy and lay on the desk and fell asleep. Though asleep, his mind was still clear. He heard the cold wind “woo-woo” outside the window, and it seemed someone was calling, “Master… Master.”

As soon as Sunn Wuh-kong heard him mention the Bodhisattva of Compassion, his heart softened. He said, “Fine, I won’t hit you first. Speak clearly. Tell the truth—where is Tung Sahn-zung in danger now?” Hearing the question, Juu Baa Jyeh told everything that happened after Sunn Wuh-kong left. When Sunn Wuh-kong finished listening, he was furious. “You really are a fool! When I left, I told you that if some demon caught Master, you should tell the demon that Old Sun is his senior disciple. Why didn’t you say it?”

“She’s not human, Master—she’s a demon here to harm you!” Tung San-zang said, “A monk should be compassionate. You can’t just hit and kill. How can we fetch scriptures like this? Go back.” Wuh-kong kowtowed and pleaded. Tung Sahn-zung finally relented: “Fine. I’ll spare you this time. But you may not raise your hand again.”

It was getting dark. Tung Sahn-zung, together with Sunn Wuh-kong, Juu Baa Jyeh, and Sha Seng, kept walking on the road. As they went, they saw, in the distance, a pine forest with a few houses inside. “There’s a manor over there. Let’s go and ask to stay for the night.”

The Bodhisattva was shocked and scolded: “Sun Wu-kong! How can you kill someone so casually?” Sun Wu-kong replied: “Bodhisattva, that wasn’t an ordinary Daoist. He was a friend of the Black Bear Demon.” The Bodhisattva looked closer and saw the Daoist’s true form—a gray wolf. On the bottom of the plate were four engraved characters: Made by Lingxu. When Sunn Wuh-kong saw these words, his eyes lit up and he immediately had a plan. The Bodhisattva asked: “Tell me your idea.”

Tang Sanzang traveled on with his first disciple, Sun Wuh-kong. One day, they came to a winding mountain called She-pan Mountain. At the base of the mountain was a deep and rushing stream, known as Eagle Sorrow Ravine. Suddenly, with a great splash, a huge scaled dragon burst out of the water and opened its jaws to seize Tung Sahn-zung.

In Chinese folk religion and Taoism, the afterlife is not a single paradise or hell, but a vast, complex bureaucratic empire. This is the "Diyu" ， which translates to "Earth Prison" or "Underworld Court." Think of it not just as a place of punishment, but as a massive soul-processing center, a cosmic government office where every soul's life is judged, and its next destination is decided.

Yee Hwung Dah-dee sent many warriors to fight Sunn Wuh-kong, including Nuh-zha, Li Jing, and the Four Heavenly Kings. Do you still remember what they were like? But even though Yee Hwung Dah-dee dispatched one hundred thousand heavenly soldiers, none of them could defeat Sunn Wuh-kong. At this moment, the Bodhisattva of Compassion, who had come to attend the Peach Banquet, told Yee Hwung Dah-dee that she knew someone who could handle him.

Inside the Hall of Miraculous Mist, the Yee Hwung Dah-dee sat in bright light, surrounded by civil and military officials. Suddenly, heavenly soldiers came to report: the Dragon King Ao Guang from the East Sea, and King Qin Guang from the underworld, had arrived with complaints. The Yee Hwung Dah-dee said: “Bring me the petitions.” After reading them, he replied: “Let the Dragon King and the underworld king return first. I will send generals to capture this troublemaker.”

Journey to the West is an ancient Chinese epic packed with gods, demons, and magic. It tells the story of the Tang monk, Tung Sahn-zung, who goes on a pilgrimage to the West. He’s protected by three disciples—Sunn Wuh-kong, Juu Baa Jyeh, and Sha Seng. Together, they battle demons and monsters, survive eighty-one trials, and finally bring back the sacred scriptures.