Chinese Monkey

Monkey (mythology), (Sun Houzi), in Chinese mythology, a god-hero whose exploits are recorded in the Xiyouji (The Journey to the West), by Wu Cheng'en. Monkey was supposedly born from a stone egg, created from a rock as old as time and the essences of Heaven and Earth. He was a master of magic, and his weapons included a magical staff capable of growing or shrinking to any size. Monkey defied the supreme god of Chinese mythology, the Jade Emperor (Yu Di), with his own claim as high god. To appease the mischievous Monkey, the Jade Emperor proclaimed him King of Heaven, concealing the fact that he had only made him a heavenly stable keeper. Monkey discovered this deception and, enraged, returned to Earth to wreak havoc. The Jade Emperor entreated Buddha for help. Buddha dropped a mountain on Monkey, and Monkey remained beneath it for 500 years. On his journey from China to India to retrieve Buddhist scriptures, the monk Tripitaka (see Tripitaka (legendary figure)) unearthed Monkey, who became Tripitaka's escort and disciple. With two other companions, Piggy and Sandy, both exofficials of the Heavenly Court reborn in monstrous bodies, Monkey accompanied the monk for 14 years, covering nine kingdoms and encountering numerous fantastic adventures. After presenting the scriptures Tripitaka had obtained in India to the Chinese emperor in the imperial capital of Chang-an, the four travelers were borne up to heaven. Monkey, with his irrepressible spirit and countless magic tricks, is generally regarded as a personification of the nature of genius.