Who is Wukong? 25 Facts about the Chinese Monkey King (2025)

Last Updated on September 14, 2024 by Scribbling Geek

Are you playing Black Myth: Wukong? Here are 25 things to know about the Great Sage who inspired the game.

It is not an exaggeration to say Sun Wukong (孙悟空), the Chinese Monkey King, is the most famous Chinese mythological character around the world.

Beloved by the Chinese for his audacity, mischief, loyalty, and fiery temperament, Wukong’s legendary exploits have long transcended cultural boundaries. It is difficult to even begin to compile the numerous games, Anime series, TV fantasy series, novels, animated features, and movies that feature him as a lead or use characters based on him. Notably, even the world-famous Sun Goku from Dragonball was directly modelled after him.

Interestingly, Sun Wukong is not an actual Chinese god, too, though he is now worshipped in many Chinese communities. The Great Monkey King was a fictional character written about by Ming Dynasty writer Wu Cheng’en (吴承恩) in his magnum opus, Journey to the West (Xiyouji | 西游记). One of the four Classic Chinese Novels, or Four Great Chinese Novels, Xiyouji depicts the adventures of Wukong as he journeyed from being a cunning trickster to a headstrong rebel, before faithfully accompanying the monk Xuanzang on the latter’s pilgrimage to the West (Central Asia and India) to obtain Buddhist sutras.

In just a few hours, yet another game inspired by the Monkey King will hit the scene—Black Myth: Wukong by Game Science is set for release on August 20, 2024. Before diving into this latest adventure, how about familiarising yourself with the Monkey King’s origins, most notable escapades, and his incredible influence on international popular culture?

Without further ado, here are 25 facts to know about Qitian Dasheng (齐天大圣), the “Great Sage, Equal to Heaven,” who once made the heavenly armies tremble.

1. Sun Wukong Was Born from a Magical Stone

Sun Wukong’s origin is as fascinating as his character. According to Journey to the West, he was born from a mystical stone atop the Mountain of Flowers and Fruit (Huaguoshan | 花果山) that was over 30 Chinese feet tall. This stone absorbed the essence of both Heaven and Earth for centuries before splitting apart to reveal an egg that transformed into a stone monkey upon the wind blowing on it.

The stone monkey, i.e., the future Wukong, then became the leader of the other monkeys on the mountain. Together, they discovered the blissful Water Curtain Cave (Shuiliandong | 水帘洞). Thus became the mythic story of the Chinese Monkey King.

2. He Mastered the 72 Transformations and the Somersault Cloud from Puti Zushi

Sun Wukong’s extraordinary abilities were taught by the immortal sage Puti Zushi (菩提祖师); Wukong sought the guidance of the sage in his quest for immortality. Under the master’s mentorship, Wukong mastered the amazing 72 Transformations. He also learned the secret techniques of the Somersault Cloud (Jindouyun | 筋斗云), a skill that enabled him to travel shiwan baqianli (108,000 Chinese miles) in a single leap.

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Wukong’s name was also given by Puti Zushi.

Who is Puti Zushi?

Puti Zushi’s description in Journey to the West befits that of a Taoist immortal. However, the word Puti is associated with Buddhism and is the Chinese transliteration of “Bodhi.”

Most readers thus interpret the immortal as Subhūti, one of the ten disciples of the Buddha.

Notably, Puti Zushi foresaw Wukong’s egoistical downfall. He therefore instructed the Monkey King never to reveal their relationship. Wukong faithfully obeyed this order throughout his adventures.

3. Wukong “Stole” His Signature Weapon from the Dragon King of the Eastern Ocean

Sun Wukong’s signature weapon, the As-You-Wish Cudgel (Ruyi Jingubang | 如意金箍棒), was originally a pillar in the court of Aoguang (敖广), the Dragon King of the Eastern Ocean. The legend goes that it was previously a measuring pin used by the Great Yu during the Great Flood of China—thus the weapon’s alternate name of “Ocean-Pinning Needle” (Dinghai Shenzhen | 定海神针).

Sun Wukong “acquired” this needle from Aoguang after being advised by his monkey followers to visit the dragon court for a suitable weapon. In his hand, the pin could morph to incredible sizes or shrink to a small pin for Wukong to hide in his ear.

The cudgel was also indestructible and the perfect weapon for the Monkey King’s agile, unpredictable fighting style.

A Mysterious Weapon Full of Secrets?

Jingubang is the key plot device of Disney+’s American Born Chinese. In this modern reimagination, the cudgel is described as containing great powers and secrets.

4. Wukong Erased His Name from the Book of Life and Death

Despite mastering magic from Puti Zushi, Wukong did not gain immortality. After a banquet, he fell asleep and was taken by agents of the Chinese underworld to the nether realm.

Realizing his fate, the enraged Monkey King used his cudgel to bash the agents and demanded to see the Book of Life and Death. He then erased his name and those of his simian followers, granting his followers and himself immunity from natural death.

This daring act solidified Wukong’s reputation as a rebel who would defy even the authority of heaven and the natural order. It also placed the Monkey King on the radar of the heavenly pantheon.

5. The Taoist Pantheon Tried to Subdue Wukong with a Grand Title

In an attempt to rein in the unruly Monkey King after his terrorizing of the Dragon Court and the Underworld, the Taoist Pantheon invited Wukong to heaven and conferred upon him the title of Bimawen (弼马温). The title roughly means “Marquis of Horse Protection.”

This grand-sounding title was, however, merely a guise for the lowly job of a stable boy for celestial steeds. Wukong did not react well at all upon discovering the truth, to say the least.

6. Wukong Was Conferred the Title of “Great Sage, Equal to Heaven” After Defeating Heavenly Forces

After Sun Wukong defeated the celestial army led by Li Jing (李靖) and Nezha (哪吒), the Jade Emperor (Yudi | 玉帝) again attempted to rein in the Monkey King by bestowing upon him the title of “Great Sage, Equal to Heaven” (齐天大圣).

The Great Sage was then invited to reside in heaven for a second time. Briefly, everything was peaceful with the Great Sage spending his days feasting and revelling with other immortals.

7. An Insult Led to Wukong Wrecking the Heavenly Peach Banquet and Stealing Laozi’s Immortality Pills

Everything went south again when Wukong discovered he was not on the invite list for the Heavenly Peach Banquet, a celestial event much anticipated by all immortals.

Worse, a group of seven fairies mocked him for being too insignificant. In the 1961 animation, Havoc in Heaven, the fairies stated that even the lesser deities of the mortal world, such as Aoguang, were invited.

Stung and furious, the Monkey King trashed the banquet grounds and stole all the longevity-imbuing peaches. While on his way back to Huaguoshan, he also ransacked Laozi (老子)’s palace and ate all the elixirs of immortality the founder of Taoism was brewing.

The peaches and elixirs vastly strengthened the Monkey King’s immortality and invulnerability. Without surprise, the crimes also incurred the full wrath of the Taoist pantheon. A full celestial army soon descends upon the Mountain of Flowers and Fruit to arrest Wukong.

8. Erlang Shen Fought Wukong to a Standstill

In one of the most memorable episodes of Journey to the West, Sun Wukong defeated several generals of the celestial army during the assault on his stronghold. Even the Four Heavenly Kings (Sida Tianwang | 四大天王) and their magical weapons were no match for the immortal monkey

Wukong also battled Erlang Shen (Erlang Shen | 二郎神), the nephew of the Jade Emperor who’s considered the mightiest Taoist Warrior God. During this confrontation, both immortals constantly shapeshifted and though Erlang Shen could see through the monkey’s changes with his third eye, he was unable to defeat the Monkey.

In the end, Laozi had to intervene. He ambushed Wukong by throwing a magical Iron Circlet while the Monkey King was preoccupied with fighting Erlang Shen. Wukong was knocked unconscious and captured.

9. Laozi Tried to Incinerate Wukong but Ended Up Granting Him a Formidable Skill

The Taoist pantheon attempted to execute Wukong but had no success at all because of the Monkey King’s invulnerability.

Laozi then tried to incinerate Wukong in his elixir brazier with alchemic fire, burning the rebellious one for 49 days. Instead of succeeding, this method ended up cultivating the Huoyan Jinjing (火眼金睛 | Golden Eyes of Fire) skill in Wukong.

These eyes allow Wukong to see through practically any magical illusions. The ability will be invaluable during the Monkey King’s later adventures.

10. Wukong Was Eventually Subdued by Gautama Buddha and Imprisoned for 500 Years

Sun Wukong’s conflicts with the heavenly pantheon ended with his defeat by Gautama Buddha. The enlightened one was invited by the Jade Emperor to deal with the unruly monkey.

Famously, Wukong accepted a challenge to leap out of the Buddha’s right hand. In the end, despite being convinced he has somersaulted tens of thousands of li, Wukong never even left the Buddha’s palm.

The Buddha then trapped Wukong in a mountain formed by his fist. The mountain came to be known as the Five Elements Mountain (Wuxingshan | 五行山) and to prevent Wukong from escaping, a talisman with the Six-Word Mantra was pasted on it.

The Monkey King was forced to reflect on his actions till freed by the Tang Dynasty Holy Monk Xuanzang 500 years later.

11. As His Final Atonement, Wukong Was Ordered to Accompany Xuanzang on His Pilgrimage

After being freed from his 500-year imprisonment, Sun Wukong was tasked with escorting Xuanzang on a perilous pilgrimage to retrieve sacred Buddhist scriptures from the West. This journey was intended as a final act of redemption. It was also meant to be Wukong’s formal quest for enlightenment.

To assist Xuanzang, Guanyin (Guanyin | 观音), the Goddess/Bodhisattva of Mercy gave Xuanzang a golden circlet, which the monk then succeeded in tricking Wukong into wearing. Impossible to remove, the circlet tightens upon Xuanzang reciting a mantra.

The immense agony that resulted forced poor Wukong to obey Xuanzang.

12. Xuanzang and Wukong Were Joined by Zhu Bajie, Sha Wujing, and the Dragon Horse

As is well known, Xuanzang and Sun Wukong were later joined by three other companions: Zhu Bajie, a gluttonous but powerful pig demon; Sha Wujing, a river demon known for his reason and strength; and the Dragon Horse, a shapeshifted dragon who served as Xuanzang’s steed.

Together, this eclectic group survived 81 obstacles before reaching the Buddha’s abode, referred to in Journey to the West as the “Temple of the Thunder Sound” (Leiyin Shi |雷音寺).

What Were the 81 Obstacles?

Many obstacles have been depicted, with or without creative embellishment, on TV and in movies over the years.

It’s also important to note that the obstacles in Journey to the West are not independent episodes; some story arcs encompass multiple obstacles. Rather, the number reflects the total episodes of tribulation the group had to overcome.

“I Could Have Completed the Delivery Within an Hour!”

Given his Somersault Cloud abilities, Wukong could easily have retrieved and delivered the sutras within an hour. Throughout Journey to the West, Wukong occasionally mentions this.

He didn’t, of course. As said, the arduous pilgrimage was an atonement. It was also intended by the Buddha to be Wukong’s path towards enlightenment.

13. Not All of the Monkey King’s Adversaries During the Pilgrimage Were Demons

Sun Wukong and his companions encountered numerous adversaries during the long pilgrimage.

Some were wicked demons, such as the White Bone Demoness (Baigu Jing | 白骨精). Others were demons/sentient beasts who used to be Wukong’s allies, such as The Ox Demon (Niumo Wang | 牛魔王).

A great many were not demons despite their titles and appearances. Instead, they were heavenly steeds, attendants, and creatures who had secretly left the “upper world” to frolic in the mortal realm.

The Renshen Guo (Ginseng Fruit | 人参果) episode further saw Wukong having to heal the celestial tree of a Taoist Immortal. Earlier in the story, the Monkey King had toppled the tree in a moment of fury.

14. Wukong Relied on His Transformations and Assistance from Gods During the Pilgrimage

Needless to say, Sun Wukong frequently relied on his 72 Transformations to overcome obstacles and outwit enemies. One of his favourite tricks was to fly into an adversary’s stomach as an insect. Let’s just say, you wouldn’t want the raucous monkey inside you.

With his golden cudgel, the Monkey King was a formidable presence on any battlefield too. He could, moreover, instantly create split copies of himself with his fur.

Despite these amazing abilities, there were many adversaries that Wukong couldn’t easily defeat. These foes typically possess unusual magical artifacts or deadly innate abilities. In these cases, the Monkey King had to enlist the help of celestial gods and bodhisattvas. He often approached Guanyin for help too.

This resulted in some Chinese online satirists stating that Wukong’s greatest abilities during the pilgrimage were neither his magic nor physical prowess, but rather his connections. Like the modern Chinese world of business, guanxi (关系) was a handy weapon in the Monkey King’s furry hands.

Who Were Wukong’s Greatest Enemies?

In Journey to the West, there were several foes with abilities equal to or even greater than Wukong’s. They were:

• The Red Child (Honghaier | 红孩儿): The son of the Ox Demon could summon supernatural fire at will. The brat even managed to burn Wukong unconscious.
• The Ox Demon and Iron Fan Princess (Tieshan Gongzhu | 铁扇公主): The parents of the Red Child weren’t particularly powerful in the original tale. However, the princess’ magical fan could blow away the Monkey King in a blink.
• The Scorpion Demoness (Xiezi Jing | 蝎子精): This beautiful demoness didn’t want to harm Xuanzang. Rather, she wanted to marry him. She was also able to repeatedly battle Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie to a standstill, and had a sting that was so deadly, even Guanyin and the Buddha were wary. Wukong ultimately defeated her with the help of Maori Xingguan * (昴日星官), the Pleiades Star Official. Maori transformed into a giant rooster whose crow magically weakened and killed the demoness.
• The Centipede Demon (Wugong Jing | 蜈蚣精): The elder sworn brother of several spider demonesses, this bizarre monster had a human body full of eyes. The eyes release dazzling light that could bewilder and incapacitate all foes. Ultimately defeated by Bodhisattva Pilanpo, the mother of Maori Xingguan, with a magical sewing needle.
• Garuda: Known in Journey to the West as Dapeng Jinchidiao (大鹏金翅雕), the steed of Vishnu in Hinduism could battle Wukong to a standstill. He also possesses the Yinyang Erqi Ping (Bottle of Yin and Yang | 阴阳二气瓶), which could imprison and melt any enemy. It took the combined effort of several Arhats and Bodhisattvas to defeat him.
• Azure Lion Demon (Jiuling Yuansheng | 九灵元圣): The nine-headed lion demon was previously the steed of Taiyi Jiuku Zhenjun (太乙救苦真君), a major Taoist saviour. He was also one of the rare demons who had no interest in eating Xuanzang. He could effortlessly “swallow” the Monkey King and Xuanzang.
• The Six-Eared Macaque (Liuer Mihou | 六耳猕猴): See Below.

* Maori is pronounced as “Mao Re” in Chinese.

15. There Are Other Divine Monkeys, and They Are Terrifying

Nowadays, the Six-Eared Macaque is widely considered Sun Wukong’s greatest foe.

Equal in power to the Monkey King and able to eavesdrop from vast distances, the dastard Six-Eared Macaque assumed a likeness of Wukong that was so complete, even Guanyin and all the Taoist Gods couldn’t see through the deception.

The deception was ultimately exposed by Gautama Buddha. Before doing so, the Buddha explained that the Six-Eared Macaque is one of the “Four Awakened Monkeys.” Sun Wukong is also one of these four simians, thus why the Six-Eared Macaque has the same abilities.

16. Wukong Enjoys a Large Number of Epithets Throughout Journey to the West

Sun Wukong is known by many names and titles in Journey to the West.

Among the most famous are the “Great Sage, Equal to Heaven” (齐天大圣), the “Handsome Monkey King” (美猴王), and “Pilgrim Sun” (孙行者).

After completing the pilgrimage and attaining enlightenment, Wukong was granted the title of Douzhan Shengfo (斗战胜佛), the “Fighting and Victory Buddha.”

These epithets captured the different aspects of the Monkey King’s identity, from his rebellious nature to his spiritual enlightenment. Naturally, they outlined his evolution throughout the novel too.

17. Was Journey to the West and the Wukong Persona Anti-Taoist? Probably Not

This has been discussed in length in the Chinese online world.

Simply put, the combined might of the Taoist celestial pantheon was unable to deal with Wukong and was nearly defeated. In contrast, the Buddha needed just one hand to imprison the unruly Monkey King.

In later chapters of Journey to the West, Wukong often had difficulties subduing relatively minor demons. This seems to imply that these demons could effortlessly take over the Taoist heaven, had they wanted to.

My interpretation is this. I don’t think author Wu Cheng’en deliberately belittled Taoism. Instead, his storyline reflected a common Chinese perception of Taoism and Buddhism, i.e., “Buddhist magic” is superior to “Taoist magic.” This perception continues to exist centuries later in Chinese fantasy stories such as the Shushan (蜀山) series and certain Xianxia movies.

Various Chinese online writers have also highlighted that Wukong never did battle the highest deities of Taoism like Yuanshi Tianjun (元始天君). He would have been squashed within seconds had he did.

A simpler way of explaining could perhaps be to say that Wu Cheng’en wasn’t as concerned with plot logic as modern writers would be. He was writing a fantasy story in medieval times. He wrote whatever he felt was entertaining.

18. Sun Wukong’s Frequently Cameos in Chinese Fantasy Dramas

To repeat what was stated in my introduction, Sun Wukong’s popularity extends way beyond Wu Cheng’en’s Journey to the West. His appearance in modern pop culture entertainment, Chinese or otherwise, goes on and on.

The protagonist of Dragonball was inspired by him. Anime series like Saiyuki and Starzinger feature him as the protagonist.

He was the leading character in Jet Li’s Forbidden Kingdom. In American Born Chinese, he was the disgruntled dad of a rebellious monkey teen. Over the years, Netflix has streamed several series and movies, Chinese or otherwise, featuring Wukong.

2010’s Enslaved: Odyssey to the West is considered a loose video game adaptation of Wukong’s story. 2024’s Black Myth: Wukong is directly inspired by the Monkey King’s tale.

His image has broadened over the years too! In New Gods: Nezha Reborn, he was gangsta-like with gold chains and all. In DC Comics, he is again a father with a son who would become Monkey Prince.

In the CCTV-8 reimagination of the Magic Lotus Lantern folktale, Wukong was merged into the story and became the devoted mentor of Chen Xiang. In classic Chinese folktales, the two never met.

My bet is that we will continue to see many, many versions of Sun Wukong down the road.

19. Seances Involving the Monkey King Are Important Rituals in Chinese Folkloric Practices

In Chinese folk religion, Sun Wukong is not just a literary character but a deity worshipped in various rituals. Seances and spiritual ceremonies often invoke the Monkey King for protection, strength, and guidance.

These practices reflect the curious evolution of a folkloric, literary who was so beloved, he became an actual god. Correspondingly, shrines to the Monkey King are found throughout the Chinese world.

20. Sun Wukong Is Not Unique to Wu Cheng’en’s Journey to the West

Here’s what you might not know. Sun Wukong was fleshed out by Wu Cheng’en and the Ming Dynasty writer did a superb job. However, Wu did not create the character from scratch.

In the Song Dynasty text The Story of the Journey to the West (Datang Sanzang Qujing Shihua | 大唐三藏取經詩話), the prototype for Sun Wukong, named “Monkey Traveler,” appears as a white-robed scholar from the Purple Cloud Cave on Flower Fruit Mountain. He called himself the “King of the 84,000 Copper-Headed, Iron-Foreheaded Monkeys.”

During the Yuan Dynasty, Yang Jingxian’s Journey to the West play titles the Monkey King as “Great Sage Equaling Heaven” and gives him siblings and a forcibly married wife, Princess Jiaozhi.

Wu Cheng’en’s version of the Monkey King was clearly influenced by these older works. His greatest accomplishment was to then elevate the character of Sun Wukong into a richly developed persona, complete with a complex backstory. A character that quickly became immortal in Chinese culture.

21. Was Wu Cheng’en Inspired by Hanuman? There’s No Agreement

Scholars have long debated whether Wu Cheng’en was inspired by the Hindu Monkey God Hanuman when writing about Sun Wukong.

While Ming Dynasty China was hardly the connected world we live in today, trade and human traffic between India and China was not uncommon. After all, Buddhism extended into China from India centuries earlier. There is the possibility that Wu read a Chinese version of the Ramayana.

The above being said, there is no definitive evidence linking Hanuman directly to Wukong. This lack of historical documentation means that any connection remains speculative, with both characters likely drawing from broader, shared mythological themes across cultures. It is important, too, to note that despite their similarities in physical might, Hanuman and Wukong have very different personalities.

Some researchers conversely believe that Journey to the West might have drawn inspiration from the “Great Sage” worship in Fujian. The mountainous regions of Fujian, historically inhabited by monkeys, have historically venerated monkey gods.

The great writer Lu Xun (魯迅) also posited that the image of Sun Wukong could be based on Wuzhi Qi (无支祁), a water spirit with great powers. Wuzhi Qi is mentioned in various ancient Chinese compendiums. Wukong, like Wuzhi Qi, could be interpreted as a personification of unruly natural forces.

22. The Monkey King Was Not Spared the Heartbreaks of Romance

Classic depictions of the Monkey King show him as uninterested in romance and immune to any form of seduction. He was the classic pilgrim.

Modern retellings largely retain this aspect but several modern movies and drama series have notably worked in heavy romantic elements over the years. For example, Stephen Chow’s A Chinese Odyssey double bill revolves around Wukong’s romance with a fairy named Zixia.

2014’s Wu Kong re-explored this romance between the Monkey King and Zixia, using a story by writer Jin Hezai (今何在).

23. Famous Monkey King Temples

Throughout China and Southeast Asia, numerous temples are dedicated to the worship of Sun Wukong. Many are located in Fujian, China. There is also a Monkey God Temple in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Taiwan has over ten notable temples and shrines that venerate the Monkey King.

In ultramodern Singapore, there are different shrines to the Monkey King too. For example, there’s one at Waterloo Street. There is also a Monkey God Temple in the Tiong Bahru district.

These sacred sites highlight Wukong’s enduring legacy as a revered figure in the spiritual lives of many.

24. The Name “Wukong”

The name Wukong has deep historical and cultural roots.

Wu (悟) means “awaken” or “enlighten,” and Kong (空) means “emptiness” or “void.” In combination, the name reflects the Buddhist concept of achieving enlightenment through understanding emptiness.

Sun Wukong’s name thus symbolises his journey toward spiritual awakening. Historically, a Tang Dynasty monk who studied in India was also named Master Wukong.

In modern times, China named her Dark Matter Particle Explorer satellite for dark matter detection as Wukong. The move exemplifies the importance of the Monkey King persona in Chinese culture.

25. What Does Sun Wukong Represent to the Chinese?

The Chinese Monkey King is an incredibly complex character with a long list of adventures and exploits.

In Wu’s story, he started as an intelligent and capable prankster before evolving into an open rebel. His conflicts with the heavenly court could be seen as resistant to autocratic rule and social structures. In Chinese mythology, deities like the Jade Emperor and Erlang Shen often represent punishing social norms.

As a pilgrim, Wukong’s resourcefulness and steadfast loyalty to Xuanzang exemplified the classic value of perseverance. His agreement to the pilgrimage, albeit under coercion, could also be interpreted as how brigands/deadly natural forces could ultimately be harnessed for good.

Naturally, Wukong was the ultimate explorer too. And the guardian you would want to have on any journey.

References

• Anthony, R. (2014). Chinese Mythology: A Comprehensive Guide to Myth and Legend. Oxford University Press.
• Waley, A. (1970). Monkey: A Folk-Tale of China. Grove Press.
• Wu, C. (1993). Journey to the West (A. C. Yu, Trans.). University of Chicago Press. (Original work published 1592)
• 西遊記通俗本. (2006). . Novum Organum Publishing House (Pte) Ltd.
• Wikimedia Foundation. (2024, July 26). 釋悟空. Wikipedia. https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%87%8B%E6%82%9F%E7%A9%BA

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