A long, long time ago, on a bright, sunny day, Sun Wu-Kung hatched from a stone egg. Here begins the story of the Great Monkey King. After discovering the "Happy Lands of the Mountain of Flowers and Fruit" and the "Cave Heaven of the Water Curtain" Sun Wu-Kung became the leader and king of the monkey kingdom.
Sun Wu-Kung could "run and jump, feed from the plants and trees, drink from brooks and springs, pick mountain flowers and look for fruit". By using the clouds as his vehicle, the Monkey King could travel 180,000 miles in a single somersault.
One day the Monkey King dove deep into the sea and grabbed the crown treasures of the underworld, Neptune's kingdom. These treasures, which were iron bars that could expand or decrease the size of the sea at the holder's command, became Monkey's favorite weapon. With these iron bars, Monkey threatened the underworld king to grant eternity to all mortals. After many showdowns the Monkey King was awarded an official title in Heaven's government. Overjoyed, Monkey accepted the offer.
A few days later, however, Sun Wu-Kung discovered that he was the laughing stock of society. His official position was nothing more than that of a stable keeper. Enraged, Monkey King revolted, fighting all the way back to earth to resume his own claim as king of the monkeys.
Sun Wu-Kung was not openly welcomed back. In fact, emperor Yu Huang Da Di, the emperor of the heavens, wanted him burned in the flames of the furnace. Instead of killing him, the fire and smoke created golden crystal eyes which enabled Monkey to see through what people normally could not.
At
last, the emperor of the heavens asked Buddha for help. Trying to trap Monkey,
Buddha moved a great mountain known as Mount of Five Fingers to fall upon him.
Still the tenacious monkey survived the pressure and outrageous weight. But
Monkey could not move. He remained under the mountain for 500 years, until
Xuanzang, a monk, came to the rescue. Here we come to our tale... Due to the
monkey's ambition and strength, Buddha had arranged for him to escort Xuanzang
into China to unearth the Sutra, the Buddhist Holy
Book.
Continue Story "Monkey King and
Xuanzang"
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