#journey to the west post

[the-monkey-ruler]

There are ancient “sequels” that straight up ignore wukong’s buddhahood and giving him oc kids? Did this author favor taoism too?

I am not too sure about that but I like to think that these are more like the first examples of media that are inspired by Wu Cheng’en's Sun Wukong. Just because there are media out there that has Wukong have children don't mean they are trying to deny Wukong's Buddhist ties or connection that he is the Victorious Flying Buddha, but rather... overlook the idea for the sake of their own narrative purposes. The Supplement can actually fit in “canon” as (spoilers) it is all a dream and Wukongs kids are just a figment of his and the demon's imagination that he accidentally knocked Iron Fan up when he jumped in her stomach. Also, the further that it was a dream was that Red Boy didn’t exist in the dream and Iron Fan only was with Wukong. The author usually explains the tomfoolery by saying “It’s a dream don’t think about it too hard.” Also in Journey to the West After, Sun Luzhen is a stone monkey as well and thus Wukong never went against his vows, simply adopting the stone monkey as his new disciple.

As for Journey to the South, it is more a story about the deity Huaguang dadi as Wukong only makes a guest cameo in the first chapter and the last chapter, the children only being mentioned in the last and even then only Yuebei Xing was the only one with lines and actions. Poor Jidu and Luohou don't even get anything outside of a name-drop. But otherwise, there is also no mention of a wife either. It is left in that territory of... ambiguity where they never really address Wukong having a wife let alone how Wukong got these kids, just that they were his. There is a chance they are adopted but considering he does separate them from his other subjects as he calls his monkey subjects grandchildren, there is a higher chance they are his bio kids. Wukong is addressed by his Great Sage title more often than not but they all acknowledge that he went on the journey is a Buddist disciple under Tang Sanzang as well. So while I do admit it is contradictory I also believe it is one of those cases of "What if"s that is more asking the audience to please give that detail a "suspension of disbelief" treatment rather than trying to make a statement.

I'm not saying that while it would make more sense to keep Wukong as his Buddha title as that is canon in the story, there are a lot of modern media where Wukong does have offspring of some kind for the sake of "what if" cases. Sometimes authors or directors take a lot of leeway with source material for the sake of their own creative ideas and while in most cases I do think that is more for the sake of their narrative purpose than just any religious animosity. I understand that it can be upsetting but Journey to the South does more side-step the idea of Wukong being in a relationship, rather more forced on the idea that Wukong is a father-figure which personally is more of a cute idea that trying to force a romance that is never explored either.

[maxlovespigeons]

With the return of my hyperfixation, have some art I've drawn in the past I don't think I've ever posted to Tumblr

[ningadudexx]

canonically he is ugly but to me he is a beautiful princess ❤️

[maxmemer]

He didn't get cooked long enough back he goes.

[loverofstufflof]

Exams are over so here’s something I’ve been thinking about a ton

[royaltea000]

[stress relief doodle] just wanted to let you guys know that he’s always had those stupid tassels dw

[fiannalover]

It's because you're always on that damn pilgrimage

[sketching-shark]

For as much as I've already gushed about how Journey to the West really stands out as a great work of literature, given the current state of popular "redemption arcs" it really can't be said enough how awesome it is that the og classic makes it impossible to ignore the various crimes of all the pilgrims and why they needed to go on a redemption journey in the first place.

Like it contrast to your typical broody jerks where the plot bends over backwards to pretend their various war crimes and all their victims don't matter, actually, just look at what JTTW gives us. You have a murder monkey who reminds us that he loves killing people every other chapter. You got a literal and metaphorical pig man who freely admits to eating a ton of people in addition to committing sexual harassment. You got a giant cannibal who also ate countless people and even wears a lot of their skulls as his own personal goth necklace. You got a dragon who may or may not have committed arson in addition to trying to eat at least one other guy. Even the holy monk went out of his way to get some guys tortured to death. They all explicitly suck in such fun and interesting ways even while trying their best, and THAT'S a good part of what makes their story so fun and satisfying to read.

[karppie-art]

I had so much fun doing this ngl

[theshitpostcalligrapher]

please tell me this manga/comic/show exists i do not wanna have to make it

okok I've posted about this before but I'm watching animation content on youtube again while getting work done and by GOD I WANNA TALK ABOUT THIS AGAIN

There's a specific concept I want to consume as content/art so badly but it came to me in a stupid dream. BUT. Sometimes, a dream means I DID see a hint of it somewhere and my brain accidentally plagiarized it which provides me with the teensiest sliver of hope that exists already and I don't have to work on it

It's a kind of a reverse isekai, right? But instead of an instant portal, it's time passing. And what I mean by that is that it's a Sun Wukong story, but the branch off is that after the main events of Journey to the West he gets either water temple'd or trapped in magic sleep again, not for a few hundred years but a few THOUSAND.

He wakes up to an incredibly far-flung China that remembers his myth and only his myth.

The art style that operated in this dream was sort of. Textured but 3D? Think nimona's buttery lighting but instead of emphasis on light and shapes to operate with the stained glass and solarpunk-medieval style the models are textured in a way that just invokes traditional brushwork and colour bleed even in a more cyberpunkish setting. Think like. Whenever there's a night scene the astigmatism glow of lamplight bleeds a little, like ink feathering on paper.

It's a little bit of a Steve Rogers treatment in a way, the world has moved past him, but also completely mythologized and capitalized on that mythology. Rather than treat that man out of time narrative as an aspect of backstory, it's the MAIN character narrative, because this ISN'T a world that needs him. This world is doing pretty okay, actually.

This a story about him.

Not about his feats or how cool his powers are or the 8 gajillion things the magic staff can do but just.

How ya doing, bud?

From the vaguely coherent notes that I could garner from my sleepily typed googledoc, it seems that I wanted this to be a love letter of sorts to the Asian diaspora experience? A specific sort of loneliness? Where the world you experience has a sort of disconnect in that it makes plain you belong there but you also don't, you never have, and there's no way to go "back" but going forward feels like groping blind through the muck. How much right to the past does he feel like he has? When it's been built into something he can't recognize and is clearly important to other people.

I want the pickup of the plot to gain him friends, family, maybe even a conflict or two but the stakes should never elevate vis a vis physical enemies to battle.

It'd be about 2/3 of this sort of narrative drawn story and the other 1/3 just hogwild worldbuilding and design

I've looked at a few other journey to the west adaptations but they mainly just use him as a funky lil action figure hero that's there to be cool as hell and save the day

99% likely this is just a thing my brain is made up and I'd need a several million budget and about 25 additional skills to start the ball rolling but hey, worth it to ask yall again

[heshemejoshi]

going west

[ningadudexx]

art trade with my bro @stitchedsuguru (ollie4maze on bluesky)!!! go check my dawg 🔥🔥🔥 these are our monkey sonas having fun

guess who is my favorite character. just try . 1 gazillion zollars reward for the lucky winner

[angies-writing-blog]

Gently flickering, the incense stick ignites, barely more than a glow in the darkness, yet it spreads an unexpected warmth that drives away the cool evening breeze. Even before the Destined One, you had discovered the shrine in this labyrinth of snow. Carefully and almost reverently, he had then plucked a single hair, while you bowed your head in prayer. Now, the soothing fragrance drifts softly into the night, enveloping both of you.

Leaning closely together, you sit in this quiet, secluded corner of the world, accompanied only by the faint crackle of the burning incense. His arm rests heavy yet protective around your shoulders, his presence calming, like a silent promise of safety. It is a moment of rest, a pause before what still lies ahead. The thought of the journey fades, the longer you feel the warmth emanating from him and the shrine.

Slower, your breathing becomes, deeper, and before you know it, your eyes begin to close. Cradled in his arms, you find sleep in this precious stillness, as the world around you is gently wrapped in the peace of the night.

[loverofstufflof]

“Black Myth: Wukong is like a Chinese Mythology Dragon Ball” Dude, you’re never gonna believe this—

[royaltea000]

POV they just told their da shixiong on you

[sevenrs]

so like

we're all aware that the religion practiced in rain world by the ancients (iterators, and some of the slugcats by extension) is heavily inspired by buddism-- karma, reincarnation, ascension that leads to enlightenment where the need for the life/death cycle is past you now because you no longer feel suffering

five pebbles tells survivor and monk to go west.

west.

like in journey to the west? the great classical chinese novel, an allegorical journey about human perseverance?

in a game that is so incredibly difficult that beating it would require persistence?

was this intentional? did videocult know this? why haven't i seen anyone talk about this before?

im losing my mind right now