#sha monk

[journeytothewestresearch]

PDFs of Foreign Language Journey to the West Translations

I’m happy to host a number of foreign language translations of the noted Chinese classic Journey to the West (Xiyouji, 西遊記, 1592 CE). This archive currently houses the following editions:

English

French

German

Hungarian

Italian

Romanian

Russian

Spanish

Thai

Vietnamese

As of this writing, I don’t yet have a modern Japanese translation. But you can read an original copy of the 1835 translation here.

I have also included translations of the unofficial sequel, A Supplement to the Journey to the West (Xiyoubu, 西遊補, 1640), in the following languages:

English

Hungarian

I will add more languages as they become available. Please let me know if you have access to other editions.

[lagt-duck]

Day 29 of Monkey May!

Family!

Aka

I really just wanted an excuse to draw the whole gang together AND I FINALLY COULD!

As always the challenge belongs to @vorpaldoodles go check out their work!

[pizzaapplecheese]

Chapter 56: Tripitaka and Wukong

(note: I just started reading chapter 56, so I don't have the complete information)

I found it super strange that Tripitaka is GENUINELY shocked that Wukong killed the bandits, I was under the impression he expected that of Wukong from watching OSP's videos. Like he doesn't even take Bajie seriously when he told him that the Bandits were killed.

at first I found it strange that Tripitaka straight up seemed shocked that Wukong killed them, when all he have been doing in the book was murder left and right, when I realised something. Most of these murders were done without Tripitaka's knowledge. In Tripitaka's perspective:

Golden and Silver horned demons - It is unsure if he saw the demon going into the vase.

Ghost King - no murder

Red Boy - no murder

Iguana Dragon - no murder

3 Daoist sage - 3 sages were killed though it would be hard to pin the blame on Wukong since he was sneaky about it

Guanyin's fish - no murder

Golden helmet demon - no murder

Kingdom of Women - no murder

Last time he saw Wukong kill someone was during the White Bone Demon arc at longest and at least it would be from the 3 Daoist sage. Did he believe that Wukong changed? What is more interesting is just seeing Tripitaka's reaction to the whole situation, he prays for the Bandits and is snappy towards Wukong, even going as far an insulting him. (Like even I was concerned, he never does that in story before, sure he may call his disciples ugly and all, but I cannot think of a time where he insulted them)

Tripitaka ask their souls to only file a complaint against Wukong, as he warned them and other 3 (Bajie, Wujing, and horse) took no part in this, which makes Wukong laugh and pins the blame on Tripitaka.

His argument is on the same level as teenagers who go "well I didn't ask to be born, so it is your fault" or "I didn't ask to go to school, so don't be surprised that I am failing." Which makes Tripitaka even more shocked and upset at Wukong who doesn't even show an inch of remorse during this whole situation. He even says that his prayer was meant to make Wukong appreciate life and become more virtuous, Which Wukong makes fun of.

It is so interesting to read these 2 during this arc so far because you can see how they are starting to become estranged to one another.

Tripitaka throughout this arc is so shocked and upset at Wukong's actions, while Wukong is showing no remorse and is instead finding humour in it and pushing the responsibility to Tripitaka, making this whole situation worse.

you can even see at the end of the last image Tripitaka is trying hard to contain his anger and not lash out and instead ignore this.

[journeythroughjourneytothewest]

Chapter Recap: Chapter Twenty-Two: Eight Rules fights fiercely at the Flowing-Sand River; Moksa by order receives Wujing's submission

This chapter begins with the three pilgrims proceeding swiftly through the Yellow Wind Mountain and then traveling without any special difficulty until autumn. Yet it is at this time that they come upon “a huge and turbulent river, its waves surging and splashing.” Tripitaka and Eight Rules are doubtful that they can cross it, and even Sun Wukong is left “somewhat frightened” by the ferocity of its waves and the fact that it is at least eight hundred miles wide. For while he “need only make one twist of his body” to “reach the other shore…for you, Master, it’s a thousand times more difficult, for you can’t traverse it even in ten thousand years!”  

Anxious to cross but equally anxious at the dangers that lay in trying, Tang Sanzang soon discovers a slab of stone. All three pilgrims read it and discover that their most recent obstacle is the “Flowing-Sand River,” which is not only eight hundred miles wide but also three thousand miles deep. It is further composed of “weak water” so that even feathers and petals sink to its bottom. As the trio are going over these facts, a “most savage and hideous monster” with a “head full of tousled and flame-like hair,” a “pair of bright, round, eyes which shone like lamps,” “an indigo face, neither black nor green,” a neck adorned with “nine skulls” as a necklace, and wielding “an awesome priestly staff” suddenly bursts from the water. This yaoguai “went straight for the Tang Monk,” but Pilgrim Sun manages to pull his shifu to higher ground while Zhu Bajie engages this “fiend” in a battle. We also learn through a poem that just as Eight Rules was once the Marshal of Heavenly Reeds, this river yaoguai was once the Curtain-Raising Captain by the Throne, and that in years past they had met each other as deities in the Divine Mists Hall. Now, however, they fight ferociously for twenty rounds, with neither one emerging the victor.

Sun Wukong, for his own part, is standing guard over Tang Sanzang, Bai Longma, and the luggage. Yet he “became so aroused by the sight of Eight Rules engaging that fiend” that eventually the monkey “could not restrain himself,” and leaves Tripitaka’s side so that he could “go play with [the yaoguai] a little.” Ignoring the Tang monk’s pleas for him to stay, the Monkey King joins the fight “with a loud whoop” and leaves the river monster “so shaken” that he “dove straight into the Flowing-Sand River and disappeared.” This upsets Zhu Bajie greatly, who leaps about wildly asking Sun Wukong while he spoiled the battle. The Monkey King laughingly tells the pig that when “I saw how delicious your fight with him was…I jumped up here to have some fun with him.” The two soon return to Tang Sanzang “holding hands and teasing each other,” but they do have to tell Tripitaka about their failure to catch the yaoguai. The Tang monk also suggests that the river yaoguai might be a good person “to lead us across” the Flowing-Sand River, as he had “probably lived here for a long time.” Sun Wukong agrees, and states that when they catch this yaoguai they won’t kill him immediately but will “just make him take Master across the river before we dispose of him.”

All apparently agreeing to this plan, Zhu Bajie tells Sun Wukong to fight with the river yaoguai while he guards Tang Sanzang. The Monkey King, however, reveals with a laugh that “doing business in water somewhat cramps my style” because he either has to transform into a water creature or use one hand to wield a water repelling spell when dealing with that element. Eight Rules then states that he had once “commanded a naval force of eighty thousand men” and had thus “acquired some knowledge” of moving through water when he was the Marshal of the Heavenly River, but that he is afraid that the river yaoguai might “have a few relatives down there in his den, and I won’t be able to withstand him if his seventh and eighth cousins all come out.” As such, Sun Wukong proposes that Zhu Bajie fight with the monster a little bit before feigning defeat to entice him to the shore, whereupon “old Monkey will help you.” Eight Rules agrees to this plan, and immediately “leaped through billows and waves and headed for the bottom of the river.”

The river yaoguai, for his own part, is at home catching his breath. Yet he is forced to confront Zhu Bajie once again, with the pig demanding that this monster explain what he means when he says he’s “no demon or fiend, nor do I lack a name or surname,” even though he does “stay here and take human lives.” The river yaoguai then reveals through poetry how he was once the Curtain-Raising Captain in the South Heaven Gate, exalted by the Jade Emperor himself. Yet one day when the Queen Mother was giving the Festival of Peach, he had dropped and broken a jade cup, which so enraged the Jade Emperor that he immediately stripped him of his rank and finery and would have had him killed if the Naked Feet Great immortal hadn’t begged to free the ex-captain. So instead the Jade Emperor sentenced the ex-captain to exile on the shores of the Flowing-Sand River. Here the ex-captain had become a yaoguai who’s “eaten many men;/over and over I took human lives.” He then threatens to make Zhu Bajie his “minced meat sauce.” This so enrages Eight Rules—for “Old Hog is tempting enough to make people’s mouths water, and you dare say that I’m coarse, that I’m to be chopped up for a chopped meat sauce!”—that they immediately start fighting. They go at it for two hours with neither one prevailing.

Up on the shore, Sun Wukong watches the fight “with bulging eyes,” but he dares not intervene. Finally Zhu Bajie feigns defeat and makes for the eastern shore, the river yaoguai hot on his heels. The plan is ruined, however, when “our Pilgrim could no longer restrain himself. He abandoned his master, whipped out the iron rod, leaped to the riverside and struck at the monster’s head. Fearing to face him, the monster swiftly dove back into the river.” An infuriated Eight Rules calls Sun Wukong a “BanHorsePlauge” and “impulsive ape,” berating him for spoiling the effort. The Monkey King merely laughs and says they should talk to Tang Sanzang.

Returning to the monk, Zhu Bajie first gives his report before Sun Wukong suggests they bed down for the night “and let old Monkey go beg some vegetarian food.” The Monkey King quickly returns with a full bowl, laughing when Tripitaka suggests that they “go to that household which gave us the food and ask them how we may cross this river”; the family the meal is from, after all, live “about six or seven thousand miles” away. Eight Rules accuses Sun Wukong of fibbing, which leads the monkey to describe the merits of his cloud somersault, “which with one leap can cover one hundred and eight thousand miles.” Hearing this, Zhu Bajie asks Sun Wukong why he doesn’t simply carry Tripitaka to the Buddha. Yet when the Monkey King asks the pig why he doesn’t do so, for he too knows how to ride the clouds, Eight Rules states that the “mortal nature and worldly bones of Master are as heavy as the Tai Mountain…How could my cloud soaring bear him?” Sun Wukong says it’s the same case with him; “old Monkey knows every trick well, including becoming invisible and making distances shorter. But it is required of Master to go through all these strange territories before he finds deliverance from the sea of sorrows; hence even one step turns out to be difficult. You and I are only his protective companions, guarding his body and life, but we cannot exempt him from these woes, nor can we obtain the scriptures all by ourselves.” And after all, as Sun Wukong concludes, “What’s easily gotten/ soon forgotten.” Zhu Bajie accepts this all “as instruction,” and all three pilgrims eat some of the vegetarian food before going to sleep.

The next morning, Sun Wukong suggests that they try to pull the same trick as last time, promising that “this time I’ll try not to be impulsive.” After some complaining Eight Rules agrees to go along with it, and so dives back down to confront the river yaoguai. After the ex-captain gives a lengthy poem on the merits of his treasure staff, the two deities turned yaoguai start fighting in earnest “from the bottom of the river up to the surface of the water.” Zhu Bajie once again pretends to be defeated and flees, but the river yaoguai sees through it and refuses to go out on the bank. When Sun Wukong sees this state of affairs, “he became highly irritated” and tries to capture the monster nevertheless, but the river yaoguai “dove into the water and disappeared” before he has a chance. Eight Rules and the Monkey King are thus once again unsuccessful, and once again decide to talk to Tang Sanzang.

When he hears the news of this most recent failure, Tripitaka immediately starts crying. But Sun Wukong asks him to “please don’t worry,” as he’s going to leave for the South Sea to seek out Bodhisattva Guanyin again in hopes of her help while Zhu Bajie stays behind to guard the monk. The monkey leaves on this mission with Tang Sanzang’s encouragement and Eight Rules’ request to “please convey my gratitude to her for her kindly instructions in the past.” It takes Sun Wukong no time at all to reach the South Sea and the Potalaka mountain, and soon enough he prostrates himself before the bodhisattva. The monkey explains this most recent ordeal with “a monster in the river who is quite accomplished in the martial arts,” and asks her to “take pity and grant us deliverance.” Bodhisattva Guanyin, however, but asks Sun Wukong if he is “still acting so smug and self-sufficient that you refuse to disclose the fact that you are in the service of the Tang Monk?” The Monkey King is forced to admit that he had never brought the matter up to the river yaoguai. The bodhisattva chide Sun Wukong further, revealing to him that the “monster in the Flowing-Sand River…happens to be the incarnate Curtain-Raising Captain, who was also brought into the faith by my persuasion…Had you been willing to mention that you were a scripture pilgrim from the Land of the East…he would have yielded.”

There is, of course, the problem of this monster being “afraid to fight now; he refuses to come up to the shore and is hiding deep in the water.” Bodhisattva Guanyin thus summons her disciple Hui’an and gives him “a little red gourd from her sleeves” along with the instructions to “Take this gourd and go with Sun Wukong to the Flowing-Sand River. Call ‘Wujing,’ and he’ll come out at once. You must first take him to submit to the Tang Monk. Next, string together those nine skulls of his and arrange them according to the position of the Nine Palaces. Put this gourd in the center, and you will have a dharma vessel ready to ferry the Tang Monk across the boundary formed by the Flowing-Sand River.” Sun Wukong and Hui-an leave to carry out Bodhisattva Guanyin’s instructions “with the Great Sage carrying the gourd.”

Soon enough the Monkey King and Moksa meet up with Tang Sanzang and Zhu Bajie. Sun Wukong gives an account of what just happened and what he was told to do. Moksa, gourd in hand “and treading half on cloud and half on fog,” “moved directly above the surface of the Flowing-Sand River” and cries out the river yaoguai’s religious name, asking him why he hadn’t yet submitted to the scripture pilgrim. Wujing, who, “fearful of the Monkey King, had gone back to the bottom of the river to rest in his den,” swiftly leaps out of the water as soon as he hears Moksa calling, “all smiles” as he greets Hui-an but quickly souring when he spots Eight Rules and the Monkey King. Yet Moksa is able to smooth over any tension with some explanation, even though the river yaoguai is soon called a “bum” by Zhu Bajie, who asks Wujing why “did you not submit to me in the first place?” This time, it is Sun Wukong who calms the pig down, even stating that it���s “really our fault for not mentioning that we were seeking scriptures, and we didn’t tell him our names.” The river yaoguai then tells the Tang Monk that that Bodhisattva Guanyin already gave him “the religious name Sha Wujing,” and that he’s eager to accept Tripitaka as his master. At Tang Sanzang’s request, Sun Wukong shaves Sha Wujing’s head, and the river yaoguai thus becomes “the youngest disciple of the Tang Monk.” Tripitaka, when he sees that his newest follower “comported himself very much like a monk,” also gives him “the nickname of Sha Monk.”

The matter settled, Moksa then has Sha Wujing take off his skull necklace and arrange the skulls “after the design of the Nine Palaces, placing the gourd in the middle.” Tang Sanzang “thus embarked on the dharma vessel,” finding it to be “as sturdy as a little boat.” He is further “supported by Eight Rules on his left and Wujing on his right, while Pilgrim Sun, leading the dragon-horse, followed in the rear, treading half on cloud and half on fog. Above their heads Moksa also took up his post to give them added protection. In this way our master of the Law was safely ferried across the boundary of the Flowing-Sand River.” As soon as they reach the other side Moksa takes back the gourd, while “the nine skulls changed into nine curls of dark wind and vanished.” After receiving thanks from the Tang monk, Moksa goes back to the South and Tang Sanzang remounts Bai Longma, and the journey to the west goes on.

What adventures the now complete pilgrim group may encounter next is a question that will be answered in the next chapter.

[the-monkey-ruler]

what is sha wujing’s purpose in the story?

Oof there is a lot of way to answer that.

Entertainment wise he is meant to be the straight man of the group. Level-headed to balance Wukong's hot temper and Bajie's hot passion. He is meant to reign the other two in when Sanzang isn't there himself or if there needs to be more ribbing on either Wukong or Bajie. He does show to talk more in later arcs at least from what I notice either from encouraging Wukong to give teasing remarks to Bajie as well. He doesn't do pranks like Wukong does but rather just sly dry remarks at his expense.

Allegorical wise he is to represent Emotions and earth/ground (hence the sha in his name) Wukong is the Mind and Bajie is the Body and Bailong is the Will but Wujing is to show what an emotional mistake can direct the rest of your life.

There isn't a lot that was said when it came to the hows and whys of Wujing's punishment. Whether it was on purpose as a sign of disrespect or a true accident that was made in the heat of the moment. While we don't see any other reasons to be behind his accident I do like the theory that @antidotefortheawkward-art has about the implications of what a cup smashing could mean to imply 摔杯为号 meaning 'breaking a cup as a signal' to hint that an attack is happening usually at a banquet.

I think that would just add another layer of clever writing but if that is not the case I've heard that he smashed the cup in a fit of rage. Against who and to what, unknown, but that Wujing made a mistake at the height of his emotions.

Wujing has been seen as a voice of reason but there are quite a few outbursts that he has had throughout the journey, mostly letting his anger get the best of him but I think that might be his struggle to keep himself in check. Honestly, he seems the most serious when it comes to following the scriptures, seeing the pilgrimage as the true way to redeem himself. Whenever Bajie or even Wukong want to quick when things are getting too hard or even impossible he is the one to shake them back into it. He gives more than one pep talk in the book if I recall.

That is to say, he is very vicious as well when he can be, ruthless with his enemies and his words when he is pushed far enough. He was a cannibal that ate anyone that came to his river, still with a conscious mind of his life in heaven. He was turned into a demon that is without the largest build and the wildest looks but his personality does not fit his description. He doesn't get a lot of attention as Bajie is the more humorous one and Wuking is our main protagonist to save the day but he does provide that level of groundedness I think the team needs.

I also love that he has Nine Scripture Pilgrim's skulls around his neck, which to me highly suggests that Wujing mayhaps has eaten Sanzang's past lives.

I think this is to still highlight his name meaning Sha Wujing and how it means "Sand awakened to Purity" to show how devoted he was to better himself not just for the sake of running away from his punishment but to become a better version of himself.

I think that honestly, Wujing is the most sincere in his desire to follow Sanzang, being very loyal and trustworthy even if he didn't have a lot to say. But when he did speak I think he always do so with meaning.

In the end, he became an Arhat one who gained insight into the true nature of existence but just short of reaching Buddhahood. It could be that he did not have enough merit as Wukong and Sanzang were the ones taking up most of the toil of the trails or that he was the last to join and simply missing a few more merits to allow him to ascend but I think he still plays an important role in showing that even just wanting to make a change is the hardest part to continue down a path a change.

Between Wukong's pranking on Bajie and Sanzang trying to reign Wukong's temperament in I think that his purpose was to provide a more neutral character to have a more logical outcome. I see a lot of interpretations of this character as being a more philosopher or inquisitive role. The gentle giant so to speak seeks knowledge for the sake of knowledge and I can see how this can derive from his origins. Or he has been a soft voice of reason, more emotional in his outbursts but well-meaning. Or he has been a huge brute of a man, trying to reign himself in but often speaking his mind first.

No matter how he is portrayed I always love him.

I hope that answers your question!

[ningadudexx]

who up journeying to they west ⁉️⁉️⁉️⁉️ 🚶‍♂️🚶‍♂️🚶‍♂️🚶‍♂️🐎

the first one is a screenshot redraw of this frame cause it freaking rocks 🔥🔥🔥

the show has been out since 1986 and also the novel has been out since the 16th century.... but ill spoiler warninf just in case... anyone in audience from the 16th century tonite ⁉️🙋‍♂️🙋🙋‍♀️

[chernobog13]

The Journey to the West crew in what their true sizes would be, relative to each other, by Yipao (user-9572.artstation.com).

[winterpower98]

My friend @lunar-wandering mentioned that Wukong and Ao Lie have the same vibes as Shane and Ryan from Watcher and my brain spiraled from there

[journeytothewestresearch]

I’ve been doing my best to find proper descriptions of the pilgrims’ appearances, but my search results are being frustratingly vague, and the novel itself has a habit of giving this information in small, dispersed increments (which I struggle to find)—not to mention one or two costume changes on Monkey’s end.

So, I must ask, do you have any reliable sources for the crew’s physical appearance?

(Sorry if you’ve been asked this before!)

Sun Wukong - https://journeytothewestresearch.com/2018/05/30/what-does-sun-wukong-look-like-an-artist-and-cosplayer-resource/

Zhu Bajie - https://journeytothewestresearch.com/2021/08/08/what-does-zhu-bajie-look-like-a-resource-for-artists-and-cosplayers/

Everyone's height and also Tripitaka's description - https://journeytothewestresearch.com/2023/04/17/how-tall-are-the-main-characters-from-journey-to-the-west/

Sha Wujing's face and early clothing - https://journeytothewestresearch.com/2018/03/24/the-origins-and-evolution-of-sha-wujing/

[quitealotofsodapop]

Mentioned in a Post a while back about a Jttw/LMK AU I had regarding the "Yellow Robed Demon" Arc when Tripitaka got turned into a tiger.

Book Summary;

Tripitaka manages to escape his capture (for once) and passes on a message to the King of Baoxiang from his daughter, Baihuaxiu, explaining that she was kidnapped and made the forced bride of a demon (ironically making it a magical version of what befell Tripitaka's mother when he was a baby).

Kui Mulang rolls in with a human glamour and goes: "Nu-Uh! I'm but a humble human hunter. THIS guy is a tiger demon who attacked a girl some time ago. I save her and we've been living a simple life for the last 13 years!" (Lie)

So the dude pulls an Uno-Reverse and transforms Tripitaka into a tiger (or in some versions, glamours him into one). The King and his subjects believe this 100% since Tripitaka and the Pilgrims don't look so great without Wukong there to act as PR (he was exiled at the time for the White Bone Spirit incident).

Tripitaka is apparently aching-beautiful no matter his form though;

Wukong even feels kinda bad for his Master, since the transformation is so good that he can't even see through it with Gold Vision. Also imagine a sad giant kitty, that would bum anyone out.

Of course things are resolved by the end of the arc; the gang reunite with their monkey, Ao Lie gets his own badass chapter, the Princess is saved, Bajie kills the couple's two half-demon wolf children, the Yellow Robed Demon is revealed to be Revatī - the Wood Wolf of Legs after Wukong catches the demon commenting on his performance during the Havoc (Wukong has a few Columbo moments in the book like this), and Tripitaka is transformed back into his squishy monk self.

Bonus - Tripitaka as a tiger from a book illustration + the 1999 cartoon.

The book illustration + description suggests he's a rare Pseudo-melanistic "Black Tiger" seen in India, possibly an Indo-Chinese Tiger, or a South China Tiger with a darker back.

So here's where the timeline shifts...

The Wood Wolf of Legs ain't happy to be dragged away from (what he believed to be mutual) his true love on earth + his two kids, so he curses the Tang Monk to not only retain part of the glamour he imposed upon him, but to transform him fully into a carnivorous feline demon. Also as an extra "F-k you!" to the Jade Court he and his past love fled from, since the Queen Mother is a celestial tigress herself.

The Pilgrims freak out, obviously.

Guanyin is called up and is like;

Guanyin: "Well, you did unjustly punish and exile your best bodyguard because you didn't trust his judgement, seeing him only as a murderous beast... so *your* punishment is to deal with the rest of your Journey as one of the very same creatures you see as mindlessly bloodthirsty." Tripitaka, now cursed to stay a catboy: "Dang it." (≽^╥⩊╥^≼)

He still gets to wear the robes and walk upright -think Master Tigress from Kung Fu Panda but as a wimpy, twink-shaped, monk.

Tripitaka aint' having fun. He's a life-long vegetarian who's suddenly an apex hypercarnivore. He tries his best for the longest time to stay on the veggies (and durian weirdly enough since tigers like those), but eventually he will need to chow down on some bleeding protein.

And his team literally consists of the main diet of a tiger...

Wukong, a monkey: "Master isn't looking too good." Zhu Bajie, a pig: "I don't like the way he's been looking at us. I burnt my finger making the campfire and he looked ready to pounce!" Sha Wujing, a fish: "I'm not surprised. Cats are of few beasts that absolutely require meat protein to survive." Ao Lie, currently a horse: "If he goes feral, I vote we sacrifice the pig first." Wujing & Wukong: "Agreed." Zhu Bajie: "HEY!!" (₍•̀ ⚇•́ ₎) Tripitaka, meditating hard: "Perhaps if I eat a watermelon, it would sustain my desire for flesh?"

What worse?

Tripitaka is still considered smoking hot. Now by demon standards too!

The Trio of Lion Camel Ridge prepare to attack the Pilgrims when;

Azure Lion: (*sees that the Great Monk is actually a beautiful tiger.*) Azure Lion, lowering his sword: "Guys, do not mess this up for me." Peng & Yellow Tusk: (*annoyed groans!*)

[royaltea000]

[jttw oc] cursed to be an obligate carnivore, ate his entire family one particularly bad winter

[journeythroughjourneytothewest]

It was, as always, very fun to read your summary and see your stat updates! Thank you to @pompomqt for such a fun submission.

Journey to the West Chapter 22

Guanyin telling Sandy to keep the Monk Skulls back in chapter 8:

In this chapter of Journey to the West with @journeythroughjourneytothewest we finally get the whole gang together. So let's get into it shall we?

So the gang manages to make it pass Yellow Wind Mountain and time passes without incident until they arrive at yet another scary looking river that is apparently 800 miles wide. And with the river comes a problem, while Monkey and Pigsy would be able to cross it no problem, Tripitaka can't and there aren't any boats or anything around either.

Anyways Tripitaka manages to come across a stone slab and they learn that this river is apparently called the 'Flowing Sand River'. However as they are all gathered around for family reading time- a monster springs out of the water and makes a B-line for Tripitaka. Fortunately Monkey is all to use to random monsters trying to take a bite out of his master- so he manages to grab him and run to hire ground while Pigsy faces off against the monster.

Pigsy seems about evenly matched against the monster, but soon enough, Monkey gets bored playing bodyguard for Tripitaka and leaps into the fight- and ends it instantly by whacking the monster on the head with his staff which startles him so badly that he immediately retreats back into the river.

Pigsy meanwhile takes exception to Monkey interrupting his fight because he was *this* close to sealing the deal. But Monkey just shrugs and says he was bored and wanted to play to. Despite this though the two make their way back to Tripitaka in high spirits. However even though the monster isn't bothering them anymore, they still have to solve the original problem, which is to get Tripitaka safely across the river. So the group decides that the best way to get across is to have the monster of the river help Tripitaka across.

And here we also learn about one of Sun Wukong's few weaknesses- he's not good at fighting under water. If he just needs to transverse it- that's one thing, he can just use the water repelling charm or change into a sea creature, but actually fighting underwater is another matter. Luckily, Pigsy can fight underwater, he was a Marshal of the Heavenly River back when he was a god after all. But while Pigsy might be able to face the monster one on one, he's worried about the monster having allies in the river and ganging up on him. So they come up with a plan to have Pigsy lure him out of the water so that Monkey can help him. So with their strategy in place Pigsy heads out, parting the water like Moses to make a path for himself into the river.

So, Pigsy and the monster face off once again- this time in the river, and we get to learn this mysterious monster's tragic backstory. Which basically amounts to: He was the Curtain Raising Captain for the Jade Emperor in heaven, but during the Festival of Peaches he broke a crystal cup and was banished to the Flowing Sand River where he has been spending his days eating random passerby's.

Eventually during their fight Pigsy pretends to flee in defeat to lure the monster to the surface like planned. Unfortunately though Monkey is so eager to fight that he jumps the gun, immediately nailing the monster in the head once again- only to have the monster NOPE back into the water again as soon as he see's Monkey coming. So Pigsy starts yelling at Monkey for being to impulsive, but Monkey just laughs him off and suggests they go talk with Tripitaka.

So they have a brief team meaning where Pigsy tells them about the fight and how the monster is about his equal. They then decide to worry about the situation tomorrow and just rest for now so Monkey takes off to get some food for Tripitaka and is back in no time. When he see's how fast he returned Tripitaka suggests they just ask the family he got the food from on how to cross the river. But Monkey says they are unlikely to know anything about his river considering they live seven thousand miles away from here. And he takes the opportunity to brag about his cloud somersault.

And Pigsy then points out something interesting why doesn't Sun Wukong just carry him across the river if he could make the distance in a single jump? Monkey however points out the Pigsy also knows how to ride the clouds, so why doesn't he carry him across? So Pigsy answers his own question- as far as the rules of magic goes a mortal is as heavy as a mountain. The only way Tripitaka is getting through this journey is if he takes every single step of it himself. Pigsy and Monkey are there to protect him, but they can't do the journey for him, or receive the scriptures from the Buddha. And I feel like this conversation justifies and answers every question about why this journey is so long and hard despite how powerful Sun Wukong and the others are.

So the next morning they decide to try the plan again but this time with Monkey not being so impulsive. So Pigsy dives back into the water and has a great time comparing weapons and fighting the monster. This time when Pigsy feigns defeat to lure the monster to the surface though the monster doesn't fall for it since he'd really rather not take another beating from Sun Wukong. Seeing him refuse to come out, Monkey decides to try and fight him anyways, but as soon as the monster see's him coming, he flees deeper into the water.

So the gang gathers together for yet another team meeting and I get to add another number to Tripitaka's cry count due to his worry on how to cross the river. Seeing as how Pigsy can't beat the monster on his own, and how their plan to lure him out is a wash, Monkey decides to pull out his trump card- asking Guanyin for help. So leaving Tripitaka in Pigsy's care, Sun Wukong takes off to the South Sea to get Guanyin's help.

So Monkey tells Guanyin all about their troubles, and probably makes her sigh in exasperation because the monster of the Flowing Sand River... is the Curtain Rising Captain that Guanyin recruited to help them on their Journey, because apparently despite their problems acquiring the horse and Pigsy, Monkey still isn't telling the right people about their Scripture Mission. Despite this helpful information though, Sun Wukong is still worried that the monster is to afraid of him to be willing to come out. So Guanyin calls for her assistant Moksa and gives him a gourd and instructions to go with Sun Wukong to the river and call him using the name Guanyin gave him 'Wujing'. She also tells him to string together those nine skulls he had and arrange them in the position of the nine palaces, then put the gourd in the center of it. Apparently this will get them a vessel capable of ferrying Tripitaka across the river.

So with that advice in mind, Sun Wukong and Moksa return to the Flowing Sand River and have a brief chat with Pigsy and Tripitaka and tells them that apparently this river monster is going to be their new road trip buddy. So Moksa goes to the river and calls out to Wujing and tells him the scripture pilgrim has arrived. And since the only person who knows that name is Guanyin, Wujing surfaces to great Moksa. Moksa tells him to become the disciple of the Tang Monk and also tells him how to use the skulls. Wujin asks where the scripture pilgrim is, and Moksha points him, and company, out.

Wujing is a bit irritated since Pigsy and Monkey fought him for two days without once mentioning seeking scriptures. And he's also still rather afraid of Sun Wukong, so Moksha goes with him to great them. So Sha Wujing introduces himself to Tripitaka and says he is willing to take Tripitaka as his master. And Tripitaka is once again robbed of the chance to give his disciple a name, but at least he can shave Sha Wujing's hair off and give him a nickname, the 'Sha Monk'.

With that all taken care of they Wujing's necklace of skulls to make a vessel to take them all across the river. Moksa also accompanies them across the river to make sure no other monsters pop out to give them trouble. Once they are across the river, Moksa takes back the gourd and the nine skulls vanish with the wind. Which is a shame, because there are a lot of river's to cross in this book, and that would have been a nice tool to be able to keep. With that done, they head their seperate ways, Moksa heading south back to Guanyin, and our now complete party of hero's continuing on their Journey to the West.

Current Sun Wukong Stats: Names/Titles: Monkey, The Stone Monkey, The Handsome Monkey King, Sun Wukong (Monkey awakened to the void), Bimawen (Banhorseplague), The Great Sage Equal To Heaven and Pilgrim Sun. Immortality: 5 Weapon: The Compliant Golden Hooped Rod Abilities: 72 Transformations, Cloud-Somersault, Ability to transform his individual hairs, super strength, Ability to Summon Wind, Water restriction charm, and the ability to change into a huge war form, ability to duplicate his staff, ability to immobilize others, the ability to put others to sleep, and the Fiery eyes and Diamond Pupils, intimidating horses, churning large bodies of water, sleeplessness, seizing the wind, enhanced smell and discerning good and evil within a thousand miles. Demon Kill Count: 4+ Unknown Number of Minions Human Kill Count: 6 God's Defeated: 19 + Unknown number Defeats: 3 Crime List: Robbery, Murder, Mass Murder, Arson, Theft, Coercion, Threatening a Government Official, Resisting Arrest, Assault, Forgery, Employee Theft, False Imprisonment, Impersonating a Government Official, Treason, attempted murder, failure to control or report a dangerous fire, desecrating a corpse, breaking and entering and trespassing. Cry Count: 3 Mountains Trapped Under: 1

Current Tang Sanzang stats: Names/Titles: River Float, Xuanzang, Tang Sanzang, Tripitaka Abilities: Curing Blindness, making branches point a certain direction (allegedly), reciting sutras, pretty privilege, memorization and Heart Sutra. Cry Count: 14 Tight Fillet Spell Uses: 5 Paralyzed by fear: 4 Bandit Problems: 2 Kidnapped by demons: 2 Falling Off Horses: 5

Current Bai Long Ma Stats: Names/Titles: Bai Long Ma (White Dragon Horse), Prince of the Western Ocean, and third prince jade dragon of the dragon king Aorun Abilities: Transforming into a human, a water snake, and a horse, eating a horse in one bite, and flight. Crime List: Arson, and Grave Disobedience. Contributions to the plot: 1

Current Zhu Wuneng Stats: Names/Titles: The Marshal of the Heavenly Reeds, Zhu Wuneng (Pig who is aware of ability), Zhu Ganglie, Pigsy, Idiot and Eight Rules. Weapon: Rake Abilities: 36 Transformations, parting water, fighting underwater and cloud soaring. Demon Kill Count/Kill steals: 1 Failed Flirtation/romances Attempts: 2 Cry Count: 1 Crime List: Sexual Harassment, Murder, Kidnapping and arson.

Current Sha Wujing Stats: Names/Titles: The Curtain-Raising General, Sha Wujing (Sand Aware of Purity), Sandy and Sha Monk Weapon: 'Monster Taming Staff' Crime List: Breaking a Crystal Cup, murder, and desecration of a human corpse.

[reginleif-valkyrie]

Journey to the West 2009/10

The gang are trapped by the gold and silver horned demons (I can’t remember what they’re fully called)

First Wujing tries to get Bajie to shut up.

Then even Sanzang gets in on it.

No matter how many times I read it or watch an adaptation, I’ll never understand why Bajie try’s to out Wukong while he’s trying to save them. Every. Time.

Anyway, have frustrated and confused Wukong.

[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

[chernobog13]

After a long day on a Journey to the West everyone just wants to go night-night.

Painting by Menghui He.

[journeythroughjourneytothewest]

Thank you for such a fun selection of quotes and commentary as always @loyaltykask! It's always a delight to read.

Chapter 21

@journeythroughjourneytothewest

I just love it when Demons underestimate Wukong cause he is small. It makes the beatdown so much funnier

Wukong really said "I'm going to be merciful to you and just beat you to death"

I wonder if Bajie had to lead Wukong down the mountain and guide him while being blind. Also don't know if Wukong is just that sure if Sanzang won't be eaten or if he just not that worried at this point

You know it Guanyin in disguise cause it's the only time humans aren't rude AF and not calling them ugly on

If I had a nickel every time Wukong was blinded by something Samadhi I would have 2 nickels

I wish I knew what Wukong means that immorality is for the younger generation

I really like the banter I'm not going to lie, I don't know, that it makes them more fleshed out as characters to see them interact in joking manners even in dire situations. Like how dramas need comedy to keep the drama suspicious

Esp when they both can take an insult to each other and laugh it off Poor Wukong didn't sleep till 3 AM tho

He was anxious

Bajie really like "Where Am I?"

I can't believe Bajie has the brain cell to tell Wukong maybe the secret deities that are helping them HAVE TO BE SECRET or else they can't be a secret

Good old comforting the crying man

True source of information: Tourists

Wukong: I am Sun Wukong, Disciple of the Great Tang Monk of the Tang empire, brother to the Emporer, Beautiful Monkey King of Water Curtain Cave of Flower Fruit Mountain, Great Sage Equal to Heaven Some guy: ...... repeat that again Wukong: Fucking kids, I'm the Monk's disciple happy now