#that is a prototype that Wu Chengen saw and was like 'i could fix him'

[the-monkey-ruler]

Yeah I think it depends on how Buddhist a writer/artist wants Monkey King to be. A lot of romantic or irreligious types seem more enamored with the cultivating aspect of Taoism which is kind of disappointing but understandable. If Monkey King’s going to physically have kids, fall in love, or even as simple as eating bugs, the adaption should make it so that he turned down Buddhahood for one reason or another, or it wasn’t offered to him see: JTTW zaju. A Monkey King that decided to disrobe at the end of the journey is in an interesting thought but IDK if there are adaptions that go down this route.

Considering that Xiyouji Zaju was before Wu Cheng'en's version I doubt it's going to be picked up anytime soon as a good reference of adaptions. It's not like lost media but it's not really well known either.

And this may be an out-there take but I don't think you have to be a monk to reach enlightenment and follow like a monk's diet as well. Sure things are different in the Xiyouji canon lore but I do think that things can be skewed for the more modern audiences. I feel like most people are okay with just Reincarnation stories if they want a fresh Sun Wukong slate rather than trying to 'undue' his Victorious Fighting Buddha title.

Actually funny enough another interesting take I saw with Wukong not getting his title was in the Westward Xixingji anime! It was when they finally got back to heaven with the scriptures that Wukong refused to had them over until Tathāgata Buddha was there himself cause he didn't trust what was going on. Needless to say, he didn't get the title and went back into reincarnation himself again... but at least this time it wasn't about romance!

But if other media adaptions want to show him after the journey I personally think that Wukong can still have enlightenment but it doesn’t have to demand things like a monk's diet or other things if that media piece wants to explore a little more without having to be accurate all the time.