Who is Sha Wujing? What role does he play in Journey to the West?

Sha Wujing, also known as Sha Monk or Sha Seng, is a character in the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West.

As a child, while wandering the universe, Sha Wujing encountered an immortal. He achieved three thousand merits and was personally appointed by the Jade Emperor as the Curtain-Lifting General. However, because he accidentally broke a glass cup at the Peach Banquet, he was banished to the Flowing Sand River, where he was pierced through the chest and ribs over a hundred times every seven days, causing him excruciating pain. Unable to endure hunger and cold, he would venture out of the waves every two or three days to seek food from passersby. He unexpectedly ran afoul of Guanyin Bodhisattva, and after her persuasion, he converted to Buddhism, took the surname Sha and the Dharma name Wujing, and waited for the pilgrim Tang Sanzang to seek the scriptures. He was subdued by Tang Sanzang when he reached the Flowing Sand River.

During the journey, Sha Wujing either guarded the baggage or was captured by monsters. He rarely contributed to subduing demons and monsters, but he often used his words to mediate the relationship between Tang Sanzang, Sun Wukong, and Zhu Bajie, maintaining harmony and stability on the journey, and was an indispensable member of the team. Although he lacked the abilities of his two senior brothers, he could jokingly say, "I'm just farting to add to the wind," contributing his meager strength when necessary. After obtaining the true scriptures, he was conferred the title of "Golden Body Arhat" by the Buddha.

Sha Wujing, played by Yan Huaili in the 1986 TV series "Journey to the West,"

Sha Wujing was simple and honest, loyal, upright, selfless, hardworking, and strictly adhered to Buddhist precepts. During his journey to obtain the scriptures, he demonstrated a submissive, cooperative, and easygoing attitude, often taking on the task of mediating and rallying people.