Who is Sun Wukong? Sun Wukong's influence in China

Sun Wukong (also known as the Great Sage Equaling Heaven, the Monkey King, Sun Xingzhe, and the Fighting Buddha) is one of the protagonists of the Chinese classical mythology Journey to the West. Born from a magic stone at the beginning of the universe, Sun Wukong was born in the Flower-Fruit Mountain of the Eastern Land of Gods. He mastered profound magic techniques such as the Great Vehicle Divine Secrets, the Seventy-Two Transformations, and the Somersault Cloud.

In Journey to the West, Sun Wukong obtained the Ruyi Jingu Bang from the Four Dragon Kings. He was subsequently summoned by the Jade Emperor and appointed his horse breeder. However, upon learning of his humble status, he flew into a rage and returned to Flower-Fruit Mountain, repelling an attack from King Li and the Saha World. The Jade Emperor bestowed upon him the title of Great Sage, the Great Sage Equaling Heaven. He was granted a residence in the Heavenly Palace and ordered to oversee the Peach Garden. After disrupting the Queen Mother's Peach Blossom Festival and stealing the Grand Master's elixir of immortality, he... He was subsequently cast into the Grand Master's Eight Trigrams Furnace, where his eyes burned like blazing fire, cultivating his Fiery Eyes. He subsequently wreaked havoc in the Heavenly Palace, unable to defeat even a hundred thousand celestial soldiers, the Four Heavenly Kings, and the Twenty-Eight Mansions. After losing a bet and a duel with the Buddha, he was summoned by the Buddha's finger to the foot of the Five Elements Mountain. There, he repented and reformed.

Over five hundred years later, at the behest of Guanyin Bodhisattva, he was rescued by Tang Sanzang, taking the name "Sun Wukong" and protecting him on his quest for the Buddhist scriptures. Along the way, he vanquished demons and monsters, bravely overcoming eighty-one trials, ultimately obtaining the sutra and achieving enlightenment, earning him the title of "Victorious Buddha."

Sun Wukong, known for his exceptional intelligence and unwavering loyalty, symbolizes resourcefulness and courage in Chinese folk culture, revered as a demon-slaying hero. Its image has long transcended the written word, becoming woven into the fabric of Chinese folk culture, becoming a national symbol that transcends region, age, and class. Monkey performances are the heart of traditional Chinese opera: in regional operas like Peking Opera, Kunqu Opera, and Sichuan Opera, monkey performances are a distinct genre, with strict stylized rules governing their performances, making them a representative example of national intangible cultural heritage.

In Chinese folk crafts and customs, including paper-cutting, clay sculptures, shadow puppetry, and New Year paintings, Sun Wukong is a common figure. During festivals like the Spring Festival and temple fairs, Sun Wukong cosplay and performances featuring his golden cudgel are essential features, becoming a symbol of liveliness and auspiciousness.

In gaming, anime, and related products, Sun Wukong is a major traffic star: the "Sun Wukong" hero in "Honor of Kings" (consistently the most-played character), the game "Black Myth: Wukong," and various "golden cudgel" toys and "Monkey King costumes" have become a consumer icon for all ages.

From the 1961 Shanghai Animation Film Studio’s animated film Havoc in Heaven (lauded as “the pinnacle of Chinese animation,” with the Monkey King’s red robe and golden armor becoming a classic), to the 1986 CCTV version of the TV series Journey to the West, whose ratings still hold records for Chinese TV dramas, to the 2015 animated film The Monkey King: Hero is Back, which grossed over 900 million yuan and fueled the rise of Chinese animation, the Monkey King’s image in film and television has always “kept pace with the times,” yet has never departed from his core qualities of “supernatural powers and a heart of justice.”