Week 6 Storytelling: The Monkey King

Well, hello there! Oh, I'm sorry--I didn't mean to startle you. Sometimes I forget that not many people are accustomed to having a rock spontaneously start talking to them. Well, that's right, I am a living, breathing boulder and I am here to tell you about the most fascinating thing that has ever happened to me.

It was long ago, when the world was still young and I was but a small stone. I found myself at the top of this wonderful mountain that we are standing on. I have always felt blessed to be surrounded by such beautiful flowers and fragrant fruits, but what I am most thankful for is the proximity to the heavens while also being in contact with the earth. I have had access to all the worldly and supernatural powers because of this closeness (these are what gave me the power to speak, you see). So, I knew I had abilities that my peers did not, but I didn't know that I could give rise to new beings. One day, I was surprised when I felt a low rumbling in my core, then suddenly, I burst open and a perfectly smooth, round stone came out. At first, I thought this was just an effect of erosion, but as the days passed, I came to realize that it was an egg. As I scrutinized the stone over the next few days, it shuddered periodically for a while, and finally, a stone monkey hatched from it.

I watched this monkey grow up through the years. Oh, nostalgia--I can still remember when he was just starting to learn to run and jump as a young chimp, such a far cry from his extensive abilities today. He grew to be the strongest and most agile being I had ever seen (a feat of which I was very jealous for a while, as all I can do is sit here and watch). He spent his days in rambunctious contentment and the world was his playground. His curiosity was endlessly insatiable, and he would constantly get in trouble--but no one could ever stay mad at him for long because he was so clever and charming.

I remember one exciting day in particular. The young monkey and his friends had been playing near a waterfall, but they had gotten too close and realized that they could get seriously injured if they weren't careful. They reconvened on the side of the mountain where I sat and discussed what they would do. "We are due for a king," they said. "Whoever can pass under the waterfall without getting hurt should be our new leader." Immediately, our stone hero volunteered. So the monkeys headed towards the waterfall again.

When they came back, they were buzzing with excitement about their adventure. As they discussed what had just happened, I learned that the stone monkey had indeed crossed through the waterfall (I was not at all surprised), and he had discovered an ancient chamber with stone treasures. The other apes, awed, now had to keep their promise and made him their ruler, calling him Handsome King of the Apes.

So he remained for three peaceful centuries, ruling firmly but justly, our wise leader.

The Monkey King at the waterfall. Source: China on Site.

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Author's note: This week, I read the story of Sun Wu Kong, the Monkey King. I felt like the introduction to this unit provided a good explanation of the king's unusual origins and personality. I retold the story from the point of view of the stone from which the monkey sprung because, although unorthodox, it would offer some unique insight into the thoughts of an outsider who was still involved in the situation. It was at first difficult to continue the story when the monkeys went back to the waterfall because, from the point of view of the boulder, who could not move, he could not see the adventures firsthand and could only know what happened through the monkeys. However, I tried to summarize the events as best as I could.

I wanted to take a tone of reverence throughout the rock's account. Sun Wu Kong (a name which he gets later on in his adventures), although boisterous and prideful, sometimes to the point of being conceited, is shown as a respectable ruler. Because of this, I wanted to convey an air of being a "proud parent" from the point of view of the boulder.

Bibliography:
"The Ape Sun Wu Kong" from the Chinese Fairy Book.
Edited by R. Wilhelm and translated by Frederick H. Martens (1921).
Source: Project Gutenberg.

Week 6 Essay: The Monkey King

This week, I read about the adventures of Sun Wu Kong, the Monkey King. The accounts of his adventures throughout China, from his unique and miraculous origins to his defiance of the Buddha and his subsequent fall from grace in the heavens, and then to his restoration as a Buddha in his own right, are perhaps the most well-known stories in Chinese literature. The action in the storytelling is gripping and the reader certainly sides with the protagonist.

The thing that captured my attention most in this unit was the influences of culture that could be seen throughout. China has a rich history with diverse traditions. It was especially interesting to see the accounts of the deities that people worshiped in those days (Thousand-mile Eye and Wind-accompanying Ear, for example).

As I mentioned in one of my previous posts, this unit holds a certain sense of nostalgia for me. These tales have been passed down through the generations since they were conceived. My parents are Chinese immigrants, and they grew up with these stories. As such, during my childhood, I also had the privilege of hearing and watching the wondrous tales of the Monkey King. I used to watch a set of children's cartoons based off of the literature and now that I have read the unit, I can safely say that I am impressed with how closely the cartoons followed the original stories. They didn't seem to have watered down the themes simply so children would understand them (although, I will admit, I probably did not comprehend some of the deeper meanings when I was mindlessly watching the show as a child).

I loved the images that were incorporated throughout the unit. I have seen these stories depicted in live theater, and although some of the costumes are not what people would typically think of first, they reflect the culture through their colors and patterns. This is a vibrant story, and the dress certainly emulates that. Overall, I had a great time reading this unit--it was exciting and enlightening, and, in a way, gave me a chance to revisit my childhood.

Sun Wu Kong, as depicted at a Beijing opera. Source: Wikipedia.

Week 6 Reading Diary: The Monkey King

This week, I am reading the Monkey King. This is a Chinese fairy tale of sorts; my parents would tell me different stories of the adventures of the great Sun Wu Kong when I was a child, so I am familiar with the mischief and and heroism of the Monkey King. I have not been reminded of these stories since then, however, so it has been many years since I have read any part of the account of his adventures. This was definitely a trip down memory lane.

Handsome King of the Apes: It is uncanny that, even after all these years, as I read this story, I can picture the cartoon version that I watched as a child in my head and see the events unfold. The King sprung from an enchanted rock and spent his days running and leaping in the glade. When he was old enough, he was crowned king of the forest after passing through a huge waterfall. If I recall correctly, this is very symbolic: countless times the reader/viewer will see him go under waterfalls throughout the unit.

Sun Wu Kong Gets His Name: I also remember this part of the Monkey King's history. He approaches a saint in his search for the truth, and when asked for his name, he replies that he has none. He tells the religious leader that he was born from a stone, and in return the saint gives him the name Wu Kong, meaning "empty," referring to his origins but certainly not reflecting the magnitude of his future actions.

The Master: In this chapter, the King demonstrates both his stubbornness and cleverness. When trying to learn from the Buddhist master, he certainly is not the most cooperative student, but he quickly understands the symbolism of many things. It is this wit that the reader sees throughout; while he can be very rambunctious, he usually sees through the lies of tricksters with ease and logically deduces many things that others may miss.

The Devil-King: Here, Sun Wu Kong has learned some of the tricks of the trade (but unfortunately has been kicked out of the temple by the Master), and is now in the world beginning to fight evils. Here, the reader sees that his training paid off: although there is not much detail about it in the previous chapters, the King can definitely fend for himself in a fight when defending his hometown and the people he loves.