Journey to the West Research
@jttwresearch.bsky.social
Researching the historical, religious, and folklore influences of the great 16th-century Chinese classic Journey to the West
journeytothewestresearch.wordpress.com
journeytothewestresearch.wordpress.com
Pinned
I have archived foreign language PDFs of Journey to the West (Xiyouji, 西遊記, 1592). It includes:
* English
* French
* German
* Hungarian
* Romanian
* Russian
* Spanish
* Thai
* Vietnamese
I will add more languages in the future. Enjoy.
journeytothewestresearch.com/2023/08/08/a...
* English
* French
* German
* Hungarian
* Romanian
* Russian
* Spanish
* Thai
* Vietnamese
I will add more languages in the future. Enjoy.
journeytothewestresearch.com/2023/08/08/a...
I know this is supposed to be the holy mother Guanyin, but it kind of looks like a transformation Wukong would take to mock her.
(A stone carving seen on Facebook Marketplace.)
(A stone carving seen on Facebook Marketplace.)
January 16, 2026 at 12:11 AM
I know this is supposed to be the holy mother Guanyin, but it kind of looks like a transformation Wukong would take to mock her.
(A stone carving seen on Facebook Marketplace.)
(A stone carving seen on Facebook Marketplace.)
I've added another parallel to my Sun Wukong-Heracles article: (#21) both use their blunt weapons to kill a shapeshifting enemy changed into a bee.
journeytothewestresearch.com/2024/12/01/p...
- Heracles kills Periclymenus with his club.
- Wukong kills the Six-Ear Macaque with his staff.
journeytothewestresearch.com/2024/12/01/p...
- Heracles kills Periclymenus with his club.
- Wukong kills the Six-Ear Macaque with his staff.
January 13, 2026 at 9:49 AM
I've added another parallel to my Sun Wukong-Heracles article: (#21) both use their blunt weapons to kill a shapeshifting enemy changed into a bee.
journeytothewestresearch.com/2024/12/01/p...
- Heracles kills Periclymenus with his club.
- Wukong kills the Six-Ear Macaque with his staff.
journeytothewestresearch.com/2024/12/01/p...
- Heracles kills Periclymenus with his club.
- Wukong kills the Six-Ear Macaque with his staff.
I think I found a Sun Wukong door in the wilds of Taipei. I initially thought it was the Green Man due to the leafy elements, but upon inspection, it has a very monkey-like face and the headband.
I was told this fancy door leads to an underground parking garage.
I was told this fancy door leads to an underground parking garage.
January 10, 2026 at 10:18 AM
I think I found a Sun Wukong door in the wilds of Taipei. I initially thought it was the Green Man due to the leafy elements, but upon inspection, it has a very monkey-like face and the headband.
I was told this fancy door leads to an underground parking garage.
I was told this fancy door leads to an underground parking garage.
A reader asked how Tripitaka could free Sun Wukong if he was punished to Catholic purgatory by Buddha. The Tang Monk would have to tour hell like the Tang Emperor * & Dante & free Monkey from Mt. Purgatory.
* He temporarily dies and is prompted to free orphaned souls after touring hell (ch. 11).
* He temporarily dies and is prompted to free orphaned souls after touring hell (ch. 11).
January 7, 2026 at 11:29 AM
A reader asked how Tripitaka could free Sun Wukong if he was punished to Catholic purgatory by Buddha. The Tang Monk would have to tour hell like the Tang Emperor * & Dante & free Monkey from Mt. Purgatory.
* He temporarily dies and is prompted to free orphaned souls after touring hell (ch. 11).
* He temporarily dies and is prompted to free orphaned souls after touring hell (ch. 11).
A question asked of me: "In the book, do they refer to Wujing more as Sēng or Heshang?"
Sha seng (沙僧; "Monk Sha") - 814 times
* 僧 = short for sengqie (僧伽, "sangha"), or Buddhist community
Sha heshang (沙和尚; "Teacher Sha") - 94 times
* 和尚 = Upādhyāya (उपाध्याय, "teacher; preceptor; spiritual adviser")
Sha seng (沙僧; "Monk Sha") - 814 times
* 僧 = short for sengqie (僧伽, "sangha"), or Buddhist community
Sha heshang (沙和尚; "Teacher Sha") - 94 times
* 和尚 = Upādhyāya (उपाध्याय, "teacher; preceptor; spiritual adviser")
January 3, 2026 at 12:04 PM
A question asked of me: "In the book, do they refer to Wujing more as Sēng or Heshang?"
Sha seng (沙僧; "Monk Sha") - 814 times
* 僧 = short for sengqie (僧伽, "sangha"), or Buddhist community
Sha heshang (沙和尚; "Teacher Sha") - 94 times
* 和尚 = Upādhyāya (उपाध्याय, "teacher; preceptor; spiritual adviser")
Sha seng (沙僧; "Monk Sha") - 814 times
* 僧 = short for sengqie (僧伽, "sangha"), or Buddhist community
Sha heshang (沙和尚; "Teacher Sha") - 94 times
* 和尚 = Upādhyāya (उपाध्याय, "teacher; preceptor; spiritual adviser")
Journey to the West (Xiyou ji, 西遊記, 1592 CE)
January 2, 2026 at 4:58 AM
Journey to the West (Xiyou ji, 西遊記, 1592 CE)
1/2 - Sun Wukong & the other pilgrims are given immortal foodstuffs in the Western Paradise (ch. 98) & later granted Buddhahood by the Tathagata (ch. 100). Could the food be a symbol for the immortality that comes with being free of the wheel of reincarnation?
buddhistuniversity.net/content/arti...
buddhistuniversity.net/content/arti...
January 1, 2026 at 10:53 AM
1/2 - Sun Wukong & the other pilgrims are given immortal foodstuffs in the Western Paradise (ch. 98) & later granted Buddhahood by the Tathagata (ch. 100). Could the food be a symbol for the immortality that comes with being free of the wheel of reincarnation?
buddhistuniversity.net/content/arti...
buddhistuniversity.net/content/arti...
The Five Books and Six Volumes (Wubu liuce, 五部六冊; 1509), a sectarian Buddhist text by Luo Menghong (羅夢(孟)鴻, 1442–1527), lists the Journey to the West pilgrims as Buddhas! This is fascinating because this RELIGIOUS work predates the novel by 83 years.
I have an article about this in the works.
I have an article about this in the works.
January 1, 2026 at 10:51 AM
The Five Books and Six Volumes (Wubu liuce, 五部六冊; 1509), a sectarian Buddhist text by Luo Menghong (羅夢(孟)鴻, 1442–1527), lists the Journey to the West pilgrims as Buddhas! This is fascinating because this RELIGIOUS work predates the novel by 83 years.
I have an article about this in the works.
I have an article about this in the works.
Here is the profile for my new Greco-Roman project, "The Hercules Omnibus." I plan to gather public domain translations for all Greek and Roman works about Heracles-Hercules in a single Google Doc/PDF. I will also include info about his Etruscan and Germanic versions.
bsky.app/profile/herc...
bsky.app/profile/herc...
December 30, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Here is the profile for my new Greco-Roman project, "The Hercules Omnibus." I plan to gather public domain translations for all Greek and Roman works about Heracles-Hercules in a single Google Doc/PDF. I will also include info about his Etruscan and Germanic versions.
bsky.app/profile/herc...
bsky.app/profile/herc...
One of my longtime students handed me a flyer for a local Buddhist organization before class. It uses Sun Wukong to discuss enlightenment.
enlighten.org.tw
I really like the Monkey King image.
enlighten.org.tw
I really like the Monkey King image.
December 15, 2025 at 11:30 AM
One of my longtime students handed me a flyer for a local Buddhist organization before class. It uses Sun Wukong to discuss enlightenment.
enlighten.org.tw
I really like the Monkey King image.
enlighten.org.tw
I really like the Monkey King image.
Journey to the West chapter 16 notes that instead of sleeping, Sun Wukong “exercis[es] his breath to preserve his spirit, with his eyes half-closed” (... 只是存神煉氣，朦朧著醒眼).
In chapter 37, Monkey says putting off sleep for 1,000 days (nearly 3 years) wouldn't make him tired.
In chapter 37, Monkey says putting off sleep for 1,000 days (nearly 3 years) wouldn't make him tired.
A neat fact shared by Journey to the West (西遊記, 1592) and Investiture of the Gods (封神演義, c. 1620) is that immortals don't need lots of sleep. One supreme JTTW immortal states:
“Those who have attained immortality should not be so desirous of sleep, for their spirits are full.”
“Those who have attained immortality should not be so desirous of sleep, for their spirits are full.”
December 10, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Journey to the West chapter 16 notes that instead of sleeping, Sun Wukong “exercis[es] his breath to preserve his spirit, with his eyes half-closed” (... 只是存神煉氣，朦朧著醒眼).
In chapter 37, Monkey says putting off sleep for 1,000 days (nearly 3 years) wouldn't make him tired.
In chapter 37, Monkey says putting off sleep for 1,000 days (nearly 3 years) wouldn't make him tired.
A neat fact shared by Journey to the West (西遊記, 1592) and Investiture of the Gods (封神演義, c. 1620) is that immortals don't need lots of sleep. One supreme JTTW immortal states:
“Those who have attained immortality should not be so desirous of sleep, for their spirits are full.”
“Those who have attained immortality should not be so desirous of sleep, for their spirits are full.”
December 9, 2025 at 11:22 AM
A neat fact shared by Journey to the West (西遊記, 1592) and Investiture of the Gods (封神演義, c. 1620) is that immortals don't need lots of sleep. One supreme JTTW immortal states:
“Those who have attained immortality should not be so desirous of sleep, for their spirits are full.”
“Those who have attained immortality should not be so desirous of sleep, for their spirits are full.”
I'm going to take a break from writing about 'Journey to the West' for a while in favor of working on a compilation of sources about Heracles/Hercules. The tentative title is 'The Hercules Omnibus.'
Read more here:
www.tumblr.com/journeytothe...
Carving by Antonín Pavel Wagner (1834-1895).
Read more here:
www.tumblr.com/journeytothe...
Carving by Antonín Pavel Wagner (1834-1895).
October 29, 2025 at 3:29 AM
I'm going to take a break from writing about 'Journey to the West' for a while in favor of working on a compilation of sources about Heracles/Hercules. The tentative title is 'The Hercules Omnibus.'
Read more here:
www.tumblr.com/journeytothe...
Carving by Antonín Pavel Wagner (1834-1895).
Read more here:
www.tumblr.com/journeytothe...
Carving by Antonín Pavel Wagner (1834-1895).
Journey to the West gives 3 explanations for Sun Wukong's invulnerability:
- Ch. 7: Samadhi fire refined immortal foodstuff into a "Diamond body" (per Laozi)
- Ch. 34: Laozi's furnace refines a metallic body (Per Sun)
- Ch. 75: Born w/a head of bronze & iron, further refined by furnace (Per Sun)
- Ch. 7: Samadhi fire refined immortal foodstuff into a "Diamond body" (per Laozi)
- Ch. 34: Laozi's furnace refines a metallic body (Per Sun)
- Ch. 75: Born w/a head of bronze & iron, further refined by furnace (Per Sun)
October 20, 2025 at 11:53 AM
Journey to the West gives 3 explanations for Sun Wukong's invulnerability:
- Ch. 7: Samadhi fire refined immortal foodstuff into a "Diamond body" (per Laozi)
- Ch. 34: Laozi's furnace refines a metallic body (Per Sun)
- Ch. 75: Born w/a head of bronze & iron, further refined by furnace (Per Sun)
- Ch. 7: Samadhi fire refined immortal foodstuff into a "Diamond body" (per Laozi)
- Ch. 34: Laozi's furnace refines a metallic body (Per Sun)
- Ch. 75: Born w/a head of bronze & iron, further refined by furnace (Per Sun)
My new article provides a more natural reason for Sun Wukong to fight Heracles from Greco-Roman Myth.
journeytothewestresearch.com/2025/10/04/s...
Drawing by Dario Virga (Onibotokemaru on Instagram).
journeytothewestresearch.com/2025/10/04/s...
Drawing by Dario Virga (Onibotokemaru on Instagram).
October 3, 2025 at 11:30 PM
My new article provides a more natural reason for Sun Wukong to fight Heracles from Greco-Roman Myth.
journeytothewestresearch.com/2025/10/04/s...
Drawing by Dario Virga (Onibotokemaru on Instagram).
journeytothewestresearch.com/2025/10/04/s...
Drawing by Dario Virga (Onibotokemaru on Instagram).
I just figured out a way to insert Sun Wukong into Greek myth. The "Cercopes" (Gr: Κέρκωπες; lit: "tail men") were two bandit brothers that were transformed into monkeys by Zeus for their misdeeds. Another version says they were turned to stone. Why not both?
October 2, 2025 at 12:35 AM
I just figured out a way to insert Sun Wukong into Greek myth. The "Cercopes" (Gr: Κέρκωπες; lit: "tail men") were two bandit brothers that were transformed into monkeys by Zeus for their misdeeds. Another version says they were turned to stone. Why not both?
(1/2) I thought of another parallel between Sun Wukong & Heracles/Hercules: both figures have twins!
- Heracles' twin (half) brother is Iphicles.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iphicles
- Monkey's twin is the Six-Eared Macaque.
journeytothewestresearch.com/2020/11/04/o...
- Heracles' twin (half) brother is Iphicles.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iphicles
- Monkey's twin is the Six-Eared Macaque.
journeytothewestresearch.com/2020/11/04/o...
September 27, 2025 at 4:12 AM
(1/2) I thought of another parallel between Sun Wukong & Heracles/Hercules: both figures have twins!
- Heracles' twin (half) brother is Iphicles.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iphicles
- Monkey's twin is the Six-Eared Macaque.
journeytothewestresearch.com/2020/11/04/o...
- Heracles' twin (half) brother is Iphicles.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iphicles
- Monkey's twin is the Six-Eared Macaque.
journeytothewestresearch.com/2020/11/04/o...
I have written a quick article about the origins of the JTTW episode where the white turtle-spirit dumps the pilgrims and the scriptures into the water.
journeytothewestresearch.com/2025/08/09/o...
journeytothewestresearch.com/2025/08/09/o...
August 11, 2025 at 7:11 AM
I have written a quick article about the origins of the JTTW episode where the white turtle-spirit dumps the pilgrims and the scriptures into the water.
journeytothewestresearch.com/2025/08/09/o...
journeytothewestresearch.com/2025/08/09/o...
I've archived a PDF of Dr. Moss Robert's four-volume Foreign Language Press translation of Three Kingdoms (Sanguo yanyi, 三國演義, 14-century).
I did this because per the Journey to the West Library blog the book influenced aspects of Journey to the West.
journeytothewestresearch.com/2025/07/27/a...
I did this because per the Journey to the West Library blog the book influenced aspects of Journey to the West.
journeytothewestresearch.com/2025/07/27/a...
July 27, 2025 at 11:59 AM
I've archived a PDF of Dr. Moss Robert's four-volume Foreign Language Press translation of Three Kingdoms (Sanguo yanyi, 三國演義, 14-century).
I did this because per the Journey to the West Library blog the book influenced aspects of Journey to the West.
journeytothewestresearch.com/2025/07/27/a...
I did this because per the Journey to the West Library blog the book influenced aspects of Journey to the West.
journeytothewestresearch.com/2025/07/27/a...
Here's a Master's thesis that describes the cultural and political context behind the creation of the animated film 'Havoc in Heaven' (1961/1964).
journeytothewestresearch.com/2025/07/24/a...
journeytothewestresearch.com/2025/07/24/a...
July 24, 2025 at 7:53 AM
Here's a Master's thesis that describes the cultural and political context behind the creation of the animated film 'Havoc in Heaven' (1961/1964).
journeytothewestresearch.com/2025/07/24/a...
journeytothewestresearch.com/2025/07/24/a...
The scorpion-spirit from Journey to the West is one of my favorite baddies. A cursory search of CBETA shows that snakes, scorpions, and centipedes are commonly cited evils in Buddhist literature. This might explain her (ch. 55), the red python-spirit (ch. 67), and the centipede-spirit (ch. 73).
July 22, 2025 at 9:27 AM
The scorpion-spirit from Journey to the West is one of my favorite baddies. A cursory search of CBETA shows that snakes, scorpions, and centipedes are commonly cited evils in Buddhist literature. This might explain her (ch. 55), the red python-spirit (ch. 67), and the centipede-spirit (ch. 73).
Reposted by Journey to the West Research
Heaven, 7am.
Jade Emperor: "I'm sorry, Sun Wukong did WHAT!?"
Jade Emperor: "I'm sorry, Sun Wukong did WHAT!?"
December 26, 2023 at 10:35 AM
Heaven, 7am.
Jade Emperor: "I'm sorry, Sun Wukong did WHAT!?"
Jade Emperor: "I'm sorry, Sun Wukong did WHAT!?"
Here is my new article about Shi Pantuo, Xuanzang's historical (temporary) guide that likely influenced Sun Wukong.
journeytothewestresearch.com/2025/06/29/a...
journeytothewestresearch.com/2025/06/29/a...
June 30, 2025 at 10:23 AM
Here is my new article about Shi Pantuo, Xuanzang's historical (temporary) guide that likely influenced Sun Wukong.
journeytothewestresearch.com/2025/06/29/a...
journeytothewestresearch.com/2025/06/29/a...
Blood magic is one of Sun Wukong's most powerful skills. In ch. 25, he bites his tongue and spits blood to change trees into the JTTW pilgrims. These clones can even talk and answer questions. They are so perfect, in fact, that Monkey feels a shiver up his spine when his is hit with a magic whip.
June 21, 2025 at 10:44 AM
Blood magic is one of Sun Wukong's most powerful skills. In ch. 25, he bites his tongue and spits blood to change trees into the JTTW pilgrims. These clones can even talk and answer questions. They are so perfect, in fact, that Monkey feels a shiver up his spine when his is hit with a magic whip.
I've previously posted that Sun Wukong's Buddha title, "Victorious Fighting Buddha" (鬥戰勝佛), is based on the historical Yuddhajaya Buddha (Sk: युद्धजय).
I just learned that Yuddhajaya has another name, "Vijita-saṃgrāma" (Ch: 勇健吉祥佛; Viet: Dũng Kiện Cát Tương Phật; lit: “Brave and Auspicious Buddha”)
I just learned that Yuddhajaya has another name, "Vijita-saṃgrāma" (Ch: 勇健吉祥佛; Viet: Dũng Kiện Cát Tương Phật; lit: “Brave and Auspicious Buddha”)
June 13, 2025 at 1:00 PM
I've previously posted that Sun Wukong's Buddha title, "Victorious Fighting Buddha" (鬥戰勝佛), is based on the historical Yuddhajaya Buddha (Sk: युद्धजय).
I just learned that Yuddhajaya has another name, "Vijita-saṃgrāma" (Ch: 勇健吉祥佛; Viet: Dũng Kiện Cát Tương Phật; lit: “Brave and Auspicious Buddha”)
I just learned that Yuddhajaya has another name, "Vijita-saṃgrāma" (Ch: 勇健吉祥佛; Viet: Dũng Kiện Cát Tương Phật; lit: “Brave and Auspicious Buddha”)