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...

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...

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...

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...

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).

Heaven, 7am. 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...

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 bought this JTTW bag on Taiwan Facebook marketplace.

Two of the neatest things I learned from a book on Indo-European mythology is that someone can recognize a disguised god by two things: 1) They are exceptionally heavy for their size. 2) They walk with great ease, almost like they are skating or hovering just above the ground.

My article about the “four monkeys of havoc” (四猴混世, a.k.a. "four celestial primates") is one of my most popular pieces. It's received roughly 45K views in just 3 years. This is surprising since the group is only mentioned by name once in JTTW. journeytothewestresearch.com/2022/02/20/a...

I've updated the images on my "Qitian Dasheng Monkey King Temples in Taiwan" article. The links originally stopped working when my old uni gmail account was deleted in 2024. journeytothewestresearch.com/2021/02/15/q... Pic: Monkey spirit-generals from Shengfo Tang (聖佛堂) in Beigang, Yunlin.

A British friend of mine visited a Zhu Bajie temple in Yunan, China and got me two of these Talismans. They arrived in the mail today.

Zhu Bajie has two giant forms in Journey to the West. In chapter 29, he grows 8 or 9-zhang (八九丈), which is 83.44 or 93.97 feet / 25.44 or 28.62 meters tall. In chapter 67, his giant boar form is 1,000-chi (千尺), which is 1,025 feet / 312.42 meters tall.

Here's a new article analyzing the claim that Sun Wukong can gain the strength and magical abilities of an opponent by copying their appearance via the 72 Changes or hair clones. It's a misconception based on Monkey's battle with Nezha in JTTW chapter 4. journeytothewestresearch.com/2025/05/04/c...

I was surprised to see that the movie Sinners (2025) has a background dancer wearing Sun Wukong opera garb. They appear in a dream-like sequence while everyone dances to blues music. I wasn't expecting this since the movie is set in the 1930s Mississippi Delta (USA).

I just started reading 'Norse Mythology: A Guide to the Gods, Heroes, Rituals, and Beliefs' (2002) by John Lindow. It's interesting. Here's a PDF for those who may also want to read it: journeytothewestresearch.com/wp-content/u... If you enjoy it, please buy the official release.

I got these resin Monkey King statues on Facebook Marketplace Taiwan. They came with wooden stands that appear to have once held name plates, suggesting that they're originally awards. Each is a little over 17-inches(43.18 cm)-tall and REALLY heavy.

My 2022 article proposes a real world mantra for the "tight-fillet spell," which causes Sun Wukong's headband to tighten around his skull. It has been surprisingly popular according to my blog analytics. I'm not sure why. journeytothewestresearch.com/2022/01/23/t...

This PDF of Les Sogdiens en Chine (2005) might be useful to someone. journeytothewestresearch.com/wp-content/u...

I've expanded a tumblr post into an article about the "Crow's Nest Chan Master" (烏巢禪師), a Buddhist sage with magic powers. He orally transmits the Heart Sutra to Tripitaka at the end of JTTW chapter 19. He is based on the Tang monk Niaoke Daolin (鳥窠道林). journeytothewestresearch.com/2025/04/10/t...

Here's a new article about an "immortal register" (仙籙) that Sun Wukong had to sign in order to become a god: journeytothewestresearch.com/2025/03/30/t... The concept can be found in Daoist literature as far back as the 4th-century. Picture: Perhaps the register would look something like this.

Here are details of Sun Wukong as the Great Sage Equaling Heaven (齊天大聖) from a series of Vietnamese Lê Dynasty (1428–1789) paintings.

I've added an update to a previous article about the origins of Sun Wukong's time under Five Elements Mountain. It's about a Song-era Daoist work that references forcing devils/ghosts (鬼) to carry mountains as punishment. journeytothewestresearch.com/2018/05/12/t...

Here's a lovely drawing of Zhu Bajie as Marshal Tianpeng (天蓬元帥) using his traditional iconography. My thanks to artist Ningadudexx. tumblr.com/ningadudexx

I've been told that today, the 7th day of the 1st lunar month, is the birthday of humanity, when the primordial goddess Nuwa created us from clay. Happy birthday everyone!

I came across the strangest Journey to the West fan theory: the Buddha loses his hand and subsequently dies from the injuries after confronting Sun Wukong. This is based on a way too literal reading of events from chapter 7. I will eventually post an article about this.

If you are a westerner who has incorporated Sun Wukong into your Wiccan/Pagan practices, I'd like to interview you. This was spurred on by coming across three people on reddit inquiring about Monkey's "deity work." Please repost so I can reach a larger pool of possible worshipers.

One of Sun Wukong's rarer powers, knowledge of fate, appears in Journey to the West chapters 47, 81, 97, and 99. For example, in chapter 97, he knows that Tripitaka is fated to be arrested and tortured. He only intervenes after this time has passed. This power should appear in modern media.

Here's an article analyzing a JTTW poem that reveals details about Zhu Bajie's past life as a human and rise to godhood. It also touches on details about his life prior to the quest to India. journeytothewestresearch.com/2025/01/19/t... Pictured: A stamp with Zhu and the moon goddess Chang'e.

I would like to offer prints, clothing, and bags of this, but I don't know what the best online service is. I'm open to suggestions.

I commissioned this lovely drawing of Sun Wukong as "Yuddhajaya" (Sk: युद्धजय), the historical "Buddha Victorious in Strife / Victorious Fighting Buddha" (Ch: 鬥戰勝佛), using his traditional iconography. My thanks to artist Ningadudexx. tumblr.com/ningadudexx

Unlike you, I get my news from a reliable source.

Advertise your account using one (1) Simpsons image

@aaronmeyers.bsky.social Someone posted these on Facebook. Said they found them in their recently-passed parent's home. I'm amazed that they're still bagged. Never seen that before. www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=3...

I have expanded this into an article. It is my first official post about the White Dragon Horse. journeytothewestresearch.com/2025/01/04/w...

In JTTW ch. 8, the White Dragon Horse, while still a dragon prince, gets in trouble for setting fire to his royal father's peals. This is likely based on the “dragon chasing a [flaming] jewel” (趕珠龍紋) motif from Chinese art. Caption: “SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT!!!! MY DAD’S GONNA KILL MEEE!!!!”

Here's my review for Joel Bigman's The Second Journey (2024), a modern sequel to Journey to the West. I give it four and a half out of five stars. I highly recommend it. journeytothewestresearch.com/2024/12/30/r...

Post your favorite Pokemon wrong answers only.

In Journey to the West chapter 81, Sun Wukong claims the Ten Kings would never reap Tripitaka's soul while under his protection. A character being technically immortal just because the personification of death is too afraid of the person’s bodyguard(s) to reap their soul would make a great story!

Sun Wukong is tired of Tripitaka's shit. "This guy..."

This is my favorite secondhand listing ever: a rusty metal pipe w/ the name of Sun Wukong's magic staff written on it in marker. The selling price equals $27,883,903.80 USD. The Chinese states it's so expensive b/c it's a divine treasure used by the Monkey King. tw.carousell.com/p/%E7%A5%9E%...

D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths is what first ignited my love for mythology. It was the catalyst that eventually led to my study of Journey to the West. I'm very thankful that I read it as a child.

I saw this lovely Zhu Bajie idol on Facebook, but the seller unfortunately doesn't have it anymore. They need to take the listing down.

Here's a past article where I note parallels between Sun Wukong and the Buddha. I suggest that the Enlightened one's biography may have been copied to make Monkey's story more familiar. journeytothewestresearch.com/2020/10/04/p...

A Thai Monkey King worship Facebook group posted this image. I'm not a fan of AI, but it can be pretty sometimes. www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=...

Here's an old 27 cm (10.6 in) Sun Wukong idol that I just got. I like his mutton chops. The seller lived so close that they personally dropped it off.

I'm eyeing this Sun Wukong idol. It is 48 cm tall.