- Published: January 19, 2022
- Updated: January 19, 2022
- University / College: North Carolina State University
- Level: Masters
- Language: English
- Downloads: 12
One of the greatest Chinese epics ever written in the History of Chinese Literature is the epic of Wu Chengen entitled “ Journey to the West: The Monkey Kings Amazing Adventures.” This epic, which focuses on the story of a rule-breaking Monkey King (also known as Sun Wukong), gives the readers a glimpses of Chinese culture and way of thinking, following the Monkey King’s rebellion against heaven, being imprisoned by Buddha under the mountains, and as well as his daunting task of recovering the Buddhist sutras from India, accompanying the monk named Xuanzang (Cheng’en, Richard and Kane 5-226).
The founder of the People’s Republic of China, Mao Zedong, actually used the story of the Monkey King to forward his policies on changing society and rebelling against the elite in society, citing the experience of Monkey King “ rebelling against the celestial heavens and defeating 100, 000 celestial warriors” (Cheng’en, Richard and Kane 5-226).
