Wednesday, October 2, 2019

Reading Notes: Asia Part B

Mighty Sun Wu Kung
Heaven eventually heard of Sun Wu Kung and the Lord of the Heavens sent of him so that he could charge him. The others in heaven wanted him to be punished for his previous actions but one The Evening Star stepped forward on his behalf. Sun Wu Kung when presented with command to come to heaven was overjoyed and wanted for a while to go to heaven. He agree and went with The Evening Star up to heaven where he was appointed with a job over the stables. He worked hard at his charge and the stables prospered. He asked his friends if his job had a title or if he was high ranking. They told him that he was not and that he was a subordinate. He was angered and ranted about his position there. He was so angered he returned to earth to his apes where he was told he had been gone for ten years. When the Lord of Heaven found out he sent people to capture him. Sun Wu Kung was to strong and defeated all of them. The Evening Star was sent to get him and succeeded by telling him that he was now to have the rank of Great Saint Who Is Heaven’s Equal. Sun Wu Kung was bestowed with a palace in which to live and was treated with respect. He was later charged with protecting the trees of the Queen-Mother of the West which gave many benefits when one eats of their fruit. Eventually he left when he heard of a banquet going on. On his way there he stopped by the God of Light’s abode, he ate and drank his food and he also ate his pills of life. He eventually decided to head back to the mountain where he was a king lest he be killed for his mischief. All of heaven came after him and he fought them all on for a whole day till sundown.

Bibliography
: "The Ape Sun Wu Kung" in The Chinese Fairy Book, ed. by R. Wilhelm and translated by Fredrick H. Martens

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