Sun Wukong

Sun Wukong, also known as the Monkey King, is a trickster god. Wukong is blessed with unmatched superhuman strength and the ability to transform into 72 different animals and objects. Each of his hairs have transformative powers, and he can magically manipulate wind, water and fire as well. Characterized by his short temper, impatience and proclivity towards anger, Sun Wukong is one of the most important and beloved literary figures in Middlelands culture.

Physical Description

Body Features

Being a monkey, Sun Wukong has a very distinct appearance that sets him apart from the other gods. Prior to his enlightenment, Wukong is usually depicted as a naked macaque. After devoting himself to the Fojian monk Tang Sanzang, Wukong is generally shown in full warrior gear with special items such as a golden chainmail shirt, a phoenix feathered cap, cloud-walking boots, and an eight ton staff that can shrink to the size of a needle.

Mental characteristics

Personal history

In ancient times, a magical rock rested on top of a mountain. One day, a stiff breeze blew upon the rock and caused a fully formed monkey to burst forth from its stone face. Despite having just been born, the young monkey was already able to walk and speak. When Wukong opened his eyes, golden beams of light shot forth from his pupils, piercing the clouds and startling the Jade Emperor. When the Jade Emperor looked for the source of the strange light, all he could see was a baby monkey. Thinking that the light could not possibly emanate from such a source, the Jade Emperor dismissed the incident from his mind. Sun Wukong discovered other monkeys and decided to live with them. One day the group decided to play a game: whoever was brave enough to jump through the falls and find the stream’s source would be named the King of Monkeys. Sun Wukong immediately leapt through the waterfall and traveled up the stream to find its source. His mission was successful, and he quickly returned and declared himself king. With the support of the forest monkeys, Sun Wukong quickly established himself as a powerful forest demon that would go on to battle the Dragon King and other sea demons. When the time came for Yan Wang and the Kings of Hell to collect Wukong’s soul, Wukong was ready. He tricked Yan Wang into allowing him to return to earth without undergoing reincarnation. Before leaving Hell, Wukong managed to erase his and every other forest monkey’s name from the Book of Life and Death.
Upon hearing about the irascible demon, the Jade Emperor felt the best way to subdue Wukong was to let him live in Heaven with the other gods so that he would feel a sense of importance. Once he got there, however, Sun Wukong discovered he was assigned to the lowest task in all of Heaven. He quickly realized that because he was a monkey, the other gods would never see him as a peer. In hopes of finding a way to prove himself an equal, the Monkey King became obsessed with the idea of immortality and devoted himself to the pursuit of everlasting life. One day, the Jade Emperor held a party. Having been unknowingly excluded from the party, Wukong decided to drop by and was laughed out of the hall by the other gods. Hurt by the actions of his peers, Wukong declared himself to be the “Great Sage Equal to Heaven". He also made an enormous banner to taunt the Emperor. The Jade Emperor sent a battalion of soldiers to arrest Wukong for his insolence, but they proved to be no match for him. The Jade Emperor promoted him. This was not enough for the Monkey King. In a final act of defiance, Wukong ate all of the peaches in the Xiwangmus garden. Out of options, the Jade Emperor banished Wukong from Heaven and pinned him underneath a mountain so that he could reflect on his actions.
For 500 years, Wukong lay immobilized beneath the weight of the mountain. Eventually, a traveling monk named Tang Sanzang found the Monkey King and offered to release him on the condition that he would repent and become the monk’s disciple. Before Tang freed Wukong, the goddess of mercy Guanyin gave the monk a magical band that granted him control over the Monkey King. Grateful to be released from his imprisonment, Sun Wukong served Tang faithfully during their journey to India and cheerfully battled demons whenever the need arose. Through his noble deeds and dedication to Tang’s teachings, Sun Wukong eventually achieved enlightenment and put an end to his angry, greedy and envious tendencies.

Accomplishments & Achievements

Sun Wukong has reached enlightement.

Social

Family Ties

Sun Wukong does not have any blood relatives, as he was born from a magical rock. Prior to joining the Jade Emperor’s court, he lorded over a group of wandering monkeys who took care of him and regarded him as their leader.