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Journey to the West, Chapter 1
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Decide to share a story that I shared with a little American girl, who's interested in it so far.
Hello Riley!
I'm Mei lan, come from China, Hu nan Province (We Chinese use province, you use state, Hu nan like Wisconsin), my hometown named Heng Mountain (this is like Baraboo),
Heng Mountain is one of the five saint mountains in China, and it is also a place in Journey to the West. I'll tell you more below.
I'm glad to be your pen friend, I will share with those stories with you, one story per week.
The drama was played in 1986, it's become children's favorite TV until now, and in 1998, there's animation version, I show you some pictures below. I watched many times in childhood, haha
The main roles is 4 people and 1 horse.
4 people named: Tang Seng (a monk, the Master of the three people); Sun wu kong (a man changed by a monkey); Zhu ba jie (a man changed by a pig); Sha seng (a man changed by a fish).
And a horse named White dragon horse (a horse changed by a dragon who once lived in the deep water).
(In China we put the surname on front, sun, zhu, sha is all surname; my surname is Dai, my full name is Dai Mei lan)
And you no need to be afraid of those man changed by animal, it's just stories, people imagined it, like Spongebob Squarepants, he can also talk, he has his life he lives under water.
Legend has it that animals lives in mountain/ water for thousands years, they will can change into human being, but just human body, still be animal soul. At that time, they have super power, we name it Demon, they usually lives in mountains or under the ground. There's also people live in Heaven, they named Immortal, they were changed by monks and nuns.
Now I'm going to tell you 4 stories about why Tang Seng have 3 apprentices and a horse accompany him go to the West.
Chapter 1, How does Wu Kong became Tang Seng's first apprentice.
There's a group of mokeys live in Flower Fruit Mountain, they heard there's a good house there and lots of food in it, but the door of that house is waterfull.
(In Heng Mountain there's a scenery similar like this, the drama of Journey to the West were shooted there in 1986, so Wu Kong's hometown is in Heng Mountain)
One day, those monkeys said, if who can go through this waterfull, we will recommand him to be our leader.
Many old and young mokeys tried but all failed, then there's a slim monkey said, let me have a try, but you should promise that you will all call me King.
All monkeys see a strange mokey comes, he's not tall, very thin, they answered, yes, we promise, if you go through and make this waterfull break and let us go into, we will all live there and we will consist a country, you will be our King, we will be your children.
Wu Kong said, no problem, watch carefully.
Suddenly he changed into a fly, flies into the waterfull, and found wow! it's a paradise, with a lot beautiful flowers and trees inside, and a lot of bananas! And there's swing between each tree! And the most exciting thing is the water inside tastes sweet! And it's very very big place, if walk a round should take at least two hours! OMG, here will be my country, he shouted.
Wu Kong is born from a huge stone, he learnt a lot super power from a Immortal, he can go up the heaven, down the ground, into the water and fire, he can stand on a cloud, he can change into 72 stuffs, he can also be invisible. If he turn a somesault, it is 78,000 kilometers!
Those mokeys were waiting outside, and doubting what's happened inside, is that monkey die there? or does he can't go out?
After one hour, Wu Kong fly out and he is dry, not wet at all.
All monkeys were surprised and with knees on ground yelling, King! King!
Then Wu Kong use power opened the waterfull and all monkeys go into.
They are so so happy for living in this Paradise, they no need to look for food anymore, cause there's so so many bananas and the water is sweetiest than anywhere.
They lives happily for 3 months and one day, a little monkey report to Wu Kong, he said King, you have such high power, you can go to manage the heaven, you can be Yu di's brother! (Yu di is the King in the heaven, his wife named Wang Mu Queen)
Wu Kong said, really? but what's the fun there?
Little monkey said, I heard in Heaven, everything is immortal, there's a kind of peach have magic power inside, if you eat one, you can live 500 years more. I heard Wang Mu Queen's birthday is coming soon, the fairies will go to pick many peaches to the party. All the Immortals will attend that party, you are our King and your power is higher than many Immortals, you should also attend.
Wu Kong is very happy to hear this, he plan to go to heaven and join Wang Mu's brithday party.
But what will I wear? I'm the King, I should be cool and impressive. He thought.
Wu Kong decided to borrow a clothes from King of Dragon, who lives in East Sea. King of Dragon have three sons, the third prince is very naughty and like fight very much.
Wu Kong fly into the deep water and knock the door of the Palace in the water, the shrimp and fish open the door and asked, who are you? How dare you come to disturb us?
Wu Kong said, I'm the King of Monkey, I heard there's a lot treasures in the water, I want to borrow some.
The shrimp and fish don't agree, they begin to fight, but they are too weak compared with Wu kong, just some seconds Wu kong fly into the Palace.
King of Dragon is having meeting and suddenly feel the water around begin yellow, and he heard huge noise outside, he come out and see there's a monkey calling him, Wu Kong said, Hi Dragon King, I'm Sun Wu Kong, I want to borrow a clothes and a weapon from you, I know you have a lot good stuff in the water.
Dragon King heard there's a monkey in the land is very powerful, he dare not to fight with him, but he don't want to borrow, who knows when will he return?
Dragon King said, hello Monkey King, how are you? Welcome to visit me, I have a very huge clothes, that's super cool, but it's 70 meters long, 70 meters wide, it is the strongest shield, no weapon can stick into or cut it. And no one can wear it, do you want?
Wu Kong said, just show me, I'm interested.
Dragon King ask his servant to take it out, 100 shrimp and fish fly to take.
Wow! This is exactly what I want! Wu Kong go to touch it, from the very beginning to the last part, he loves so much.
Suddenly, the clothes fly on him, it seems just for him! It became Wu Kong's size and wear automatically!
Dragon King is not happy, but he still smile and said, now you have clothes for fighting, but you need a weapon, and all those common weapon is not match you, I have a magic huge needle, it's 6750 KG!
Dragon King laughed, he said, for thousands years, no one can take this heavy needle, if you can take it, then I give you as a gift. If you can't take it, please go back to your mountain, I have no treasure match you. But Wu Kong is very happy to hear this, he want to go to take it.
After a while, they go to the circle of the sea, see a very huge column, in front of this column, everyone like an ant ! And can't see where's the top!
Wu Kong open his arm, his arm start to grow longer longer, until he can hold this column.
He shouted, 1, 2, 3, go! The column was pulled out of the sea.
The whole see begin to shake, all the shrimp and fish can't stand and houses begin to collapse! It's a big disaster for the sea!
Wu Kong change this huge column into a needle, and put in his ear. He's very proud of this weapon. He decided to go to attend Wang Mu Queen's birthday party.
When he fly to the heaven, he found the peach park, there's a lot mature peach on the tree, some is as big as one's head.
He start to enjoy, and tear out one of his hair, change it into a big bag, he plan to take some peaches back to his children.
When he's picking happily, he heard the fairies is coming, he change himself into a big peach, the biggest on the tree.
Those fairies were confused that there's no big peach this year.
Suddenly they found a very big peach ever, that is exactly Wu Kong changed, they try to pick it, but the peach fly away, they go to run after that huge peach and always failed. They don't know why this peach can fly and why it's so so big that they never saw this big peach for the past years.
Wu Kong think it's time to fly back to his home, he blow out a big breath of air, made those fairies all stopped, like a wood stand there.
But he get lost in the Palace in heaven, he can't find the gate to fly back to ground.
He see a man with big feet coming, he asked, may I know where is the Queen's birthday party?
Man with big feet answered, hello, my name is Feet Immortal, it's in a pool, I can show you how to go there. How which immotal are you? I never saw you before.
Wu Kong said, hehe, I'm just a new junior immortal, there're so many immortals here, you can't remember us all, right? hahaha~~~Feet man think it make sense, then tell Wu Kong how to go there and when party will begin.
Wu kong arrived there found a lot fairies are busy on preparing the party and some are dancing, he blow out a breath to fasten those fairies, and begin to drink, ooops, this is the best drink he ever had, he can't stop drinking, a kettle after a kettle (Chinese people use kettle to keep the wine in ancient times, and the wine is made with rice by themselves, not buy from shop like us), He was drank finally and walks along the wall, then he found there's a house in front, and there's humid air come out. He feels very cold, he tried to find a warmer place and go into the kitchen.
There's a huge stove on fire, he's curious about what's burning, he open the cover and found it's soup inside, he had a taste and he likes it very much, he can't stop drinking, and he found 7 black pills in the bottom, he finished all of them at one time!
Gradually, he felt his body is super hot, like going to burn!
At this time, the owner of the house comes back, his name is Tai Shang Old Man, Tai shang is very angry, shouted at him, it's my magic pills! I used my power burnt 7X7=49 days!
Eat one can make a dead man alive; eat two can make one be immortal; eat three can make one's power double, now you finished all my 7 pills, your power will be 32 times stronger! That's why your body is like burning, you are becoming super strong! You damn monkey you steal my magic pills, I will tell Yu di to punish you!
Wu kong know he's getting into trouble, he fly back to his home immediately, and decide to stay with his chidlren, not go to heaven anymore.
After 5 days, there's a group of Immortal soldiers fly to the mountain, they shouted, tell your King we are coming to bringhim to the heaven, Yu di is going to punish him, he made disasters!
Wu Kong fly out fight with them, but they lose soon, Wu Kong is too strong.
The other day, another groups of soldiers fly, and lose again.
Yu di have no way, he asked Ne Zha and his father Mr. Lee go to fight with Wu kong, Mr.Lee have a tower to catch those demons, people call him Emperor with Tower, his third son Ne Zha have two fire tyres under his feet, his weapon is a gun (this gun is not our modern gun, it's a sharp weapon) and a ring. His body is made by lotus, you can see his clothes is lotus flower.
Wu Kong takes out his needle from his ear, he whisper, big! Then the needle become a weapon, same size as Ne Zha's gun, he fight with his needle, everything touched by this needle become powder!
They fighted for three hours, Ne Zha and Mr. Lee also lose the fight.
They back to report Yu Di.
Immortals are having meeting, they have no way, Guan Yin showed up, she is the most powerful women in the heaven, she always hold a bottle with bamboo inside, the water inside the bottle can make dead man become alive, she said let me go there meet him.
She changed into a pretty woman and go to the mountain, she asked, hey, may I know is Wu Kong here?
Wu Kong comes out and see a woman, about 30 years old, she looks holy, kind, he asked, are you Guan yin?
Guan Yin change back into herself, and told him, yes, I am.
Wu Kong kneel down and close his two hands, with ten fingers face to face. He said, Guan Yin Empress, what do you want me to do?
Guan Yin thought Wu Kong is not that bad. She decide to save him, she know he has super power, if he can be under control, he can make a difference to this world.
She said, do you want to follow me go back to heaven and ask Yu di stop punish you?
Wu Kong think a while, he agreed, he said ok, I go with you, if Yu di always send soldiers come to fight, we can't sleep well everyday.
They fly to heaven.
Yu di said you must apologise to Dragon King and Tai Shang Old Man, and I will not punish you.
Wu Kong is angry, I don't want to apologize, it's not my fault, it's Dragon King asked me to pull that needle, and I ate Tai Shang's pills because I was drank.
Yu di is mad with with monkey, he ask Guan Yin put him into Tai Shang's huge kellte, he decide to burn him, the fire in the kettle is not common fire, it is vacuum fire, Tai Shang use his power made it, it will burn 7X7=49 days and then stop, this fire won't out with wind or water.
Wu Kong stayed in the kettle for 49 days! He didn't die, but it's too too hot, his eyes is too hurtful to open when he comes out finally.
But then he found he can see people's inner soul, he can see what's people used to do before becoming Immortals, and he can see what's the animals that changed into the servants in the heaven!
Guan Yin see his eyes is gold shiny, she said, oh no, the monkey have a gold eye! He's even stronger than before, he gets more power!
All of the immortals are shocked, they can't win this monkey.
All of a sudden, there's gold cloud showed up. In the middle there's a Man with big ears. It's Ru Lai comes. He is the most powerful man in the heaven.
He reached out his hand to Wu Kong and his five fingers become five huge column, Wu kong is so small, he sit on his hand, and can't find a way out! It's like a maze.
He tried to go out to find the gate, but always get lost. He pee to make a sign, and he found he's back to the same place soon.
Ru Lai said, Go! Monkey, you demon! Go!
His five fingers become five mountains fall down from the heaven, Wu Kong was in the middle fall down also.
They fall on the ground, Wu Kong was pressed by the five mountains, only his head outside.
Guan Yin fly down, told him, Wu Kong, I know you are not a bad man, I give you a second chance, you must stay here for 500 years and there'll be a monk pass by, you must be his apprentice and protect him go to the West to bring those Confucian classics (this is similar like your Bible) back. On the way to West, you will have to fight with 81 demons, and you will also meet your other two junior fellow brothers.
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Post comment Comment (15 replies)
- Reply teadrinking
- Interesting story you have simplified it well. Your american friend must be fond of it.
And your hometown is really a good place though I have never been to there yet, I am considering paying a visit to there someday.
- Reply sunnyv
- I have always been fascinated by these folk stories since I was a kid.
I have not heard this one but nice to know about it here.
My favorite ones are ''The Ten Brothers'' The Ability of Ten Brothers :
1st and Oldest Brother - Thousand Mile Eye - Can see far with his eyes..
2nd Brother - Miles Hearing Two - Capable of hearing miles away.
3rd Brother - Strong - Has herculean strength.
4th Brother - Stretchy - Has ability to stretch.
5th Brother - Flying - Capable of flying.
6th Brother - Iron Head - Has a solid impenetrable head.
7th Brother - Long-Legged - Can grow in height.
8th Brother - Digging - Capable of tunneling underground.
9th Brother - Big Mouth - Can blow wind and shout loudly.
10th Brother - Crying - Can cry a river, heal sicknesses with is tears.
I wonder if others have heard about this story.
- Reply teadrinking
- Never heard of it, but I think it must be a funny and interesting story.
sunnyv: I have always been fascinated by these folk stories since I was a kid.
I have not heard this one but nice to know about it here.
My favorite ones ar ...
- Reply DaiMelon
- Why never heard of it? When did you come to the world?! haha
teadrinking: Never heard of it, but I think it must be a funny and interesting story.
- Reply DaiMelon
- yes, that little kid and her brother love it very much, I'm thinking to finish those long stories, but can't remember all 81 stories, and a pity that there's no full stories on Internet in Chinese, and, those translations are actually not that true and interesting cause of culture difference...better to read in Chinese and translate by our own.
teadrinking: Interesting story you have simplified it well. Your american friend must be fond of it.
And your hometown is really a good place though I have never b ...
- Reply DaiMelon
- haha, Ten Brothers, I love it so so much, this is actually the first movie I watched in my childhood, very interesting and it reminds me funny childhood memory and those long lost freinds, thank you
sunnyv: I have always been fascinated by these folk stories since I was a kid.
I have not heard this one but nice to know about it here.
My favorite ones ar ...
- Reply sunnyv
- Ah... Finally, somebody remembers the movie Ten Brothers. So happy watching them with my dear childhood pals. Deeply ingrained in my mind.
DaiMelon: haha, Ten Brothers, I love it so so much, this is actually the first movie I watched in my childhood, very interesting and it reminds me funny childho ...
- Reply DaiMelon
- I remember the leading actor is Shi Xiao Long, what impressed me most is when he fly up to the sky, one brother hold his foot and another brother follow, they connect one by one and finally fall down, I dreamt this plot many times
sunnyv: Ah... Finally, somebody remembers the movie Ten Brothers. So happy watching them with my dear childhood pals. Deeply ingrained in my mind.
- Reply sunnyv
- Yes, Yes. I remember that scene too. Don'y know why these scenes pop up in our dreams once in a while. I thought nobody know about this movie because it is quite a long time ago. Nice to know that you have seen this movie.
DaiMelon: I remember the leading actor is Shi Xiao Long, what impressed me most is when he fly up to the sky, one brother hold his foot and another brother foll ...
- Reply DaiMelon
- Yes, I'm also surprised and glad to know someone has the same memory, really old movie and few people remember, but I'm wondering, do you know Shi xiao Long? You said you are British and can not read Chinese?
sunnyv: Yes, Yes. I remember that scene too. Don'y know why these scenes pop up in our dreams once in a while. I thought nobody know about this movie because ...
- Reply sunnyv
- I know about Shi Xiao Long but here we call him ''Ashton Chen Xiaolong'' a martial artist connected with Shaolin Temple. Not too well known in here. I know about Chinese/Cantonese movies because my mother watch them with our servant and I watch together with them when I was a kid. Yes, I am of British origin. I can speak Cantonese but cannot write Chinese because I was sent to an international school which did not teach Chinese writing.
- Reply DaiMelon
- oo, so your mom is Cantonese? oh, sorry for this private qustions...just curious
sunnyv: I know about Shi Xiao Long but here we call him ''Ashton Chen Xiaolong'' a martial artist connected with Shaolin Temple. Not too well known in here. I ...
- Reply sunnyv
- Haha.. No... My mom is non-Chinese. She is also a British citizen. Both my parents are non Chinese but I was born in Hong Kong so I am a CBB (Chinese Born British).
DaiMelon: oo, so your mom is Cantonese? oh, sorry for this private qustions...just curious
- Reply DaiMelon
- oo, got it, hehe, your Mom also likes watching those movies.
sunnyv: Haha.. No... My mom is non-Chinese. She is also a British citizen. Both my parents are non Chinese but I was born in Hong Kong so I am a CBB (Chinese ...
- Reply wo4chenkewen
- Journey To West is one of four greatest novels in Chinese traditional culture. If you want to know about China. Other tree I think is also your option of your reading list. By the way, they are A Dream in Red Mansions，Romance of the Three Kingdoms，Water Margin。
