Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Reading Diary B: The Monkey King

Today I finished reading the second part of The Monkey King story unit.  This unit turned out to be a very surprising read, although I am glad I got the opportunity to read it. 

In the second half of the unit Sun Wu Kung, the monkey king, spends a good deal of time in the Heavens.  He originally is brought to the Heavens because he was being too boastful and it was determined by higher powers that he be appointed a charge.  Sun Wu Kung was delegated the task of tending the stables, a job at which he excelled.  However, when he realized he had been given a lowly task he became angry and departed for Earth. 

The story then continues as Sun Wu Kung starts to cause a disturbance in the Heavens.  He imposes upon a peach banquet for the Queen-Mother which is the catalyst for a great commotion.  Sun Wu Kung ends up in an epic battle of shifting with Yang Oerlang  Yang Oerlang is a celestial warrior recommended for the battle by Guan Yin.  Essentially all the heavenly inhabitants are trying to figure out how to defeat and stop Sun Wu Kung and put him in his proper place.  The battle between Sun Wu Kung and Yang Oerlang is incredibly interesting to read as they are battling in multiple shapes and continue shifting throughout the fight sequence. 


The story ends with a culmination of Sun Wu Kung being defeated and trapped beneath the Heavens for many years while he repents on his disturbance.  At the end of his penance he comes to join the ways of Buddhism and is celebrated as a victorious individual. 

Quote from Buddha
Image taken from Quotespick.com

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