Monkey King: The Immortal Hero of Chinese Mythology

In the vast realm of Chinese mythology, the Monkey King, Sun Wukong, stands out as an iconic and immortal figure. He is the most beloved character from "Journey to the West," one of China's four great classical novels, and has long symbolized wisdom and courage in Chinese culture. For centuries, he has been an idol worshiped by countless people. In the digital age, modern creators have delved deep into his essence, allowing this mythological hero to shine anew in the digital world. A prime example is the game "Black Myth: Wukong" developed by Game Science, which has once again brought global attention to the Monkey King.

Sun Wukong was born from a divine stone left over since the creation of the world on Huaguo Mountain in the Aolai Country of the Eastern Superior Continent. From the moment of his birth, he was extremely intelligent. He was the first to leap into the Water Curtain Cave and became the king of the monkeys, earning the title "Handsome Monkey King." In pursuit of the path to immortality, he sailed across the seas for more than a decade and became a disciple of Patriarch Bodhi on Lingtai Fangcun Mountain in the Western Ox-Heaven Continent. There, he was given the name "Wukong" and learned extraordinary skills such as the 72 Earthly Transformations and the Cloud Somersault, which endowed him with unparalleled supernatural powers.

After returning to Huaguo Mountain, he went to the Dragon Palace in the East Sea and obtained the Ruyi Jingu Bang (the Magic Golden Cudgel). He also erased his name and those of the monkeys from the Book of Life and Death in the Underworld, prompting the Dragon King and the King of Hell to report him to the Heavenly Court. The Jade Emperor summoned him to the celestial realm and appointed him as the Protector of the Heavenly Horses. However, Sun Wukong thought the position was too humble, so he rebelled and proclaimed himself the "Great Sage Equal to Heaven." Subsequently, he disrupted the Peach Banquet, stole the pills of the Supreme Lord Laozi, and caused chaos in the Heavenly Palace. Even the 100,000 celestial troops could not subdue him, and finally, the Buddha Tathagata intervened and imprisoned him under the Five Elements Mountain for 500 years.

Five hundred years later, when the monk Tang Sanzang was on his journey to the Western Heaven to fetch the Buddhist scriptures, he passed by the Five Elements Mountain and removed the seal, rescuing Sun Wukong. Guided by the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara, Wukong became Tang Sanzang's disciple and embarked on the westward journey. During the journey, he was the backbone of the team in terms of strength and wisdom. With his Fiery Golden Eyes, he could see through the tricks of countless demons and made numerous contributions in vanquishing them. However, he was also misunderstood and expelled by Tang Sanzang several times. Nevertheless, he remained loyal to his master and never left him. Eventually, he, along with his master and two other disciples, reached the Thunder Monastery in the Western Heaven and obtained the scriptures. He achieved enlightenment and was conferred the title of "Victorious Fighting Buddha."

The image of the Monkey King combines the nature of a monkey, the qualities of a human, and the divinity of a god. He has the natural liveliness and playfulness of a stone monkey, the intelligence, sincerity, and hatred of evil of a human, and the all - powerful supernatural abilities of a god. He dared to resist the authority of the Heavenly Court, pursued freedom and equality, and always adhered to justice in his heart. He showed compassion and sympathy for the weak. His spirit symbolizes the indomitable will to fight and the persistent pursuit of ideals, and has become an integral part of the Chinese national cultural spirit.

In the academic circle, the origin of the Monkey King has always been a subject of debate. Lu Xun believed that he was derived from the Chinese native water god Wu Zhiqi in the Huaihe River. Hu Shi proposed that his prototype was the divine monkey Hanuman in the Indian epic "Ramayana." Some scholars also think that he combines the experiences of the Tang - dynasty monk Shi Wukong and Shi Pantuo, a disciple of Xuanzang, and gradually evolved in the long - standing folk legends.

In 2020, the first real - time demonstration of the domestic single - player game "Black Myth: Wukong" was released, which subverted the public's established perception of the traditional "Journey to the West" story. In the game, the story is set 500 years later. After becoming the Victorious Fighting Buddha, Sun Wukong did not achieve perfect enlightenment but instead triggered a shocking mutiny and finally fell on Lingshan. Players will take on the role of an ordinary little demon with a fateful mission. In the broken world of the "Journey to the West," they will follow in the footsteps of the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, gradually uncovering the truth behind Lingshan, the conspiracy of the Heavenly Court, and the hidden resistance and sacrifice behind Sun Wukong's seemingly tragic fall. In the game, the Monkey King sheds the peacefulness of his取经 period and returns to his early, wild and rebellious nature. In the demonstration trailer, he appeared in multiple forms such as the Great Sage Equal to Heaven and the Victorious Fighting Buddha. Sometimes he was majestic in his golden armor, and sometimes he transformed into a dark Monkey King surrounded by black flames. The game not only retained the classic settings like the freely - changing Ruyi Jingu Bang and the 72 Transformations but also added a tragic touch of fate. The development team used a Chinese - style romantic art style to recreate the strange and lively demon caves and the magnificent Heavenly Court and Thunder Monastery in the original work, allowing players to experience the struggle and perseverance of this mythological hero firsthand.

Whether it is the Victorious Fighting Buddha in the traditional "Journey to the West" or the rebel burdened with fate in "Black Myth: Wukong," the Monkey King has always been the spiritual totem of freedom, resistance, and heroism in the hearts of the Chinese people. From written words to the screen and stage, and then to interactive games, his image has continuously evolved but always remains deeply rooted in the Chinese cultural soil, maintaining a vibrant vitality in the tide of the times.