… the definitive guide for your Journey to the West
Monkey Weaknesses
Monkey King’s Kryptonite
Dec 3rd
This is not the Monkey King but I couldn't find an appropriate illustration. All Sunwukong characters seem to be smiling and happy. This is from Destructoid and I imagine Sunwukong would be looking like this when his headband is cruelly activated (sans the light) by XuanZang (Tripitaka)
All superheroes have a weakness, and a very simple one at that. Take for instance: Aquaman who needs water, Wonder woman whose powers disappear the minute her bracelets are tied together, the Flash could not speed up when on something slippery like oil, and of course Superman who weakens at the mere sight of kryptonite. Monkey King is no different- he has several weaknesses, but the most debilitating is the magical headband on his head which he was tricked into wearing when his help was accepted by XuanZang (玄奘; nickname 三藏, aka Tripitaka) for his journey to the west to collect the Buddhist sutras.
Basically, a special chant by XuanZang would cause the band to tighten around Sunwukong’s head, making him suffer unbearable pain. This magical headband was provided by the Bodhisattva Guanyin because she knew Sunwukong would be hard to manage given his many powers and propensity to be prideful and playful.
(Note: Sun Wukong agreed to be part of the journey in exchange for his freedom from Buddha’s prison which he unwittingly fell into during a challenge.)
The Unruly Tail
Dec 2nd
Sun Wukong’s shapeshifting abilities were hard earned. It took him many years of hard work, determination and training before he mastered the 72 transformations under the tutelage of the Patriarch Bodhi. Aside from making himself into a tree, an animal, or an inanimate object, Sun Wukong could also make himself appear human.
The only problem he had was his tail. He was never able to completely transform it rendering his disguise useless on occasion.
More often than not though, he was successful in his various guises, especially as a demon confronting other demons. In a famous fight called, “Monkey Subdues White-Skeleton Demon” where the demons take advantage of Tripitaka’s compassion by appearing as helpless humans, Sun Wukong uses the same tactics to eventually win the day. Trivia: there’s even a contemporary opera on this very story by Dutch composer Peter Schat which won second prize in the Carl Maria von Weber competition of 1980!
(If you like this artistic version of Monkey King, you can buy this rendition by reverseblade on deviantart.)
"The strange fact is that the world goes on against all reasonable odds. A hundred years, and even unimaginable evil is just called history."
Talk to Me!