Black Myth Wukong Opening Scene Explained - Chapter by Chapter Videos 1 [CC]

Summary

This video from AvenueX delves into 'Black Myth Wukong,' exploring the game's opening sequence and its ties to 'Journey to the West.' It discusses Sun Wukong's armor, his magical staff, and cloud-riding abilities. The video also examines the game's portrayal of Buddhist and Chinese mythological figures, including the four cardinal direction heavenly kings and the deity Ju Ling Shen. It highlights the game's unique take on Buddhism, where Wukong is referred to as 'once made Buddha,' contrasting with actual Buddhist beliefs. The summary also touches on the game's combat, transformations, and the significance of the 'Chong Ming Niao' bird, relating it to Buddhist concepts of senses and attachment. The video sets the stage for a deep dive into the game's chapters, promising an in-depth analysis of its rich lore and storytelling.

Takeaways

• 🎮 The video discusses the opening sequence of the game 'Black Myth Wukong', highlighting the game's connection to the classic Chinese novel 'Journey to the West'.
• 🐒 Sun Wukong, the main character, is depicted in full armor, wielding his Ru Yi Jin Gu Bang, a staff weighing 65,000 kilos, symbolizing his power and status.
• 🌁 The game features cloud-riding, a common supernatural ability among Daoist deities, with Sun Wukong's cloud called 'Jin Dou Yun', or somersault cloud.
• 🔱 The four cardinal direction heavenly kings and the figure of Ju Ling Shen are presented, representing the celestial forces that Sun Wukong faces.
• 📚 The video references the 'Journey to the West', where Sun Wukong's rebellion against heaven leads to a celestial army being sent to subdue him.
• 👁 The concept of the 'six senses' in Buddhism is explored, relating to how they create attachment and the need for detachment on the path to enlightenment.
• 🐦 The fight between Sun Wukong and Yang Jian involves a transformation into birds, mirroring their epic battle in 'Journey to the West' where they exhausted all their transformations.
• 🔮 The game introduces a magical bird called 'Chong Ming Niao', representing the 'craving eyes' and linking to the Buddhist concept of the six senses and attachments.
• 🗡️ The video suggests a possible collaboration between Sun Wukong and Yang Jian, as indicated by the game's narrative and the final scene where Yang Jian has a piece of Sun Wukong's memory.
• 🌳 The game's setting is ambiguously placed in time, with architecture and sculptures from various Chinese dynasties, creating a rich and mixed historical backdrop.

Q & A

What is the significance of the color purple in the video series on Black Myth Wukong?

The color purple is used to mark the videos that discuss each individual major chapter of the game Black Myth Wukong, distinguishing them from other videos on the channel.

What is the Ru Yi Jin Gu Bang and how does it relate to Sun Wukong in the game?

The Ru Yi Jin Gu Bang is a staff that Sun Wukong stole from the ocean dragon king's palace, which weighs 65,000 kilos. It is the only weapon in the palace that he finds heavy enough for his hand, and it is depicted in the game's opening sequence.

What is the significance of Sun Wukong riding a cloud in the game's opening animation?

Riding a cloud, specifically a 'Jin Dou Yun' or somersault cloud, is a common superpower of Daoist deities and represents Sun Wukong's ability to travel quickly and mystically in the game.

Who are the four cardinal direction heavenly kings and what is their role in the game's narrative?

The four cardinal direction heavenly kings are figures from Buddhism that have been incorporated into Chinese traditional beliefs. They are depicted as protectors of dharma and are shown in the opening sequence leading the hundred thousand heavenly soldiers against Sun Wukong.

What is the role of Ju Ling Shen in the game's lore?

Ju Ling Shen is a significant spiritual deity in ancient Chinese lore, depicted as a powerful fighter for the heavenly realm in the game. He is shown standing behind the four cardinal kings in the opening animation.

How does the game's portrayal of Buddha differ from traditional Buddhist beliefs?

In the game, Buddha is portrayed as a title that can be earned and lost, which contrasts with traditional Buddhism where being a Buddha is a state of being that cannot be taken away or granted by others.

What is the significance of the 72 transformations and how are they depicted in the game?

The 72 transformations are a magical ability known as 'Yi Bian 72' in Chinese, where Sun Wukong can transform into various creatures. In the game, this is depicted through a fight where Sun Wukong and Yang Jian transform into birds, referencing their epic battle in the original 'Journey to the West'.

What is the Chong Ming Niao and its connection to the game's narrative?

The Chong Ming Niao is a magical bird in Chinese folklore, symbolizing the 'craving eyes' or 'Yan Kan Xi'. It represents one of the six senses that create attachment in Buddhism and is connected to Sun Wukong's journey to overcome these attachments for enlightenment.

How does the game's story relate to the original 'Journey to the West'?

The game's story is a sequel to the original 'Journey to the West', with traces of the monkey king's initial conflict with the heavenly realm and the subsequent events. It incorporates elements from the original narrative while creating a new storyline.

What is the significance of the six relics in the game's plot?

The six relics in the game represent Sun Wukong's scattered senses, which the player, as the Destined One, must find to restore the monkey king. This quest forms the central narrative of the game, driving the player's journey.

How does the game's setting blend different historical periods of Chinese architecture and culture?

The game's setting is a blend of various Chinese dynasties, including Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing, as the developers used 3D scans of real architecture and sculptures from these periods to create a rich and diverse in-game world.

Outlines

00:00

🐒 Introduction to Black Myth Wukong's Opening Sequence

The video begins by introducing the game Black Myth Wukong, focusing on the opening sequence animation. The narrator discusses the game's connection to Journey to the West and how the videos will explore each major chapter. Sun Wukong is depicted in full armor, holding his Ru Yi Jin Gu Bang, a staff stolen from the Dragon King's palace. The staff's significance and Wukong's cloud-riding ability are explained. The video also introduces the four cardinal direction heavenly kings and Ju Ling Shen, setting the scene for the game's narrative. The opening sequence is interpreted as a representation of the celestial forces arrayed against Wukong, drawing from the original Journey to the West story. The video also discusses the game's cosmology and the significance of the characters and items introduced.

05:02

🌟 Exploring the Concept of Buddha in Black Myth Wukong

This paragraph delves into the concept of Buddha as portrayed in the game, contrasting it with actual Buddhist teachings. The video script clarifies that in Buddhism, becoming a Buddha is not about earning a title but realizing one's inherent Buddha nature. The game's storyline is noted to use this concept as a plot device, with Sun Wukong's past as a Buddha suggesting a fall from grace. The conversation between Wukong and Yang Jian is highlighted, emphasizing the game's narrative liberties with Buddhist concepts. The script also discusses the fight between Sun Wukong and Yang Jian, referencing their epic battle in Journey to the West, including their use of the 72 transformations. The significance of the bird form that Sun Wukong takes is tied to Buddhist concepts of attachment and the six senses.

10:05

🌲 The Journey of the Destined One in Black Myth Wukong

The final paragraph sets the stage for the player's journey in the game. It describes how the game's protagonist, referred to as the Destined One, is tasked with finding the scattered relics of Sun Wukong's senses to revive him. The paragraph discusses the ambiguity surrounding the identity of the old monkey who gives this quest to the player and the player's own role, which is not exactly that of Sun Wukong but closely related. The video touches on the game's setting, which blends architectural and sculptural styles from various Chinese dynasties, creating a rich and complex world. The paragraph concludes by hinting at the game's deeper themes of history, reincarnation, and the cyclical nature of events, suggesting that the game is a sequel to the original Journey to the West story but with its own unique narrative twists.

Keywords

💡Black Myth Wukong

Black Myth Wukong is an upcoming action role-playing game developed by Game Science. It is inspired by the classic Chinese novel 'Journey to the West' and features Sun Wukong, the Monkey King, as the main character. The game is noted for its realistic graphics and deep storytelling that expands upon the mythos of the original text. In the video, the opening sequence animation sets the stage for the game's narrative, which is a continuation of the Monkey King's story post his journey to the West.

💡Sun Wukong

Sun Wukong, also known as the Monkey King, is a central figure in Chinese mythology and the protagonist of 'Journey to the West'. In the video, Sun Wukong is depicted in full armor, wielding his Ru Yi Jin Gu Bang, and is positioned as a powerful figure who has achieved much but still faces challenges from the celestial realm. His character is central to the game's plot, where players assume the role of a character closely tied to him.

💡Ru Yi Jin Gu Bang

The Ru Yi Jin Gu Bang, or 'As-You-Wish Golden-Banded Cudgel', is Sun Wukong's signature weapon in 'Journey to the West'. It is a staff that he acquired from the Dragon King's palace, weighing 65,000 kilos. In the video, it symbolizes Sun Wukong's strength and his readiness for battle, as he holds it while waiting for the player to start the game.

💡Jin Dou Yun

Jin Dou Yun, or 'Somersault Cloud', is a supernatural ability of Sun Wukong that allows him to travel vast distances by somersaulting through the clouds. It is a common superpower among Daoist deities but is uniquely associated with Sun Wukong. In the video, it is mentioned as Sun Wukong's mode of transportation, showcasing his agility and mystical powers.

💡Four Cardinal Direction Heavenly Kings

The Four Cardinal Direction Heavenly Kings are divine figures in Buddhism, each associated with a cardinal direction and tasked with protecting the teachings of Buddhism. They are also integrated into Chinese traditional beliefs. In the video, they are depicted as part of the celestial forces arrayed against Sun Wukong, reflecting the game's blend of mythological elements.

💡Ju Ling Shen

Ju Ling Shen, or 'Great Sage Equal to Heaven', is a title given to Sun Wukong in the 'Journey to the West' after his rebellion against the celestial realm. In the video, it is used to describe a monumental figure in ancient Chinese lore, indicating the scale and grandeur of the characters and the world within the game.

💡Shi Wan Tian Bing Tian Jiang

Shi Wan Tian Bing Tian Jiang translates to 'Hundred Thousand Heavenly Soldiers and Heavenly Generals', referring to the vast army of celestial beings sent to subdue Sun Wukong in 'Journey to the West'. In the video, their presence underscores the magnitude of the conflict and the Monkey King's defiance against the celestial hierarchy.

💡Er Lang Shen

Er Lang Shen, also known as Yang Jian, is a mythological figure in Chinese folklore, often depicted as a divine warrior with a third eye and a powerful spear. In the video, he is portrayed as a significant adversary to Sun Wukong, highlighting the game's narrative that builds upon the epic battles from the original story.

💡72 Transformations

The 72 Transformations is a magical ability of Sun Wukong that allows him to transform into various animals and objects. It is a central aspect of his battles in 'Journey to the West'. The video references this ability during the fight between Sun Wukong and Yang Jian, showcasing the game's commitment to capturing the essence of the Monkey King's legendary powers.

💡Destined One

The term 'Destined One' in the video refers to the player's character, who is on a quest to recover Sun Wukong's scattered senses or relics to restore him. It encapsulates the game's theme of fate and destiny, as the player embarks on a journey to revive the legendary Monkey King, suggesting a deep narrative that intertwines with the player's actions.

Highlights

Introduction to a series of videos discussing major chapters of the game 'Black Myth Wukong'.

Explanation of the game's opening sequence animation and its significance.

Description of Sun Wukong's armor and his weapon, the Ru Yi Jin Gu Bang.

Mention of Sun Wukong's cloud-riding ability and its cultural context.

Discussion of the four cardinal direction heavenly kings and their role in the game's narrative.

Introduction of Ju Ling Shen, a significant deity in the game's lore.

Reference to the hundred thousand heavenly soldiers and their historical context from 'Journey to the West'.

Analysis of the game's portrayal of Buddhism and its divergence from traditional beliefs.

Explanation of Er Lang Shen and his role in the game's storyline.

Insight into the game's storytelling approach and its fictional treatment of Buddha as a title.

Description of the fight scene between Sun Wukong and Yang Jian, including their transformations.

Symbolism of the double iris bird and its connection to Buddhist teachings.

Discussion of the six senses in Buddhism and their representation in the game.

Narrative of Sun Wukong's defeat and its implications for the game's plot.

Introduction of the game's protagonist, the Destined One, and their relation to Sun Wukong.

Mention of the game's historical setting and the blending of architectural styles from different Chinese dynasties.

Conclusion and anticipation for future videos covering more chapters of 'Black Myth Wukong'.

Transcripts

Hello, you're watching AvenueX and this is another Black Myth Wukong related video

and starting with this video that will all be marked with a purple color on the thumbnail.

I'll be talking about each individual major chapter of the game.

aAnd i've already made a couple of videos on Journey to the West and their relation with the game.

If there's any further information that i've already talked about in those videos,

I will be mentioning them in my chapter based videos and point your way

like the shrine in the game for you to go to those videos and find out more details.

And this would be only the opening sequence animation of Black Myth Wukong

Game science hasn't really released an official statement saying exactly what they mean

by their setup of certain characters, so a lot of that is actually still open to interpret.

At the beginning, we will see Sun wWukong dressed up in his full armor,

waiting there for you to click start the game

holding his Ru Yi Jin Gu Bang

which is the staff that he stole from the ocean loong king's palace.

Ding Hai Shen Zhen, later changed into Ru Yi Jin Gu Bang

Meaning as you wish golden banded on2 ends staff.

The staff weighs a 65,000 kilos and it's the only weapon in that ocean palace

that he finds has enough weight for his hand,

he jumps onto a cloud, riding cloud is a very common superpower of daaoism deities.

Although technically Sun Wukong's cloud is called Jin Dou Yun

which literally means somersault cloud.

He usually somersaults his way to places.

As he goes up you will see ahead of him are the four cardinal direction heavenly kings who come from Buddhism,

but also got incorporated into Chinese traditional beliefs.

And behind them stands a really big one.

And that would be Ju Ling Shen

huge spiritual god or deity in ancient Chinese lore

a river Yao and eventually submitted to the heavenly realme's world and become a really major fighter for them

as Sun Wukong lands on the cloud.

You will see under the feet of the four giant cardinal kings are many soldiers.

and that's supposed to be Shi Wan Tian Bing Tian Jiang

the hundred thousand heavenly soldiers.

And this image actually happened in the original book of Journey to the West

early on during the phase when the monkey king caused a lot of trouble in the heaven.

And the Jade Emperor sends his armies and many powerful beings trying to beat the monkey king into submission,

As we see in the opening animation of the game.

This is after everything Sun Wukong has achieved after his guarded tang song to get Buddha's teaching from the west and back.

Yet the celestial palace seems to be unhappy about what is going on so they send another round of troops

in my video talking about the cosmology of Xi You Ji

I have already mentioned these four cardinal directional gods and where they come from.

They often serve as the protector of dharma of Buddhism.

And you see their sculptures usually in Buddhism temples in the first big hall,

they rule the closest level of heaven to human realm.

Then you see Er Lang Shen Yang Jian and his dog standing on the shoulder of Ju Ling Shen

Er Lang Shen is a very beloved mythological character,

who has gone through many changes in history in terms of what's his name,

what's his function, different surnames different family background, different powers.

Eventually during the time she was written in Ming dynasty,

he has pretty much consolidated as one coherent figure.

I do go into details about who Yang Jian is in my previous video.

So this is the shrine point of my video.

You can click here and go to that video,

find the time code i've noted and then hear more about this character.

Yang Jian is very identifiable.

First as a really handsome man, also he would have a third eye in his forehead.

He also has this weapon that is a very classic spear looking weapon

in chinese traditional weaponry called San Jian Liang Ren Dao

then they have a long conversation.

Yang Jian in the English dub version would say,

he is not any monkey, his monkey with merit, he's a monkey once made Buddha.

And that's really interesting.

You can get a brief idea about for the particular storytelling of Black Myth Wukong

what kind of world view that the storyteller is setting up,

which is not how it actually functions in real world.

He was once made Buddha, which implies now he's no longer a Buddha,

which means Buddha is a title that somebody can get given.

That is completely not how Buddhism actually views being a Buddha means.

Because being a Buddha is a state of being.

It's like you've graduated from the school called universe and existence and consciousness.

And therefore, it is something that nobody can take away from you.

and It's also not something you earn. It's something you find because you already have it.

So in Buddhism, it's talking about every sentient being is actually a Buddha.

But to different levels, you get your treasure, the gem inside you covered up with dust,

with a lot of desires, traits you've accumulated over many incarnations.

You've lost sight of who you truly are.

And the process of cultivation in Buddhism is to wipe it clean.

So eventually, the true Buddha nature gets reviewed and you become Buddha.

so in terms of becoming enlightened and become a Buddha,

you are not seeking outside of you.

You're not trying to get somebody grant you anything.

For example, a title,you're literally seeking within and finding what's already there.

Therefore it's already there, it's always there and it cannot be taken away from you.

Therefore, no one can make you a Buddha, you or calm a Buddha by discovering who you are.

So you can say that the story setup is just using Buddha as a plot device

it's actually very different from what Buddhism really is

and what Buddha means in real world practice of Buddhism.

So I just want to point that out.

When I hear that line, i'm like okay this is storytelling.

And you can hear in the conversation between the monkey king and the god of war.

The very sarcastic tone of the monkey,

which is kind of saying the celestial palace is this type of enslaving system,

stops him from having his freedom.

Again, this is just for the storytelling because if you are a Buddha,

nothing can really control you in that way.

I've also gone into details about why Sun Wukong particularly would be sounding like that with that high pitched voice.

In another video, i'll point you to where it is, another shrine point in this video,

The fight starta, you can play parts of the fight,

but not all of it and it has set plot.

So eventually, you're gonna see Yang Jian beating the monkey king.

During their fight, there is a moment where they both shifted into birds.

And this is referring to, again,the big fight that happened in Journey to the West between Sun Wukong and Yang Jian

An epic fight where they basically exhausted all their means and still kind of couldn't figure out who wins.

There is the sequence of them using the 72 transformations,

both of them know this trick, so they were competing

one shifts to one form, the other immediately shifts into their natural enemy.

So a particular bird and then a particular bird of prey that eats that bird.

And so Sun Wukong would be shifting into another animal

and then Yang Jian will be shifting into another animal that actually eats this animal.

So they kept doing this for a big round of having the author's imagination going wild.

Therefore at the beginning animation,

you see just one representation of that they changed into bird.

And if you notice what Sun Wukong shifted into, it is the bird.

that when you finish chapter one you will get on your destined one's arm,

the double iris bird. This is a magical bird.

In chinese folklore mythology called Chong Ming Niao

And also in the game it represents Yan Kan Xi, the craving eyes.

That's the English translation where the Chinese exact meaning would be "eye sees and feels happy."

This is related to the concept of human six senses

and how it creates attachment you have with the world with the form in Buddhism.

Yan, Er, Bi, She, Shen, Yi

eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, and the mind

the object of being known would be

Se, Sheng, Xiang, Wei, Chu, Fa

Se would be color, but also refer to things you can see.

Sheng Soung, Xiang scent, Wei taste (flavour), Chu touch, Fa thought.

And this is actually referring to in the book Xi You Ji chapter 14,

When Sun Wukong encounters a group of bandits when he is in the mountain and he kills them all.

So it becomes a metaphor for Sun Wukong to beat the attachment.

And that's on your way of cultivation and enlightenment.

These six bandits are named Yan Kan Xi, Er Ting Nu, Bi Xiu Ai

She Chang Si, Yi Jian Yu, Shen Ben You, which translates into eye sees and likes

ear hears and gets angry.

Even just think about Black Myth Wukong the game itself and game journalism.

You immediately get the idea why Er Ting is related to anger,

Ni Xiu Ai, nose smells and loves or falls in love with the scent

She Chang Si, tonmgue taste, and then start to think about something.

Once you taste something delicious, you keep thinking about it.

And then Yi Jian Yu would be when you think about something and then it creates desires

and Shen Ben You, body, the essence of it is creating all types of attachment and worrings

These six bandits are named like that.

Clearly not human names and definitely not follow any Chinese naming rules.

So they're not humans, these six thieves you have to overcome these things to become enlightened

At the end of the fight. Sun Wukong gets defeated by Yang Jian,

but you kind of can guess this is a planned thing between the monkey king and god of war.

Because later in the game, hope that doesn't spoil it for you,

you've already played it or you know what's gonna happen,

which is if you open the second ending through getting certain bosses fought

and then open certain secret map,

you will actually get into a painting where Yang Jian is waiting for you.

And the whole thing is orchestrated type of situation by him.

And he actually has the last piece of Sun Wukong's memory hidden in his eye

when they fall and hit the top of the mountain, it exploded.

And then you have this really cool shot of going around the mountain.

And the time is changing, the trees are growing.

and we get to the scene where the story is about to start our destined one, a monkey

that looks like Sun Wukong is being taught and told by an older monkey

about how in that stone supposedly.

The monkey king is still in there,

but his six senses where in the game gets referred to as six relics are scattered,

and you have to go and find them so that you can bring the monkey king back

so that's how you start the journey,

the hero's journey as the Destined One

in terms of who the old monkey is, there are many guesses.

Still, Game Science hasn't come out and say exactly who he is.

And it's definitely open to interpretation

as for who you are, the main player, well technically, you're not Sun Wukong

although it does get referred to by gamers when they're playing.

i'm the monkey, yeah you're a monkey,

and you're kind of like Sun Wukong but not exactly.

But then who knows? Because when you die in the game,

i've mentioned already in my previous video, you do turn into a hair,

which is known to be one of Sun Wukong's magic, shen wai shen

where he uses his fur to create copies of himself.

So that means you have his full dna, that means technically you are the clone

in contemporary science way of looking at it.

The other thing that you cannot quite tell from this animation.

But later when you play chapter one, you probably can piece it together,

which is how much time has passed.

Supposedly the Journey to the West in history happened mid 7th century.

Tang Xuan Zang did it between 629-645

And you'll hear Hei Feng Da Wang, the human form of the black bear guai.

At the end of first chapter he mentioned, it's been 500 years

that will put us in the mid 12th century.

That's Song dynasty, but you don't have to take it seriously,

because if you look at the game, there really is no clear indication of exactly what time you're in.

And Game Science this company to make the game epic,

went to a couple of dozens of locations in China to 3D scan,

real architecture, real sculptures that crosses a quite wide range of time

from Tang dynasty, Song dynasty, Yuan, Ming, Qing, all times

and use them as the materials that they build up the world in the game.

soyYou will see a mixture of multiple different dynasties, type of architecture, different styles of sculpture.

Therefore, you can't really use that as a reference to say exactly what time it is. It's mixed together.

And those would be the information that you can extract

from the opening sequence of animations of Black Myth Wukong

And because this is Game Science's own writing that happens after what has happened in the book Journey to the West,

It is their creation of a sequel story.

But you definitely see traces of what they refer to in the book,

the first couple of chapters when the monkey king angered the heavenly realm

and then got all the soldiers sent to his flower fruit mountain.

You can really read that as things happen in cycles.

You just keep going round and round and round.

And the whole concept of history progresses, repeats itself, and reincarnation.

you know there's a lot to talk about if you really want to dig deep into the view of the world in the game Black Myth Wukong

And that will be all I want to talk about in this video,

my first video talking about specific chapters of the game.

and this will be the shortest one, because the later ones

are gonna get really really long and big,

because the amount of stuff the game managed to cram into it,

mixing the original writing with their new story version.

This is gonna be a big project for AvenueX and hopefully I

can successful eventually fully tackle all six chapters,

but that's gonna take a while for me to finish doing.

so at the end of this video, I will remind you again,

if you don't want to miss any of those future videos I do intend to do.

Please subscribe or keep a shrine for my playlist somewhere on your computer

so that you can find your way back later.

Thank you for watching AvenueX i'll see you in my next video.

Meanwhile, live long and happy game playing