Journey to the West | The Continued Story of Sun Wukong

Summary

The video script narrates the legendary journey of Tang Seng, also known as Tripitaka, and his disciples in 'Journey to the West.' Chosen by Buddha to retrieve sacred sutras from India, Tang Seng embarks on a perilous quest with Sun Wukong, the Monkey King, Zhu Bajie, and Sha Wujing. Overcoming demons, natural calamities, and their own flaws, they grow in enlightenment, ultimately achieving Buddhahood and returning the sutras to China, symbolizing the triumph of righteousness and self-improvement.

Takeaways

• 🌏 The script is about the legendary journey of 'Journey to the West', a tale from Chinese mythology.
• 🙏 The Buddha observes the greed and cruelty in China and decides to send scriptures to teach righteousness and enlightenment.
• 🧙‍♀️ Goddess Guanyin volunteers to find a worthy champion for the perilous pilgrimage to India to retrieve the holy sutras.
• 👑 Tang Emperor Taizhang is instructed by Guanyin to select a monk for the mission, choosing the reincarnation of the Buddha's disciple, Tripitaka.
• 🐎 Tripitaka begins his journey with two attendants and a white horse, facing immediate danger from a demon king.
• 🌟 The Evening Star, Tai Bai Jinxing, rescues Tripitaka from the demon king, setting the stage for his journey.
• 🐵 Sun Wukong, the Monkey King, is introduced as a powerful but imprisoned figure, destined to assist Tripitaka on his quest.
• 🔗 Tripitaka frees Sun Wukong, who pledges his loyalty and becomes his disciple, despite their contrasting personalities.
• 🐉 A white dragon transforms into a horse after consuming Tripitaka's original steed, becoming a vital part of the journey.
• 🐷 The Pig Demon, Zhu Bajie, is converted and joins the pilgrimage, adding to the group's strength and diversity.
• 👹 The group encounters various demons and challenges, including the Sand Demon, who later becomes Friar Sand, another disciple.
• 📜 After 14 years, the group reaches India and is initially given blank scriptures, but their dedication leads to receiving the true texts.
• 🏆 Upon their return to China, the group is honored, but they are ultimately granted amnesty and enlightenment by the Buddha in the end.
• 🛐 Each character achieves a different level of spiritual attainment, reflecting their personal growth and contributions to the journey.

Q & A

What is the purpose of the pilgrimage to the Western Lands in the script?

The purpose of the pilgrimage is to retrieve three volumes of holy sutras from the Vulture Peak in India, so that the people of China may learn the ways of righteousness and enlightenment.

Who volunteered to find a worthy champion for the journey to the West?

The Goddess Guanyin volunteered to find a worthy champion to make the journey to the West.

Why was the monk Tang Zhang chosen for the mission?

Tang Zhang was chosen because he was a reincarnation of the Buddha's disciple, Golden Cicada, and was considered worthy of the mission set forth by the Buddha.

What special item did Guanyin give to Tang Zhang to control Sun Wukong?

Guanyin gave Tang Zhang a gold band that could not be removed and would tighten with a magical incantation, causing Sun Wukong great pain and forcing him to obey.

How did Sun Wukong gain his freedom from the Five Elements Mountain?

Sun Wukong gained his freedom when Tang Zhang removed the detention order on the mountain summit, written in gold letters by Buddha.

What transformation did the White Dragon do to make amends for eating Tang Zhang's horse?

The White Dragon transformed into a beautiful white stallion to replace the horse he had eaten, becoming Tang Zhang's new mount for the journey.

Why did Zhu Bajie join Tang Zhang and Sun Wukong on their journey?

Zhu Bajie, once a commander-in-chief of heavenly naval soldiers, was banished to Earth for his misconduct and was instructed by Guanyin to aid Tang Zhang in his journey for the sutras.

What was the role of the Sand Demon in the story?

The Sand Demon, also known as Friar Sand, was the mortal incarnation of the Great Curtain-Lifting General, Xiaowu Jing, who was converted by Guanyin to protect those coming to fetch the scriptures.

What was the outcome when Tang Zhang and his disciples finally reached Vulture Peak?

Initially, they were given textless scriptures, but after offering his gold-begging bowl as a gift, Tang Zhang received the true scriptures with words.

What were the final fates of Tang Zhang and his disciples after completing their journey?

Tang Zhang was granted Buddhahood, Sun Wukong earned the title 'The Victorious Fighting Buddha', Zhu Bajie became the cleaner of the altars, and Friar Sand was made a Golden Arhan. The White Dragon Horse was made a Heavenly Dragon of the Eight Classes of Being.

Outlines

00:00

📜 The Quest for Enlightenment

The script opens with an introduction to mythology's role in explaining the world's mysteries. It then sets the scene in ancient China, where Buddha observes the people's greed and cruelty. To address this, he tasks an immortal council with finding a pilgrim to retrieve sacred sutras from India. Guanyin, the goddess, chooses Tang Sanzang, a monk and reincarnation of Buddha's disciple, for this perilous journey. Tang is given a document by Emperor Taizhang, granting him free passage, and sets off on a white horse with two attendants. However, they are quickly captured by a demon king, who intends to eat Tang for his enlightened mind. Tang is saved by the intervention of Tai Bai Jinxing, who escorts him to safety.

05:02

🐒 Liberation of the Monkey King

Tang Sanzang's journey continues, where he encounters a hungry tiger but is saved by a hunter named Lubo Kin. The hunter accompanies Tang to the Five Elements Mountain, where Sun Wukong, the Monkey King, is imprisoned. Sun Wukong, who caused havoc against the gods, is revealed to have been told by Guanyin that a monk would free him. Tang releases Sun Wukong by removing a golden seal, and Sun Wukong pledges his loyalty to Tang. The pair faces initial challenges due to their contrasting personalities, but Guanyin provides a magical gold band to control Sun Wukong. They encounter various trials, including a battle with a white dragon, which is later revealed to be a transformed demon and becomes their new horse. The group also helps a village by rescuing a girl from a pig demon, who turns out to be Zhu Bajie, a former celestial being, and joins the pilgrimage.

10:03

🛶 The Trials of the Flowing Sands River

The narrative follows the group's encounter with the Sand Demon at the Flowing Sands River. After a fierce battle, Guanyin intervenes, revealing the demon to be the transformed Curtain-Lifting General, Sha Wujing, who was instructed to protect the scripture pilgrims. He joins the group as Friar Sand. The travelers face numerous challenges, including natural disasters and confrontations with bandits and demons. Despite internal conflicts, they grow stronger and more enlightened with each obstacle. After 14 years, they reach the Western Lands and are granted the sacred sutras by Buddha, but only after offering their gold begging bowl as a gift.

15:05

🏵️ The Reward of the Journey

The final paragraph describes the group's return to China and their subsequent return to Buddha. Each member of the group is rewarded for their journey: Tang Sanzang is granted Buddhahood, Sun Wukong earns the title of the Victorious Fighting Buddha, Zhu Bajie becomes the cleaner of the altars, Sha Wujing is made a Golden Arhan, and the White Dragon Horse is transformed into a Heavenly Dragon. They each take their place in heaven, concluding the epic tale of the Journey to the West.

Keywords

💡Mythology

Mythology refers to a collection of stories, often involving gods, heroes, and supernatural beings, that are considered sacred or important to a particular culture. In the context of the video, mythology is used to explain the origins and cultural significance of the 'Journey to the West,' a classic Chinese mythological tale that forms the narrative backbone of the video.

💡Monkey King

The Monkey King, also known as Sun Wukong, is a central character in the video and a legendary figure in Chinese mythology. He is known for his rebellious nature and incredible strength. In the video, the Monkey King is initially imprisoned for his transgressions but is later released to assist the monk Tripitaka on his quest to retrieve sacred scriptures.

💡Tripitaka

Tripitaka, also known as Tang Sanzang or Xuanzang, is the main protagonist of the video. He is a Buddhist monk chosen to undertake a perilous journey to the West to obtain sacred scriptures. The name Tripitaka is derived from the collection of Buddhist teachings he is destined to acquire, and his journey is a central theme of the video.

💡Buddha

Buddha, in this context, refers to the enlightened being who initiates the quest for the sacred scriptures. As a figure of spiritual authority, Buddha observes the moral decline of the people and decides to send Tripitaka on a mission to India to retrieve the sutras, which are intended to teach righteousness and enlightenment. Buddha's role is pivotal in setting the events of the video in motion.

💡Guanyin

Guanyin, also known as the Goddess of Mercy, is a Bodhisattva who plays a significant role in the video. She volunteers to find a worthy champion for the journey to the West and later provides assistance to Tripitaka and his disciples throughout their quest. Guanyin's interventions are crucial in overcoming various challenges faced by the travelers.

💡Sutra

A sutra, in Buddhist tradition, is a scripture that contains teachings and doctrines. In the video, the sutras are the sacred texts that Tripitaka is tasked with retrieving from India. These texts are believed to hold the knowledge necessary for the moral and spiritual upliftment of the people of China.

💡Pilgrimage

Pilgrimage refers to a journey undertaken for religious or spiritual reasons, often involving travel to a significant or sacred place. In the video, the pilgrimage is the journey to the West that Tripitaka and his disciples embark on to retrieve the sutras, symbolizing a quest for enlightenment and spiritual growth.

💡Enlightenment

Enlightenment, in the context of the video, represents the ultimate goal of the journey—the attainment of a profound understanding and insight into the nature of reality. The retrieval and study of the sutras are intended to bring enlightenment to the people of China, as well as to the travelers themselves.

💡Disciple

A disciple is a follower or student, often of a religious or spiritual teacher. In the video, Tripitaka's disciples, including the Monkey King, Zhu Bajie (Pig Demon), and Sha Wujing (Friar Sand), accompany him on his journey. Each disciple has their own unique abilities and contributes to the success of the mission.

💡Divine Intervention

Divine intervention refers to the involvement of a deity or supernatural power in human affairs. In the video, divine intervention occurs when Guanyin and other celestial beings assist the travelers in overcoming obstacles, such as releasing the Monkey King from his imprisonment or transforming the White Dragon into a horse.

💡Buddhahood

Buddhahood is the state of having achieved enlightenment or the status of a Buddha. In the video, the characters' quest for the sutras and their personal growth lead to their attainment of Buddhahood or other spiritual ranks, signifying their transformation and the culmination of their spiritual journey.

Highlights

The Buddha observes the people of China acting greedily and violently, deciding someone must undertake a pilgrimage to India to retrieve holy sutras for enlightenment.

Guanyin volunteers to find a worthy champion for the journey and reveals herself to the Tang Emperor, instructing him to select a monk for the mission.

The monk Tang Zhang, a reincarnation of the Buddha's disciple Golden Cicada, is chosen for the pilgrimage and named Tripitaka.

Tang Zhang is granted an imperial document allowing him to travel freely, marking the beginning of his journey with two attendants.

Tang Zhang and his attendants are captured by an evil demon king, who devours the attendants and spares Tang Zhang for his enlightened mind.

Tai Bai Jin Zing, the Evening Star, rescues Tang Zhang from the demon king, showcasing divine intervention.

Tang Zhang encounters a hungry tiger but is saved by the hunter Lubo Kin, highlighting the theme of unexpected allies.

Lubo Kin escorts Tang Zhang to Five Elements Mountain, where Sun Wukong, the Monkey King, is imprisoned.

Sun Wukong explains his past actions and imprisonment, and how Guanyin told him of Tripitaka who would free him.

Tang Zhang releases Sun Wukong from his imprisonment by removing the golden detention order, marking the start of their partnership.

Sun Wukong swears loyalty to Tang Zhang, despite their contrasting personalities, indicating the beginning of a complex relationship.

Guanyin grants Tang Zhang a magical gold band to control Sun Wukong, emphasizing the need for discipline in their journey.

The group encounters a white dragon who swallows Tang Zhang's horse, leading to a battle between Sun Wukong and the dragon.

The dragon transforms into a white horse to replace the one he ate, joining the group and providing a significant mode of transport.

Sun Wukong saves a villager's daughter from a pig demon, showcasing his heroism and the group's growing strength.

The pig demon, Jubaji, reveals his past as a celestial general and swears fealty to Tang Zhang, expanding the group.

The group faces the Sand Demon at the Flowing Sand River, introducing another challenge and potential ally.

Guanyin reveals the Sand Demon's true identity and provides a magical gourd to subdue him, adding another member to the group.

The group's journey is fraught with perils, both external and internal, as they grow stronger and more enlightened.

After 14 years, the group reaches the Western Lands and is granted the sacred sutras, symbolizing the culmination of their quest.

The group initially receives blank scriptures but is later given the true texts after offering a gift, reflecting the value of perseverance.

Tang Zhang and his disciples are honored in China, but are then taken back to the West to receive amnesty and rewards from Buddha.

Each member of the group is granted a new status in heaven, reflecting their growth and the resolution of their personal journeys.

Transcripts

throughout time people across the world

told each other tales of how they came

to be

of heroes and monsters romance and

tragedy death and rebirth

mythology helped shape the ancient world

explaining the unexplainable

this is

mythology

unleashed

centuries after the monkey king sun

was imprisoned

the buddha observed the people of china

acting greedy

needlessly cruel and violent to one

another

to remedy this

buddha assembled his immortal council

and declared that someone must be chosen

to make the perilous pilgrimage to the

western lands

to the legion temple on vulture peak in

india

and return with three volumes of holy

sutras

so that the people of china may learn

the ways of righteousness and

enlightenment

the goddess guanyin volunteered to find

a worthy champion

to make the journey to the west

guanyin made her way to the city of

changhan

and revealed herself to the tang emperor

tai zhang

and instructed him to select a monk

worthy of the mission set forth by the

buddha

after some deliberation

the monk tang zhang a reincarnation of

the buddha disciple golden cicada

was chosen and bestowed with the name

tripitaka

after the scriptures he was commissioned

to acquire

at court the next morning

tai zhong assembled his civil and

military officials

and wrote out the document tang zhang

would need to fetch the scriptures

stamping it with the imperial seal

granting him the right to travel freely

tong zhang began his journey in the

company of two attendants and rode upon

a magnificent white horse

early one morning before the sun rose

the horse stumbled and the travelers

plummeted into a pit and were captured

by an evil demon king and his

cannibalistic horde

the demons ruthlessly devoured the two

attendants

saving tang zhang to eat later

believing his enlightened mind would

grant them immortality

just when all seemed lost

tai bai jin zing the evening star

disguised as an old man appeared before

seongzang

and broke him free of all his bonds with

a wave of his hand

swiftly

tai bai jinxing escorted tang seong

zhong and his horse far and away to

safety

traveling alone for a time

tong zhang soon found himself in the

presence of a hungry tiger

believing his journey was to be cut

short the monk prepared himself for

death

but his fate would have it

the tiger was driven off by the arrival

of a hunter named lubo kin

after recovering his strength at the

hunter's abode

bulkin escorted tang zhang as far as he

could

stopping at the foothills of five

elements mountain

where sun wukong lay imprisoned

as the two were about to say their

goodbyes the silence of the forest was

broken by the excited cheers of the

monkey king celebrating that his master

had finally arrived his captivity soon

to be put to an end

the monk and the hunter made their way

to a small opening where sun wukong

peeked his head out

he explained to them who he was

and of the havoc he caused against the

gods all those centuries ago leading to

his current imprisonment by buddha

he revealed to them that guanyin herself

came to him sometime before

and told him of the monk tang sangsang

who would free him up from the mountain

in return for his loyal service and

protection on the journey to the west

it was certainly a lot to take in

and tongsung zhong had not the first

idea of how to release the monkey king

sun wukong told him of a detention order

on the mountain summit

written in gold letters by buddha

himself

upon reaching the summit

tung sung

knelt down

recited the words

bowed his head to the ground and removed

the seal

[Music]

no sooner was the detention order

removed that the ground shook

and shattered and the monkey king sun wu

kong was free at last

he bowed before tung sung zhang

thanked him profusely

and swore his fealty to the monk

sun wu kong and tungsung zhang traveled

together for a time

but it was clear that it would not be an

easy journey for the two of them

not only due to the vast distance and

the many obstacles in their path

but the peaceful and gentle ways of the

monk often clashed with the stubborn

pride and violent tendencies of the

monkey king

to ensure that the unruly monkey would

better heed the words of tang zhang zang

guan yin granted the monk a gold band to

place on sun wukong's head

one that could not be removed

and would tighten with a magical

incantation

when the band would tighten

sun wukong would be in sheer agony

despite his physical prowess

from that point on sun hu kong did his

best to hold his tongue and obey tong

zhang as his disciple

[Music]

tong seong zhong and sun wu kong reached

the eagle sorrow gorge in the coiled

snake mountain and before them

lay a vast river

suddenly the calm waters were broken as

an immense white dragon rose from the

river and in the blink of an eye the

great beast snatched the horse from

beneath the monk and swallowed it whole

saddle and all

without a second thought sun wukong

fearlessly jumped into the river and

battled the

dragon as mighty a combatant as sun

gokong was he could not gain advantage

over the powerful creature in its own

element

the flight raged on until the

intervention of guan yin

who told the dragon that sun wukong is

in fact the disciple of the monk he had

been waiting for

the monk whose horse he had just

consumed

humiliated and ashamed the dragon

instantly transformed into the visage of

a beautiful white stallion to replace

the one he had eaten

the three continued on

with tong zhong astride the white dragon

horse

at a pace and speed far greater than any

mortal horse

the traveler soon came upon a village

draped in sadness

an old man

named gao related his troubles to the

monk and his disciple

about how his daughter was abducted by a

large gluttonous demon with a face like

a pig

who would consume endless amounts of

food

it had been six months since gao and his

family had seen their daughter

food was becoming scarce

and they began to despair

sun wukong offered gao his services to

save the man's daughter and rid the land

of this pig demon

sun wukong tracked the demon to his lair

the demon was away but he found the girl

alive and unharmed

he set her free and returned her to her

father

before going back to deal with the pig

monster

the monkey king

transformed into the perfect likeness of

gao's daughter

and waited for his enemy

the pig demon returned that very night

and thinking sun wukong was in fact his

captive bride

went to embrace the beautiful girl

the monkey king struck him hard on the

snout

shed his disguise

and engaged the pig demon in combat

despite the pig creatures bulk he

managed to keep pace against sun woo

kong's flurry of attacks his rake

against the monkey staff

amidst the duel

sun wu kong let slip who he was and that

he served at tang zhang

in an instant

the pig stopped fighting and demanded to

see the venerated monk

the pig demon introduced himself as

jubaji

who was once the commander-in-chief of

80 000 heavenly naval soldiers

until he drunkenly attempted to seduce

the moon goddess changha and her

daughter

as a result he was stripped of his title

and banished to earth

and told by guan yin to await the

arrival of tong sun zhang and aid him on

his journey for the sutras

jubaji swore fealty to tungsang zhang

who took him as an additional disciple

the travelers came to a flowing sand

river

300 miles wide

as the three of them approached the

river

they heard the waves make a roar like

the collapsing of a mountain

as a hideous spirit emerged from the

water

the sand demon had an ugly face a red

beard balding scalp and a menacing

necklace of nine skulls about his neck

jubaji engaged the creature in battle

three bouts they fought with jubaji

scarcely slowing his opponent down

sun wukong unable to battle properly in

the water sought the aid of guan yin

guan yin told him that the ogre of the

flowing sands river is the mortal

incarnation

of the great curtain-lifting general

xiaowu jing

and a believer whom she converted

herself and instructed to protect those

who would be coming to fetch the

scriptures

she then gave him a magic gourd with

which to stop xiaojing's attack

as with the dragon and jupaji

relented his advances

apologized for his actions

and swore his loyalty to tung-sang-zhang

who dubbed him friar sand

the gourd was placed in the sand river

where it grew to the size of a large

raft

the travelers boarded and continued on

their fabled journey

the journey to the west was long and

arduous filled with immense perils

the group faced vast natural obstacles

and calamities

bandits and sorcerers demons and

monsters

but not only did they battle with

enemies and elements

they would each struggle with their own

inner natures and clash amongst each

other

but no matter what danger they met or

what challenge lay before them

tsang seong zhang and his disciples

always managed to overcome the obstacles

both inward and outward

growing stronger and more enlightened

with every step of their dangerous

adventure

after 14 years of traveling they at last

came into sight of the western lands

carpeted with lush grass and flowers and

filled with kind and welcoming people

and just over the horizon

they could see

vulture peak

after a hard ascension

the travelers were brought before buddha

himself

after the pilgrims prostrated themselves

before him the buddha presented them

with the sacred sutras

only

these scrolls were absent words

when put to question

the buddha explained that the scriptures

could not be casually passed on

nor taken away for nothing

the group had arrived without gifts or

offerings and so were given the textless

scriptures

but because they could not bring back

blank texts to china

the buddhist brought out this true

scriptures with words and gave them to

tungsang zhang

who offered his goldbegging bowl as a

gift

the monk and his disciples were escorted

back to china with the sutras

a journey that took them 14 years on

foot taking only a handful of days to

return

tang zhang delivered the sutras to

emperor tai zhong

who honored them with a grand feast

but before the celebration could

commence

the four travelers and their dragon

horse

were taken by their divine escorts to

return to the west

eight days after they had left the

western lands they were once again back

in the presence of buddha

who bestowed upon them amnesty for their

past offenses

and gifts for their courage and

sacrifice

who in a previous life as the golden

cicada disrespected the buddha and was

demoted to be reborn as a chinese mortal

was granted buddhahood

as the

who centuries ago insulted the jade

emperor and battled the gods was granted

buddhahood as well

earning the title the victorious

fighting buddha

jubaji

though he had proved himself time and

time again

still had not overcome his basest

instincts of lust and gluttony

and was not granted buddhahood

but instead was made the cleaner of the

altars

spending an eternity eating to his

heart's content

once a mighty general exiled to earth

for destroying a crystal bowl of the

jade emperor

was made the golden arhan

bailong ma

the white dragon horse who disgraced his

own father was made a heavenly dragon of

the eight classes of being

the five of them took their respective

places in heaven

and so ended

the journey to the west