The Ape Sun Wu Kung
A magical stone ape is born from a rock on the Mountain of Flowers and Fruits, where he soon becomes king of the local apes. He lives in bliss for three hundred years until he realizes that death is inevitable for all living things. Seeking to escape this fate, he sets out to find the secrets of immortality among the gods and spirits. His adventures take him across the seas to learn magic from a wise master. Once he gains his powers, he returns home with newfound confidence and strength. He travels to the Dragon-Queen and her daughter's domain in the Eastern Sea to acquire a magical weapon. Later, he confronts the ten Princes of the Dead by striking their names from the book of life. This act of defiance angers the Lord of the Heavens, who sends gods to arrest him. The Evening Star intervenes, suggesting that Sun Wu Kung be given a post in heaven rather than punished immediately. He is appointed stablemaster but grows offended by his low rank among the heavenly servants. Feeling insulted, he rebels against the heavenly court and causes chaos in the palaces above. The Lord of the Heavens sends Marshal Li Dsing and other deities to subdue the unruly ape. Despite their efforts, Sun Wu Kung proves too powerful for them to capture him easily. Finally, Buddha arrives to challenge the ape to a contest of flight across his palm. Sun Wu Kung believes he has reached the end of the world, but Buddha reveals he never left his finger. The ape is trapped under a mountain by Buddha’s power for hundreds of years as punishment. Eventually, he reforms and is released to serve as the protector of a monk on a holy journey. He wears a golden circlet that tightens if he disobeys, ensuring his loyalty. Through this discipline, he becomes a well-mannered companion on the quest for holy writings.
