Sun Wukong, the Monkey King

Chinese literature · magical powers · adventure

Stone-born monkey. Sun Wukong hatches from a magical stone and becomes the Monkey King after learning incredible Taoist powers that let him fly and fight with a magical staff.

Imprisoned for 500 years. After rebelling against heaven, Buddha traps Sun Wukong under a mountain as punishment. He stays trapped for five centuries until a monk needs his help.

Journey westward quest. Sun Wukong travels with monk Tang Sanzang and two other companions to the Western Paradise, facing challenges and demons along the way to fetch sacred Buddhist texts.

Literature legend. Sun Wukong appears in Journey to the West, one of China's most famous novels from the 1500s that has inspired countless stories, shows, and movies around the world.

Super strong powers. He can jump 108,000 miles, shapeshift into different creatures, and summon clouds to ride across the sky.