'Journey to the West', a Chinese Magic Novel #1 Quiz

Answer: A stone

In Chinese folklore, the stone birth means that the Monkey is dull and stupid and impenetrably thickheaded, so he is not easily tamed. Also the stone birth implies that the Monkey is sexless.

Answer: Because he was "clever enough to go through the fall, find the source, and come out in one piece".

All monkeys bathed in a stream and wondered where that water came from. So they reached the source, where a waterfall cascaded from a spring. Then a monkey made the suggestion that whoever went through the fall and came out in one piece would be made the king. Among all monkeys, only the stone monkey met the challenge. In the end he led all monkeys into the Cave of the Water Curtain.

It is said that Wu Cheng-en modelled the Mountain of Flowers and Fruits and the Cave of the Water Curtain on a mountain in his hometown, Lianyun Gang. Now the mountain has become a famous place for sightseers.

Answer: Taoism

The acts and the ways of Sun Wukong, the Monkey, accord with Taoism very closely. In the end he is tamed by Buddhism. But he is totally incompatible with Confucianism: he fights heaven and wants to be the Emperor himself.

Answer: Three life-saving hairs

First the Monkey acquired his name, Sun Wukong, from Patriarch Subhuti and then he learned many skills there. Acquiring the Way of Immortality, he became immortal. Acquiring the Seventy-two Earthly Transformations, he was able to avoid the Three Disasters. Acquiring the Somersault Cloud, he could travel sixty thousand miles with one somersault.

Three life-saving hairs were given to him by the Bodhissattva Guanyin in Chapter 15.

Answer: At the dragon palace of the Eastern Sea

After failing to get a suitable weapon at the country of Aolai, Sun Wukong went to the Dragon palace of the Eastern Sea and forcibly took away AS-YOU-WILL GOLD-BANDED CUDGEL, which was used to anchor the Milky Way in place. Then in his sleep he was dragged into the World of Darkness, where he crossed out his own name and all the names in the monkey section, so they wouldn't be under the control of King Yama anymore. Last the Dragon King of the Eastern Sea and the King of Qinguang presented a memorial of complaint to the Jade Emperor in the Hall of Miraculous Mist about what Sun Wukong did.

Answer: Protector of the Horses

This office was really too humble for Sun Wukong, so he left heaven immediately. The title of Protector of the Horses was a lifelong disgrace for Sun Wukong; each time he fought a demon afterwards, he would be humiliated by being addressed this way.

Administrator of the Peach Orchard was the office given to Sun Wukong when he went to heaven the second time.

Answer: Great Sage Equaling Heaven

After returning to the Mountain of Flowers and Fruit, Sun Wukong put up a pole to hang a banner with the title of "Great Sage Equaling Heaven" on it, which he demanded that the Jade Emperor grant. The title of Handsome Monkey King was invented by the Monkey himself after taking the Cave of the Water Curtain.

The title of Brother Monkey was given to Sun Wukong by Sanzang when Sanzang freed him from the Five Elements Mountain and took him as a disciple. The title of Victorious Fighting Buddha was granted to Sun Wukong by the Tathagata when the journey to the west was finished and all the scriptures were handed back China.

Answer: Because he was displeased that he was not invited to the Peach Banquet

After failing to conquer him, the Jade Emperor granted Sun Wukong the title of Great Sage Equaling Heaven. He stayed idle in heaven, so he associated with all the stars in the sky. Therefore, the Emperor gave him the job of administering the Peach Orchard to keep him from causing more trouble.

But after learning from the Seven Fairies that he was not on the list of guests to the Peach Banquet by the Queen Mother, he flew into a rage and left heaven after making a big havoc.

Answer: All these three were required

It took the Jade Emperor much trouble to capture Sun Wukong. He beat Pagoda-bearing Heavenly King Li and Prince Nezha and other heavenly soldiers sent by the Emperor along with Huian the Novice sent by Bodhisattva Guanyin. But the god Erlang was really his match.

He was beaten by Erlang in the match of transformations. At last Erlang captured Sun Wukong with the help of his six brothers and Lao Zi and his dog.

Answer: The Tathagata crushed him under the Five Elements Mountain

For sure the Tathagata was the most powerful god in the book. Nothing in heaven could hurt Sun Wukong. He even escaped the burning of Eight Trigrams Furnace and acquired "fire eyes with golden pupils" instead. So the Jade Emperor had to ask the Tathagata to subdue him. After a gamble, the Tathagata crushed him under the Five Elements Mountain in the end.