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In recent days, the domestic game "Black Myth: Wukong" born on the shore of West Lake has created a whirlwind. And this whirlwind has not only affected the gaming industry. When the word "Wukong" appeared on the screen, when watching him holding the golden hoop and fighting against heaven and earth, countless people were moved.

When we were young, we saw this monkey as the omnipotent Monkey King; when we grew up, we saw him as the Monkey King who went through 81 trials and tribulations to obtain the true scriptures. He was extraordinary and capable, but he also had bitterness and pain, and even helplessness. He embodied many of the qualities we value, and released an indomitable force. No matter how much time has passed, everyone has a Sun Wukong in their heart.

One can't help but ask, why do so many people love Wukong? How was Wukong made?

Screenshot of the 1986 TV series "Journey to the West" Source: "CCTV News" WeChat public account

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It seems that every summer vacation, the 1986 version of the TV series "Journey to the West" will arrive as promised. The Ruyi Jingu Bang, the 72 Transformations, the Havoc in Heaven, the Three Fights with the White Bone Demon... Many people are familiar with the story of Sun Wukong when they were still unable to read.

In addition to this widely circulated TV series, the novel "Journey to the West", which was born in the late Ming Dynasty, has been repeatedly adapted into other art forms and appeared in animation, novels, movies, and games around the world. Some netizens joked that Wukong saved Chinese movies and Chinese animation, and now he is back to save Chinese games. Today, the image of Wukong has become a super IP, and it is far more than just "72 transformations".

For example, the warm and kind-hearted Goku.At the beginning of 2023, a Chinese fantasy animation short film collection "Chinese Tales" became popular on the Internet. The first episode "Little Monster's Summer" is related to "Journey to the West". In the film, Sun Wukong is warm and bright, and can distinguish between good and evil. He spared the innocent little pig monster and promised the little pig monster three "life-saving hairs". Many netizens commented: "This is the Monkey King in my mind!"

For example, Goku who starts over again.How high is Sun Wukong's "power value"? This was once a hot topic among netizens on social platforms. However, in the movie "The Return of the Great Sage" and the online novel "The Legend of Wukong", Wukong, who lost his magical powers, was once lonely and frustrated, but in the end, with the company of his friends, he rekindled his belief in fighting. As written in "The Legend of Wukong": "I have been to this world, I have fought, I have loved deeply, and I don't care about the ending."

For example, Goku who levels up by beating monsters.The Goku we are familiar with is a stone monkey, who is clever, naughty, and wise. In the Japanese manga "Dragon Ball", Son Goku was originally a naive child. He trained in Kame House, fought wild monsters, and upgraded all the way with the aura of the protagonist. He could go berserk and become a "Super Saiyan", and he could also gather the power of the entire universe to give Majin Buu a spirit bomb. When he was a child, many people expected him to "collect the dragon balls and summon the dragon".

For example, Wukong who is loved but cannot be loved."I once had a true love, but I didn't cherish it. When I lost it, I regretted it. This is the most painful thing in the world." The movie "A Chinese Odyssey" connects Wukong's struggle and fulfillment with love, which hits the audience hard. The moment when Zhizunbao put on the golden hoop and "grew" into Wukong became a classic in the minds of a generation.

However, among the many adaptations, there are also some images of Wukong that have been complained about by netizens. For example, in a Korean drama adapted from "Journey to the West", Sun Wukong became a handsome boy, Tang Seng became a woman, and the two even fell in love.

The source of the movie "A Chinese Odyssey": Screenshot from the Internet

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No matter how the image of Sun Wukong changes, people still love the "naughty monkey" who holds the golden hoop and dares to resist injustice and fight against fate. As some netizens said, Sun Wukong is one of the most chivalrous characters in Chinese literature. His behavior and character make him a hero in our hearts.

He went to heaven and earth.When we were young, watching Journey to the West on TV, we often imagined that we could be like Sun Wukong, who could transform into various forms, fly through the clouds, and flip out of our parents' hands with a somersault. We could also pull out a few hairs and blow them to have a group of friends to play with us. Becoming the omnipotent Sun Wukong was the childhood dream of many people.

Just like Iron Man and Wolverine in the American Marvel movies, Sun Wukong is our own superhero. He suddenly appeared out of nowhere, and the world shook when he "jumped" out of the stone; he made a big fuss in the Heavenly Palace, and he moved freely under the siege of 100,000 heavenly soldiers and generals; he subdued demons and monsters, and the words "I am here, Sun Wukong" made people's blood boil.

He is neither humble nor arrogant。From going down to the Dragon Palace to steal the golden hoop, to breaking into the underworld to change the Book of Life and Death, to causing havoc in the Heavenly Palace, Sun Wukong's neither humble nor arrogant is vividly reflected in "Journey to the West".

“There is only one true heroism in the world, and that is to still love life after seeing the truth of life.” Although he was suppressed under the Five Finger Mountain for 500 years, Sun Wukong on his journey to obtain Buddhist scriptures still hated evil and faced all kinds of demons and monsters. “Wherever there is danger, I will be there, and I will lead the charge after having experienced hundreds of battles.”

When facing ordinary people, he was not as ruthless and brutal as he was when slaying demons and monsters, but was kind-hearted and willing to lend a helping hand many times. For example, in order to save Fengxian County where there had been no rain for three years, he bravely went to the Heavenly Palace to discuss the pros and cons with the Jade Emperor.

He is wise and insightful.When the four masters and apprentices arrived at the Wuzhuang Temple on the Wanshou Mountain during their journey to the West, although they had not even taken one stop out of the ten steps to reach the destination, Wukong comforted them: "As long as you are sincere in your nature, the place where you turn your mind back is the sacred mountain."

The journey to obtain the scriptures is like the journey of life, the road is not smooth, and looking back on the road will also have many regrets. When the great task of obtaining the scriptures was about to be completed, the master and his disciples accidentally damaged the scriptures on the drying stone. Wukong comforted everyone: "The world is not complete, and this scripture was originally complete. Now it is damaged. This is the mystery of incompleteness. How can human power explain it!"

Content related to Sun Wukong shared by netizens Source: Screenshot of social platform

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"I wanted to be Sun Wukong, but ended up being Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing." This comment from a netizen resonated with many people. Although everyone has a Sun Wukong in their heart, it is not easy to become a superhero.

Without the flaming eyes, the golden hoop, the seventy-two transformations, or the somersault cloud, facing the "ninety-nine eighty-one obstacles" on the road to growth, do you still want to become Wukong? In this regard, the author would like to say three things.

"It is more important to embark on the journey to obtain scriptures than to reach Lingshan Mountain."In recent days, this sentence has been flooding many people's WeChat Moments. Everyone has their own "Lingshan" in their hearts, which is our heroic dream and goal pursuit. The journey to obtain scriptures is destined to be full of dangers and difficulties, just like the lives of most people, which are not smooth sailing.

But to realize our ideals, we can only rely on realistic and long-term efforts. Instead of thinking too much and worrying too much, it is better to take the first step bravely. Many things in life cannot wait until we are fully equipped before we start. Often we take the first step, then improve ourselves step by step, and slowly increase our "strength". Even if the steps are small and the goals are far away, every inch of progress brings joy, "accumulating small steps leads to a thousand miles", even if each level is difficult, it will be passed. Sometimes the results may not be perfect, but at least there will be no regrets when looking back.

"It is better to make your own decision than to seek divination from the gods."Sun Wukong's skills did not come out of thin air. After he jumped out of the stone, he traveled across the ocean and learned from a master. By the time he arrived at the Three Stars Cave in the Slanting Moon on Fangcun Mountain, more than ten years had passed.

On the journey to the West, Sun Wukong was wronged by Tang Monk many times, but he never changed his mind and remained loyal. When he was driven away, he still remembered to ask Sha Monk to protect his master well; when his master was in trouble, he said without hesitation: "I will return to the Water Curtain Cave in my body, but follow the monk who is seeking scriptures in my heart."

We can never have the skills of Wukong, but he is not afraid of danger to learn real skills, and use them to protect the people he wants to protect, which is worth learning. As the saying goes, "If you rely on the mountain, the mountain will fall; if you rely on people, they will run away." You have to decide your own destiny. Being strong is the most reliable skill and the greatest confidence on the "journey to the scriptures."

“Find your own Flower-Fruit Mountain.”When Sun Wukong left the Heavenly Palace for the first time because he was dissatisfied with his position as Bimawen, and when he was expelled from the pilgrimage team due to Tang Monk's misunderstanding, the first thing he thought of was to return to Huaguo Mountain. After entering this world, Sun Wukong was free and unrestrained, and he could put aside the pilgrimage and becoming a Buddha.

Faced with a busy life and increasingly demanding work, people always feel tired. Like Wukong, we need to find our own Flower-Fruit Mountain, forget about KPIs and worries for the time being, and accumulate the courage and energy to start again.

“No matter how high the mountain is, there will always be a path for travelers; no matter how deep the water is, there will always be ferrymen.” To become Wukong does not mean you have to become a superhero like him, but to try to have more strength and wisdom to move forward when you are confused and things are not going well.