Wukong: The Ultimate Guide to the Monkey King in League of Legends
Wukong: The Monkey King of Chinese Mythology and Pop Culture
If you are a fan of Chinese culture, fantasy literature, or video games, you have probably heard of Wukong, the Monkey King. He is one of the most famous and beloved characters in Chinese mythology, literature, and pop culture. He is also a source of inspiration for many other fictional characters and works around the world. But who is Wukong, where did he come from, what can he do, and why is he so popular? In this article, we will explore the origin, story, powers, and influence of Wukong, the Monkey King.
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Introduction
Who is Wukong?
Wukong, also known as Sun Wukong (孙悟空) in Mandarin Chinese, is a monkey-like creature who acquires supernatural powers through Taoist practices. He is best known as one of the main characters in the 16th-century Chinese novel Journey to the West (西游记), and many later stories and adaptations. In Journey to the West, he accompanies the monk Tang Sanzang (唐三藏) and two other disciples, Zhu Bajie (猪八戒) and Sha Wujing (沙悟净), on a quest to obtain Buddhist scriptures from India. Along the way, he encounters many dangers, enemies, and challenges, but also displays his courage, loyalty, intelligence, and humor.
Why is Wukong popular?
Wukong is popular for many reasons. First of all, he is a complex and dynamic character who undergoes significant development throughout his story. He starts as a rebellious and arrogant troublemaker who defies the gods and causes chaos in heaven, but gradually learns humility, compassion, and self-control as he follows his master and helps him achieve enlightenment. He also has a playful and witty personality that makes him appealing to readers and audiences of all ages. Secondly, he is a powerful and versatile hero who possesses many amazing abilities that allow him to overcome any obstacle or enemy. He can transform into any animal or object, fly on clouds, lift mountains, fight armies, and even rival the Buddha himself. He also has a magical staff that can change its size and weight at his will, and hairs that can turn into clones or weapons. Thirdly, he is a cultural icon who represents many aspects of Chinese culture, such as Taoism, Buddhism, folklore, martial arts, literature, art, and humor. He is widely recognized and respected as a symbol of wisdom, bravery, loyalty, justice, and creativity.
Wukong's Origin Story
Birth from a stone
According to Journey to the West, Wukong was born from a stone egg that was formed from an ancient rock on the Mountain of Flowers and Fruit (花果山). The rock was nourished by the essence of heaven and earth for thousands of years until it cracked open and released a stone monkey. The stone monkey was curious about the world and soon joined a group of monkeys who lived in a nearby waterfall. He became their leader after he bravely jumped into the waterfall and discovered a hidden cave behind it. The monkeys named the cave the Water Curtain Cave (水帘洞 Journey to the Water Curtain Cave
The stone monkey and his followers lived happily in the Water Curtain Cave for many years, enjoying the fruits and flowers of the mountain. However, the stone monkey was not satisfied with his life. He wanted to learn the secrets of immortality and the arts of magic. He decided to leave his home and travel the world in search of a master who could teach him these skills. He encountered many dangers and adventures along the way, such as fighting a demon king, meeting a dragon king, and visiting the underworld. He also acquired several names, such as Sun Wukong (meaning "awakened to emptiness"), Handsome Monkey King (美猴王), and Great Sage Equal to Heaven (齐天大圣).
Rebellion against heaven
After learning the Taoist arts of immortality and magic from a sage named Subhuti (须菩提), Wukong returned to his mountain and resumed his leadership of the monkeys. He also made friends with other powerful beings, such as the Bull Demon King (牛魔王) and the Princess Iron Fan (铁扇公主). However, his fame and power soon attracted the attention of the Jade Emperor (玉皇大帝), the ruler of heaven. The Jade Emperor was annoyed by Wukong's arrogance and mischief, and tried to appease him by giving him a minor position in heaven as the Keeper of the Heavenly Horses (弼马温). Wukong accepted the offer, but soon realized that he was being tricked and humiliated by the heavenly officials. He rebelled against heaven and declared himself the Great Sage Equal to Heaven. He fought against the heavenly army and defeated many gods and generals with his strength and cunning. He even entered the palace of the Jade Emperor and caused havoc there. The Jade Emperor had no choice but to ask for help from the Buddha (佛祖), who challenged Wukong to a bet. The Buddha said that if Wukong could jump out of his palm, he would acknowledge him as the Great Sage Equal to Heaven. Wukong agreed, thinking that it would be easy. He used his cloud-somersaulting technique to fly to the end of the world, where he saw five pillars that he thought were the boundaries of the universe. He marked one of them with his name and urinated on it, then returned to the Buddha's palm. However, he was shocked to see that his name and urine were on one of the Buddha's fingers. The Buddha had tricked him by making his palm appear as the entire world. The Buddha then pressed Wukong under a mountain called the Five Elements Mountain (五行山), where he would remain imprisoned for 500 years.
Wukong's Powers and Abilities
Immortality and invulnerability
Wukong is immortal and invulnerable to most forms of harm. He has mastered the Taoist arts of longevity, such as breathing exercises, meditation, alchemy, and elixirs. He has also eaten several rare and magical fruits that enhanced his lifespan, such as the peaches of immortality (仙桃) from the Queen Mother of the West (西王母), the ginseng fruit (人参果) from a Taoist immortal named Zhenyuanzi (镇元子), and the pills of immortality (仙丹) from Laozi (老子), one of the founders of Taoism. He has also erased his name from the book of life and death in the underworld, making him immune to aging and disease. He can only be harmed by certain weapons or spells that are specially designed to counter his immortality, such as the magic ring that Tang Sanzang wears on his head, or the fire of Samadhi (三昧真火) that burns in Laozi's furnace.
Journey to the West Wukong
Wukong abilities and skills
Wukong cosplay and costumes
Wukong fan art and wallpapers
Wukong guide and build
Wukong lore and history
Wukong quotes and voice lines
Wukong skins and chromas
Wukong tips and tricks
Wukong vs other champions
How to play Wukong jungle
How to play Wukong top
How to play Wukong mid
How to play Wukong support
How to counter Wukong
Best runes for Wukong
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Best team comps for Wukong
Best streamers for Wukong
Monkey King legends and myths
Monkey King movies and shows
Monkey King comics and books
Monkey King games and apps
Monkey King statues and figurines
Monkey King tattoos and symbols
Monkey King culture and religion
Monkey King festivals and celebrations
Monkey King temples and shrines
Monkey King martial arts and weapons
Sun Wukong meaning and origin
Sun Wukong pronunciation and translation
Sun Wukong variations and spellings
Sun Wukong synonyms and antonyms
Sun Wukong anagrams and palindromes
Sun Wukong related words and phrases
Sun Wukong rhymes and puns
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Sun Wukong trivia and facts
Sun Wukong stories and poems
72 transformations and cloud-somersaulting
Wukong can transform into any animal or object he can think of, using a technique called the 72 transformations (七十二变). He can also change his size, shape, color, or appearance at will. He can use this skill to disguise himself, escape from danger, or trick his enemies. However, he cannot change his tail, which always remains visible in his transformations. He can also fly on clouds using a technique called cloud-somersaulting (筋斗云). He can travel 108,000 li (54,000 km) in one somersault, making him extremely fast and agile in the air.
Ruyi Jingu Bang and magical hairs
Wukong's weapon of choice is a staff called Ruy y Jingu Bang (如意金箍棒), which means "the compliant golden-hooped rod". He obtained this staff from the Dragon King of the Eastern Sea (东海龙王), who had stored it in his treasury as a pillar that supported the sea. The staff can change its size and weight according to Wukong's command, from as small as a needle to as large as a mountain. It is extremely heavy and powerful, capable of smashing rocks, mountains, and even planets. Wukong also has magical hairs on his body that he can pluck and blow into the air, creating clones of himself or various objects or weapons. He can also use his hairs to transform into other things, such as a giant hand or a bridge.
Wukong's Role in Journey to the West
Release from the Five Elements Mountain
Wukong remained trapped under the Five Elements Mountain for 500 years, until he was freed by Tang Sanzang, a Buddhist monk who was sent by the Bodhisattva Guanyin (观音) to retrieve the sacred scriptures from India. Guanyin told Tang Sanzang that he could use Wukong as his disciple and protector, but he had to control him with a magic ring that she gave him. The ring was placed on Wukong's head and could tighten and cause him pain whenever Tang Sanzang recited a mantra. Wukong agreed to serve Tang Sanzang and follow the Buddhist teachings, hoping to atone for his sins and earn redemption.</