How to Master Wukong's Abilities, Runes, and Items in LoL S13

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.

wukong

Download Zip

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

Best items for Wukong

Best combos for Wukong

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

Sun Wukong memes and jokes

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.

Protection of Tang Sanzang

Wukong accompanied Tang Sanzang on his journey to the west, along with two other disciples: Zhu Bajie, a pig-like creature who was once a heavenly marshal, and Sha Wujing, a water-dwelling creature who was once a heavenly general. Together, they faced many trials and tribulations, such as crossing rivers, mountains, and deserts, fighting demons and monsters, and escaping traps and temptations. Wukong was the most loyal and reliable of the three disciples, often using his powers and skills to save Tang Sanzang from danger. He also had to deal with the laziness and greed of Zhu Bajie, and the invisibility and silence of Sha Wujing. He sometimes clashed with Tang Sanzang over their different views and methods, but he always respected and obeyed him in the end.

Achievement of Buddhahood

After 14 years of traveling, Wukong and his companions finally reached India and obtained the scriptures from the Buddha. They then returned to China and presented the scriptures to the emperor. For their service and devotion, they were rewarded by the Buddha with different levels of enlightenment and status. Wukong was granted Buddhahood and became known as the Victorious Fighting Buddha (斗战胜佛). He also reconciled with the Jade Emperor and the other gods, who welcomed him back to heaven. He achieved his ultimate goal of immortality and happiness, but also learned the values of humility, compassion, and selflessness.

Wukong's Influence on Modern Media

Adaptations and retellings of Journey to the West

Wukong's story has been adapted and retold in many forms of media, such as novels, comics, films, television shows, operas, plays, musicals, animations, and podcasts. Some of these adaptations are faithful to the original novel, while others are creative reinterpretations or parodies. Some examples of adaptations are: - The Monkey King, a series of films starring Donnie Yen as Wukong. - Monkey, a British-Japanese television series based on a Japanese translation of Journey to the West. - A Chinese Odyssey, a two-part comedy film starring Stephen Chow as Wukong. - The New Legends of Monkey, a New Zealand-Australian web series that reimagines Wukong as a female. - The Lost Tomb, a Chinese novel series that features Wukong as a recurring character.

Inspiration for other fictional characters and works

Wukong has also inspired many other fictional characters and works that are not directly related to Journey to the West, but borrow elements from his story or personality. Some examples are: - Goku, the protagonist of Dragon Ball, a Japanese manga and anime series that is loosely based on Journey to the West. Goku shares many similarities with Wukong, such as his monkey tail, his staff, his cloud, his transformations, - his appetite, and his quest for the dragon balls. - Naruto, the protagonist of Naruto, a Japanese manga and anime series that follows the adventures of a ninja who aspires to become the leader of his village. Naruto has a nine-tailed fox spirit sealed inside him, which gives him incredible power but also makes him an outcast. He also wears an orange jumpsuit and a headband with a metal plate, which resemble Wukong's outfit and golden hoop. - Son Oh-gong, the main character of A Korean Odyssey, a South Korean television series that is a modern adaptation of Journey to the West. Son Oh-gong is a powerful and mischievous monkey god who falls in love with a human woman who can see demons. He also has a contract with her that forces him to protect her whenever she calls his name. - Monkey D. Luffy, the protagonist of One Piece, a Japanese manga and anime series that follows the adventures of a pirate who dreams of finding the ultimate treasure and becoming the king of the pirates. Luffy has a rubber-like body that allows him to stretch and bend in various ways. He also wears a straw hat and has a scar under his left eye, which are similar to Wukong's features.

Representation in video games and esports

Wukong is also a popular character in video games and esports, especially in genres such as role-playing, action-adventure, fighting, and strategy. He often appears as a playable character, an enemy, a boss, or a mascot. He also has many fans and followers who play or watch these games. Some examples of video games that feature Wukong are: - League of Legends, a multiplayer online battle arena game that has Wukong as one of its champions. He is a melee fighter who can use his staff, his clone, and his cyclone to deal damage and deceive his enemies. He is also one of the most popular champions in the game, especially in China, where he is known as Monkey King (猴王). - Warframe, a third-person shooter game that has Wukong as one of its playable characters. He is a warrior who can use his staff, his cloud walker, his defy, and his primal fury to survive and fight in various missions. He is also one of the most versatile and durable characters in the game, able to adapt to any situation. - Smite, a multiplayer online battle arena game that has Sun Wukong as one of its playable gods. He is a warrior who can use his cudgel, his 72 transformations, his master's will, and his somersault cloud to control and damage his enemies. He is also one of the most mobile and flexible gods in the game, able to change his form and role according to the needs of his team. - Black Myth: Wukong, an upcoming action role-playing game that is based on Journey to the West. It is developed by a Chinese studio called Game Science, and features Wukong as the main character. The game promises to deliver stunning graphics, realistic physics, immersive combat, and faithful storytelling.

Conclusion

Wukong is more than just a monkey king. He is a legend, a hero, a rebel, a disciple, a friend, and an inspiration. He is one of the most influential and beloved characters in Chinese mythology and pop culture. He has captivated generations of readers and audiences with his story, powers, and personality. He has also inspired countless other creators and works with his legacy. He is truly a remarkable and fascinating figure that deserves our admiration and respect.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some common questions that people may have about Wukong:

• What does Wukong mean?

Wukong means "awakened to emptiness" or "understanding of emptiness" in Chinese. It is derived from the Sanskrit word Sunyata (空), which is a Buddhist concept that refers to the lack of inherent existence or essence in all phenomena. It also implies wisdom, insight, or enlightenment.

• Is Wukong based on a real monkey?

No, Wukong is not based on a real monkey. He is a fictional character who was created by Wu Cheng'en (吴承恩), the author of Journey to the West. However, some scholars have suggested that Wukong may have been influenced by Hanuman (哈奴曼), the monkey god of Hindu mythology who appears in the epic Ramayana). Hanuman is also a powerful and loyal monkey who helps a human hero in his quest.

• What is the relationship between Wukong and Tang Sanzang?

Wukong and Tang Sanzang have a complex and dynamic relationship that evolves throughout their journey. They are master and disciple, but also friends and partners. Wukong respects and obeys Tang Sanzang as his teacher and leader, but also challenges and questions him as his equal and companion. Tang Sanzang trusts and relies on Wukong as his protector and helper, but also disciplines and restrains him as his mentor and guardian. They sometimes have conflicts and misunderstandings, but they always reconcile and support each other. They share a bond of loyalty, gratitude, and affection that transcends their differences.

• How does Wukong compare to other monkey characters in pop culture?

Wukong is different from other monkey characters in pop culture in several ways. First of all, he is not a typical monkey, but a supernatural being who can speak, think, and act like a human. He also has a human-like appearance, except for his tail, fur, and ears. Secondly, he is not a comic relief or a sidekick, but a main character and a hero. He has a prominent role and a significant impact on the plot and the theme of his story. He also has a complex and multifaceted personality that makes him interesting and relatable. Thirdly, he is not a simple or static character, but a dynamic and evolving one. He undergoes a journey of growth and transformation that changes him from a rebellious and arrogant troublemaker to a humble and compassionate follower of the Buddha.

• What are some of the lessons or messages that Wukong's story teaches us?

Wukong's story teaches us many lessons or messages that are relevant and valuable for our lives. Some of them are: - Nothing is impossible if you have the courage, determination, and creativity to pursue your dreams and goals. - Power and fame are not the ultimate sources of happiness and fulfillment. They can also bring trouble and suffering if they are misused or abused. - Humility and self-control are important virtues that can help you overcome your weaknesses and flaws. - Compassion and loyalty are essential qualities that can help you build strong and lasting relationships with others. - Wisdom and enlightenment are the ultimate goals of life. They can only be achieved by following the right path and the right teachings.

This is the end of my article on Wukong. I hope you enjoyed reading it and learned something new about this amazing character. Thank you for your attention and feedback. 44f88ac181