Mythical Monkeys

Buddha himself was alerted to the problem of the monkey, and came to capture the beast. He offered Monkey King a challenge - if Monkey King could leap out of Buddha's reach, he would be left alone to rule heaven. Monkey King sneered at this challenge, thinking it a joke, and leaped to the edge of the universe, where he scratched his name and urinated on a row of five pillars. He then returned to Buddha and boasted of his feat. When Buddha held up his hand and revealed Monkey King's name written on his finger the Great Sage knew he had in fact been beaten. Monkey King was imprisoned for five hundred years, until he was released by Guan Yin to aid a Buddhist monk in his quest to India for religious scriptures. The story of this journey makes up the bulk of the book "Journey to the West".

It should be noted that the story of Monkey King is not mythology proper. It is in fact literature, as "Journey to the West" has a definite author and its writing is firmly rooted in history. However, its popularity since its writing in the 14th century has granted Monkey King a sort of semi-mythological presence in Chinese culture. As well, Monkey King represents an idea much older than the work itself. In Buddhist tradition there is a state of mind known as "monkey mind", when one's thoughts leap from one idea to the next without sincere concentration. Monkey King is "monkey mind" personified. We also see that "monkey mind" can be overcome. Over the course of his pilgrimage alongside the Buddhist monk Monkey King learns lessons of concentration and responsibility, and eventually redeems himself.

We have seen two very different portraits of monkeys in myth: one as a loyal, dedicated companion, and one as a trouble making braggart. In the end, however, both are heroes. As well, both represent important ideas in the traditions they represent - devotion and the possibility of redemption.

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