Sha Wujing
As can be seen, the complete version of "Journey to the West" anonymously published in 1592 borrowed liberally from tales concerning "Shensha shen". The character of Sha Wujing was given his monstrous appearance and dress. The skulls of the nine Buddhist monks hanging from his head recalls both the demon skulls worn by the spirit, and the skulls of Tang Sanzang's past incarnations worn by his wrathful counterpart from the "Kōzanji" version. His home of the "Flowing Sands River" ("Liusha he" 流沙河) is derived from the "Flowing Sands" desert inhabited by "Shensha shen". Sha Wujing also aids Tang Sanzang pass over the Flowing Sands River by tying his nine skulls into a makeshift raft.