Sun Wukong

**Pantheon**: Chinese

**Title**: The Monkey King

## Smite Lore

Warrior, rebel, trickster, monk, Sun Wukong is known by many titles in the East, yet it was a Journey to the West that made him a hero.

In his youth, Sun Wukong gained leadership of the monkey tribes, learned secret arts and spells from a Taoist monk, and acquired the legendary Ruyi Jingu Bang from Ao Kuang, a staff that could change size according to his whim. He defied death itself by wiping his name from the Book of Life and Death, and united many of the other monster tribes who sought to ally with him, an act that garnered the attention of the Jade Emperor.

In an effort to better control the Monkey-King, the Jade Emperor awarded him a title, but when Sun Wukong discovered his new position was little more than “stable boy” he grew angry and declared himself “Great Sage, Equal of Heaven,” and waged war on the heavens. For this treasonous act, he was finally captured and imprisoned beneath a mountain for five centuries.

At long last, the humble monk Xuanzang was seeking disciples to protect him while on his legendary Journey to the West to collect the Indian Sutras. Sun Wukong gladly agreed to serve him, but the Buddha wrapped a golden circlet around the Monkey King's head so that Xuanzang could control him. With three other disciples, they faced eighty-one trials during their quest, and collected the sutras. For his service and strength, Sun Wukong was awarded Buddhahood, finally ascending to heaven and gaining immortality.

## Megami Tensei Lore

The main protagonist of the famous novel: *Journey to the West*. An unnamed monkey born from a huge rock. After he has mastered 72 marvelous magic skills he names himself "Sun Wukong" (孫悟空, translates to "Son Gokū in the Japanese on'yomi reading). "Sun" is a common Chinese surname, and "Wukong" is a Buddhist given name meaning "enlightened to emptiness," given to him by his master Bohdi who taught him the said magic skills. He violates everywhere he pleases such as the hell for extending his lifespan and Celestial Court for stealing the Peaches of Immortality, and thus before the novel starts, he was well known for causing havoc that shook the heavens through his rebellious attitude, but has a notable soft side and cunning, confident exterior; though his personality said to be very volatile.

"Seiten Taisei" is the Japanese translation of the Chinese name "Qitian Dasheng" (齊天大聖) which translates to "Equaling Heaven Great Sage," a title Sun Wukong placed on himself when trying to win the respect of the heavens the second time by force. At one time, Ox-Head and Horse-Face attempted to capture him, but Wukong overpowered them and scared them away. After that, he breaks into the underworld, where he crosses out his name and that of his people from the record of living souls, thus granting immortality to himself and his monkey followers. He eventually pulls off even more audacious deeds such as drinking and eating the sacred food for the Jade Emperor in heaven due to a banquet he was not invited to, increasing even more of his durability and longevity alike.

After his rampage in heaven where he breaks free from his execution confinements (and even from the giant furnace used in an attempt to turn him into an elixir), Buddha is called on by the Jade Emperor as a last resort. Buddha grants Wukong a challenge he is unable to overcome and thus he is imprisoned under the Five Finger Mountain for 500 years until he is freed by Xuanzang and joins his journey towards India with two other companions, Zhu Baijie and Sha Wujing, to obtain the Hindu scriptures, along with encountering a variety of demons along the way who act as antagonists.

It is believed that Sun Wukong's creation by the author of the book was heavily influenced by the Hindu monkey god, Hanuman.