Week 6 Essay: The Monkey King

This week I read the The Monkey King unit from the Un-Textbook. This unit is about the Stone Ape that is very powerful that becomes the king of the monkeys and apes on his island. The Stone Ape starts to get into mischief which causes the gods to become worried that his powers would be used for evil. The Stone Ape’s mischievous side reminds me of Hanuman from Ramayana. The Stone Ape destroys the Netherworld city is a fit that he has. Hanuman is known to cause destruction around him as well. Hanuman destroys part of the city of Lanka by running around with his tail on fire. Both Hanuman and the Stone Ape are part of the monkey family. They are both skilled in battle and both defeat strong, worthy competitors. The two of them are also able to change their size as they please. I could actually see these stories based off of the same monkey. Maybe Hanuman really is the Stone Ape or vice versa. That would be a crazy twist. I really enjoyed this unit. I think I enjoyed the unit so much because the Stone Ape did remind me so much of Hanuman. Hanuman was my second favorite character from the Ramayana. I liked all of the stories but I really enjoyed both the Handsome King of Apes and The Destiny of Sun Wu Kung. The Handsome King of Apes tells about the beginning of the Stone Ape’s life, how he became king, and his first interaction with the gods. The Destiny of Sun Wu Kung story is about how Buddha is called on by the gods to settle the Stone Ape down. Buddha is able to do so and sets the Stone ape on his destined path. Overall, this is a great unit and it met all of the expectations that I had. 

The Stone Ape

Source: Un-Textbook

Week 6 Storytelling: How the Stone Ape Became King

“Hey Grandpa Baboon, tell us the story of how our Ape King became king,” said the ape children.

“Alright children, I will tell the story but first you have to stop monkeying around and be good little apes,” replied Grandpa Baboon.

All the ape children settled down and Grandpa Baboon started the story.

The story starts on a dark night many years ago. An egg was laid by the mountain and from it hatched a stone ape. He learned to walk and by doing so golden beams shot from his eyes all the way to the heavens. The beams were so bright that night turned to day. All the monkeys and apes woke up thinking daylight had come early but started their day. The stone ape closed his eyes and restrained the beams from returning causing darkness to fall on the earth again. This caused all the monkeys and apes to go crazy. The stone ape heard the commotion and went to see what was going on. He found the monkeys and apes yelling and screaming and running around crazily. He tried to ask what was going on but no one would stop freaking out. To put a stop to the madness, the stone ape let the gold beams out again. This caused all the monkeys and apes to stop. The stone ape closed his eyes and pulled the beams back. He was then welcomed to the family. 

The stone ape learned to act like an actual ape and started helping out around the island. He became very strong and powerful but he was unaware of his strength. He would accidentally knock down a tree or break a boulder by jumping on it. The Elder Baboons saw the great power laying inside the stone ape and started teaching him how to control himself. After a couple of years, the stone monkey had worked his way up the ranks and was considered one of the leaders of the island. During a meeting of the leaders they decided they needed a king to protect them and help rule over the island. All of the leaders wanted the title. They decided that the first ape to pass under the waterfall without injury would become king. All of the leaders except the stone ape tried but turned back because the water fell too hard on them. Once all the other leaders had their chance, the stone ape decided to try. He jumped through the waterfall without a problem. All the leaders were mesmerized and made the stone ape the king. 

The Stone Ape Jumps Through the Waterfall

Web Source: Un-Textbook

Author’s note: I did my reading over The Monkey King particularly the Handsome King of Apes part. This story I thought was really great. The beginning part of the stone ape’s life isn’t talked about much. So I thought I would add a lot to the beginning of his life. The original story tells about just the beams shining the first time and the stone ape jumping through the waterfall to become king. I added all the rest of the story. I hope you like it. 

Bibliography: The Monkey King by R. Wilhelm and translated by Frederick H. Martens (1921). Website: Un-Texbook

Week 6 Reading Diary: The Monkey King

Handsome King of Apes: A stone ape was born. He joined the other apes. He was able to jump through a waterfall without being hurt. He was then made the king of the apes.

The Great Sea: King of Apes realized one day they would all die. He sets out to find immortality. He didn’t find anything for 9 years in Asia so he floated across the Western Sea. Once across he spotted a high mountain.

Sun Wu Kung Gets His Name: He meets a wood chopper who tells him a saint lives in a cave on the mountain. The saint’s disciple invites him in. The saint gives the King of Apes the name Sun Wu Kung. He learned many things from the saint in the 7 years he was there but not how to lose his wild side.

The Master: The master (saint) is going to tech him the truth. Sun refuses to learn anything that won’t give him eternal life. This angers the master. It was a plan of the masters to teach Sun in the middle of the night. Sun goes to the master in the middle of the night.

Learning the Art: Sun learned the way to eternal life but this took him another 3 years. 3 dangers now awaited Sun. The master taught him how to transform himself 72 times. He also learned to fly.

Sun Wu Kung Departs: Sun shows some of the other pupils his tricks. This makes the master upset so he send Sun away and tells him to never tell anyone he was his pupil.

The Devil King: Sun went back to his ape island. He learned that the Devil King attacked his island. Sun goes after the Devil. He defeats the devil and gets the children back to the island.

The Dragon King: Sun steals weapons from a city. Sun goes to the Dragon King to get a weapon made for him. The Dragon King could not find a weapon that suited Sun.

The Dragon Queen: The queen tells about the rod used to determine the depth of the sea. Sun likes it. Sun threatens the Dragon King with the rod and tells him to get him a suit of armor. The Dragon Kings Brothers give him armor. Sun returns home.

The Nether World: Sun destroys to netherworld city and then crosses the apes off the Book of Life so that they wouldn’t die.

The Lord of Heavens: The lord of heaven is going to punish Sun for his actions but the Evening Star said he should be brought to heaven and taught. The Lord of Heaven agreed and had the Evening Star get Sun. Sun is appointed stable master and does a great job. 

The Great Saint: Sun find out stablemaster isn’t a great title and leaves heaven. He was in heaven for 10 days but on earth that was 10 years. Two devil kings came to Sun with present he was grateful. They talked him into thinking he was heavens equal so he started calling himself  “The Great Saint Who Is Heaven’s Equal.”

Notscha, Son of Li Dsing: Lord of Heavens was upset with Sun so he sent warriors to imprison him. Sun was too tough and defeated them all. The Evening star told the lord of heaven to give Sun his title of “The Great Saint Who Is Heaven’s Equal.” The lord of heaven agreed.

The Queen-Mother of the West: The lord of Heaven had a palace made for Sun. He was also put in charge of watching over the peaches in the garden. Sun started eating the peaches. Then Mother of the west sent her Fairies to harvest the peaches and they started seeing the peaches were gone. 

Laotzse: Sun causes mischief in heaven and decides to go back home but his monkeys have him go back and get the wine of eternal life. 

Guan Yin:Lord of heaven was again mad at Sun and sent warriors to battle but Sun defeated them again. Yang Oerlang is then sent to battle with Sun and it turns into a good fight.

Yang Oerlang: This section tells more about the fight.

Buddha: Sun was captured and they tried to kill him but he could not be killed. Sun escapes and starts destroying stuff. Buddha is then called up to tame Sun. 

The Destiny of Sun Wu Kung: Buddha was able to defeat Sun and then locked him in a mountain for many years until he was needed to help a monk. 

Journey to the west: This tells more about the story in depth and also tells about the journey the monk makes.

Journey to the West (conclusion): This tells about stories where Sun saves the master monk and helps him complete his mission. In the end Sun becomes a Buddha.