monkeykingessay

Maddy English 8-4 24 September 2008 = __Super Monkey or Arrogant Monkey?__  = The story of the Monkey King is a fascinating Chinese legend about a supernatural, immortal monkey who makes mischief for the gods. The legend is based on a true story about a monk named Xi You Ji and his adventures when he traveled from China to India to find the true Buddhist holy books. The Monkey King was born from stone and has supernatural powers. He learns many tricks and martial arts skills from his master Taoist and eventually can transform into seventy-two different figures, such as trees, birds, and animals. According to Haiwang Yuan on the website __Welcome to China__, the Monkey King can travel “ using clouds as a vehicle.”  He wants with all of his heart to become immortal and so he starts to get into mischief. As the mischief grows and grows the gods get angrier and angrier. Finally they get so mad that they declare that they will kill him. The Monkey King had become immortal so he cannot be killed, and they call upon the Buddha for help. The Buddha imprisons him under a mountain of rocks and he spends five hundred years trapped there. The Buddha gives the Monkey King a chance to redeem himself by asking him to serve as a guide and guard on a journey west for a holy man named Tripiaka. The other disciples, Pigsy, a terrifying, immortal pig, and Friar Sand, a former sea monster, accompany him. On the Monkey King’s journey he ends up helping the monk and gains back the respect of the Buddha. The websites __Bella Online__ __the Voice of Women__, __The Catalogue of International Superheroes__, __Monkey__ __Kingdom__, __Welcome to China__, taught me about the story of the Monkey King. The story of the Monkey King entertains Chinese children today with its tale of greed, trickery, and playfulness. Author Caroline Baker, on the website __Bella Online the Voice of Women__ says, “ Along the way, the Monkey King is filled with antics of trickery,  deceit, disobedience... and yet through it all, he still helps the monk and can be seen as overall having a good heart. It's just in his nature to play.” The Monkey King teaches children and adults not to be greedy and appreciate what you have. When the Monkey King becomes immortal it does not come with immortal happiness. He learns that life is more than getting the things you have always wanted. It is about living, learning, and forgiving. He finds happiness when he goes back to his old life. Four hundred years later the Monkey King legend is still alive through opera performances, comic strips, and stories that are wonderfully told. Works Cited Baker, Caroline. “Chinese Culture Site.” __Bella Online the Voice of Women.__ 2008. 18 September 2008. < http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art30352.asp>. “The Monkey King.” __The Catalogue of International Superheroes.__ 2008. 22 September 2008.  Yang, Gene. “Who is the Monkey King?” __ Monkey __ __ Kingdom ____. __ 2001. 18 September 2008. . . Yuan, Haiwang. “The Story of the Monkey King.” __Welcome to__ __China____.__ 20 March 2004. 18 September 2008. .