“Barbaric monkey!” exclaimed the Immortal Master. “How dare he claim a title of Equaling Heaven?” “Quit admiring and go challenge him,” the Plum Mountain brothers said. Seeing the Immortal Master, the little monkeys guarding the camp quickly went to report. The Monkey King pulled out the Gold-Banded Staff, donned his golden armor, pulled on theContinue reading “Journey to the West – Chapter 6.3”
Category Archives: Journey to the West
Journey to the West – Chapter 6.2
Investigate the situationGuanyin instructs Muzha to 打探消息, literally to scout out news. 打探 is a bit literary and not used much in casual speech, but we often say 打听消息. Go 打听打听 (ask around) to see if there’s any 消息 (news). As they finished conversing, another report came in through the general’s gate: “The Great SageContinue reading “Journey to the West – Chapter 6.2”
Journey to the West – Chapter 5.5
The Steward of Order, in accordance with the edict, completed a detailed investigation and returned to report: “The one who wreaked havoc in Heaven is none other than the Great Sage, Equal to Heaven.” He gave a full recounting of the incidents. The Jade Emperor was furious. He commanded the Four Heavenly Kings, together withContinue reading “Journey to the West – Chapter 5.5”
Journey to the West – Chapter 5.4
Suddenly, full of pearls and sober, he said to himself, “Shit, that’s bad.1 This time the trouble I’ve caused is bigger than heaven, if the Jade Emperor hears of this that’ll be it for me. I’ve gotta get out of here.2 I might as well go be king down below!” He ran out of DoushuaiContinue reading “Journey to the West – Chapter 5.4”
Journey to the West – Chapter 5.3
Look at them all, their hands going slack, their heads drooping, their eyes closing. One by one they all fell asleep. The Great Sage took his choice of delicacies and tidbits went into the hallway. He settled down next to the urns of wine and ate and drank himself silly. After a while he was full and very drunk.
Journey to the West – Chapter 5.2
One morning, the Queen Mother of the West threw open the Treasure Pavilion to host a banquet for the Immortal Peach Festival at the Turquoise Pool. The red, white, blue, black, purple, yellow, and green-gowned maidens, each bearing her basket atop her head,1 were sent to the Immortal Peach Orchard to pick peaches for theContinue reading “Journey to the West – Chapter 5.2”
Journey to the West – Chapter 5.1
Short posts are better than no posts! No matter what else he may be, the Great Sage, Equal to Heaven was a monkey.1 He didn’t know what officials’ ranks meant and he didn’t care about salary. He only cared that his title had changed. In the Great Sage Residence, immortals of the two offices attendedContinue reading “Journey to the West – Chapter 5.1”
Journey to the West – Chapter 4.4
Assured of the Great Sage’s victory, the monkey army was withdrawing from the battlefield when Prince Nezha appeared in front of Shuilian Cave. The army was shocked to see such a fierce child on his cloud, the bones of his skull not even fully closed, the hair on his head still soft and not evenContinue reading “Journey to the West – Chapter 4.4”
JttW Headcanon: Lotus Lantern
The 1964 and 1998 Journey to the West cartoons weren’t my only experience with animated versions of these beloved characters. Other places they appeared include The Legend of Nezha series, a “prequel” telling of Nezha and Lord Li’s story before they ended up in Heaven trying to capture Sun Wukong, and Lotus Lantern, a “sequel”Continue reading “JttW Headcanon: Lotus Lantern”
Journey to the West – Chapter 4.3
Early the next morning, when the Emperor’s court opened, the first to present themselves at the imperial courtyard were Marshal Zhang leading the Imperial Stablemaster and Deputy Stablemaster. “Long live your majesty.1 The new Horses’ Fortune, having objections to the low rank of his position, returned to the Lower Realms yesterday.” As they were speaking,Continue reading “Journey to the West – Chapter 4.3”
Etymology Adventures 