| Journey to the West (Xi You Ji) is one of the four classics of China. It is the story of the monk Tang San Zang and his pilgrimage to India to obtain religious texts. Tang San Zang has three disciples who accompany him along the pilgrimage: Sun Wu Kong, Zhu Ba Jie, and Sha He Shang. The most popular character has always been Sun Wu Kong, the Monkey King who destroys everything that comes his way, and causing havoc wherever he goes, but always saving his master and in the nick of time. The story has been referenced numerous times in contemporary media - made into television series, cartoons, and Sun Wu Kong is somewhat of an idol to the kids. He was mine, and he still is. He's like the trouble-causing kid that you can never subdue, and always finds a way out of messes he makes. All the kids want to be like him, and kick the big guys' asses like they're villains in the story. |