Reading Notes: The Monkey King, Part B

 The Chinese Fairy Book, ed. by R. Wilhelm and translated by Frederick H. Martens (1921)

The Evening Star makes me think of Lucifer, but I think he's probably the Morning Star if anything. Or maybe he has no relation to either of those titles.

He does like to call himself venerable all the time, doesn't he? He does very well at whatever he does. He excelled as the stablemaster even though it seems like a lowly job. He never complained. The expanding rod is in Dragon Ball as well.

Dang. The very next episode he complains about his title and its lowly nature. Don't speak too soon, Drew.

These devil-kings can't be good news. I suppose this is the start of the war with heaven.

I wonder if he'll find out about his empty title. The Morning Star does seem pretty clever.

3600. There was something about 360 in part A. I wonder if people thought there was only 360 days in a year at this time. Or maybe the number has some other significance.

I learned about Laozi. It's interesting how this story is an amalgamation of so many different traditions. I guess you could say that about Christianity and everything else as well.

Ha. I'm starting to feel creepy. What an odd thing to say.

He's really a joyful creature. Even when he's fearful, he finds a way to have fun the next moment.

I wonder if he'll ever break the promise he made to his first teacher.

Buddha coming and finally putting Sun in his place is like an Avengers movie. It doesn't really seem like the Buddha would belong in this story, and yet here he is. It's very interesting. 

There's a pig in Dragon Ball named Oolong who has the same characteristics as the pig in "Journey to the West."

That is a nice ending for Sun. I need to take a nap to think of what I'll write about myself.

Monkey King Shrine (Source)

Reading Notes: The Monkey King, Part A

 The Chinese Fairy Book, ed. by R. Wilhelm and translated by Frederick H. Martens (1921).

Thousand Mile-Eye and Fine-Ear are certainly interesting names.

That was a little rude of the Handsome Monkey King to beat up and rob the first human he ever saw. At least he learned how to conduct himself over the span of nine years. 

This painting just feels right (Source)

Ha. After discerning a great truth, Sun Wu Kung begins jerking around. That's a funny word to use.

Is it Baptists who don't like dancing? This reminds me of that. King David danced and worshiped like a wild man once. I can't remember the reason now. 

That's pretty cool that the master is telling Sun all about the different way to reach holiness. I learned about many of these ways in a religion class. They're the different schools of faith within Buddhism. 

Goku could only fly on a nimbus cloud originally. Then he learned to fly all by himself. Maybe Sun Wu Kong will also overcome his current limitation. Yep. The very next story has him learning a better way.

Dang what a sad ending with the master. Goku has a monkey mind, too.

Thievery and deception aren't too nice. Sun Wu Kang seems to play by rules of his own making. 77,000 monkeys. Is the number seven holy in all cultures?

He didn't treat the Dragon-King very well. I suppose a person who goes to war with heaven has to be a little evil.

Sun Wu Kung is a little crazy, but he is likeable. I don't know where I would go with a story about him right now. Maybe I could just take the chance to write some Dragon Ball fanfiction. That's a little embarrassing, though.

Maybe it would be cool to have the Monkey King fight Goku. Perhaps they would be friends because they have similar personalities and a desire to whip the strongest opponents. I'm not for sure on Sun liking that. I'll need more context from the next part tomorrow.