Reading Notes: Part A for Week 9: The Monkey King - Handsome King of the Apes
This origin story begins on an island called the Mountain of Flowers and Fruits. A large rock protruded from the mountain. Since the beginning of time, this rock has absorbed all the hidden power from heaven, earth, sun, and moon. Thus, supernatural power emanated from the mystical rock.
One day, the rock broke and hatched a stone egg. From this stone egg hatched a stone ape. The stone ape gradually learned to walk, and his eyes opened, revealing two streams of great light that pierced the heavens.
So, the ape grew up in the valley, drinking from the springs and feasting on the flowers and fruits. One day, the apes upon the island came upon a waterfall that crashed over a cliff. So it was said that whomever shall pass through the waterfall without harm shall be king of the apes.
Hearing this, the stone ape leaped with joy and commenced towards the entrance of the waterfall. Without hesitation, he leaped through the waterfall, which revealed a hidden iron bridge that was hidden to the outside world.
So, the stone ape emerged from the cave concealed behind the curtain of the waterfall and rejoiced with the other apes. They asked the stone ape to lead them behind the waterfall so that they too could cast their eyes upon the spectacle.
The apes honored the stone ape and appointed him as their king. The stone ape was now given the name of Handsome King of the Apes. He appointed other various types of apes to be his officials, and together they lived peacefully in the cave castle for hundreds of years.
Though this is not the most exciting tale of the Monkey King, it is an important origin to realize how the ape came to be. The story tells of him being born of supernatural power so powerful that the gods feared him at first. The other monkeys revered him and his birth will bring to light the other adventures that will follow.
Bibliography: Handsome King of the Apes from The Chinese Fair Book, ed. by R. Wilhelm and translated by Frederick H. Martens (1921)
One day, the rock broke and hatched a stone egg. From this stone egg hatched a stone ape. The stone ape gradually learned to walk, and his eyes opened, revealing two streams of great light that pierced the heavens.
So, the ape grew up in the valley, drinking from the springs and feasting on the flowers and fruits. One day, the apes upon the island came upon a waterfall that crashed over a cliff. So it was said that whomever shall pass through the waterfall without harm shall be king of the apes.
Hearing this, the stone ape leaped with joy and commenced towards the entrance of the waterfall. Without hesitation, he leaped through the waterfall, which revealed a hidden iron bridge that was hidden to the outside world.
So, the stone ape emerged from the cave concealed behind the curtain of the waterfall and rejoiced with the other apes. They asked the stone ape to lead them behind the waterfall so that they too could cast their eyes upon the spectacle.
The apes honored the stone ape and appointed him as their king. The stone ape was now given the name of Handsome King of the Apes. He appointed other various types of apes to be his officials, and together they lived peacefully in the cave castle for hundreds of years.
Though this is not the most exciting tale of the Monkey King, it is an important origin to realize how the ape came to be. The story tells of him being born of supernatural power so powerful that the gods feared him at first. The other monkeys revered him and his birth will bring to light the other adventures that will follow.
Sun Wu Kung the Monkey King - Courtesy of Wikipedia
Bibliography: Handsome King of the Apes from The Chinese Fair Book, ed. by R. Wilhelm and translated by Frederick H. Martens (1921)
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