The Journey to the West

[Googledebunker]

Black Myth: Wukong is a game based on Journey to the West which is a satire about Chinese society, and Bureaucracy.

It was meant to demonstrate how Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism can coexist.

"The characters in Journey to the West represent the various faiths in China. Throughout their journey, the characters show how they are very different, yet they manage to coexist."

Sun Wukong (also known as The Monkey King), is a Taoist deity, and a Buddhist deity
Buddhism has an ideal based on "Dim" (Also known as Yugen in Japanese Buddhism) it means:

"mysterious profundity
Dim (Yūgen) means the beauty that we can feel sense into an object, even though the beauty doesn't exist in the literal sense of the word and cannot be seen directly."
This ideal is commonly interpreted as an expression in the appreciation of change, the creation and transformation of something into nothing, or nothing into something, a circular ebb and flow of life and spirituality.

According to the three traditional sacred Buddhist scriptures in the Tripitaka, sexuality can be divided into four categories: female, male, ubhatobyañjanaka and Pandaka

ubhatobyañjanaka refers to intersex or literally a person with the signs of both binary sexes/genders.

The Triptaka is a collection of Buddhist scripture beginning as early as the 1st century BCE

Another massively successful game with a story based on what would now be considered "woke" by some westerners. So glad to see the support of so many Westerners of these ideologies of co-existence, acceptance and appreciation of the now, and what the future brings.

[StarlightAsh♡]

beautiful summary post

[Mister Magician]

That's interesting, but why is this game looking to reject the original story and why are you always wrong.

you cannot be exempt from Reality by claiming to not recognize it.

[Googledebunker]

Originally posted by Mister Magician:

Originally posted by Marlon Brandolorian:

In what way does the game reject the original story? It's an adaptation of the original story, not a rejection.





If you cannot discuss this topic in a respectful manner, then I ask you to ignore it rather than make inflammatory remarks. Just because you're not interested in the story this game is based on, doesn't mean that it shouldn't be discussed. I like the origins of what this game is inspired by.





Thank you. I have really enjoyed Journey to the West ever since I was a kid, and I like the story ark and redemption of Wukong

"the main protagonist of the sixteenth-century Chinese classic novel Journey to the West by the late Wu Cheng'en, and its multiple adaptations. However, in the early chapters of the story, he is a villainous protagonist who commits assault on Heaven, theft, and vandalism, only to get the title of the Great Sage Equaling Heaven."

I really appreciate the growth of his character, and I think it's well reflected in Black Myth as well.

this game has wukong trying to go to war with the heavens in the end, in fact the entire story is one giant ploy for wukong to inhabit a body not bound by his crown.

your other comments are not only not promoted by the game but rejected.

Sun Wukong
"the main protagonist of the sixteenth-century Chinese classic novel Journey to the West by the late Wu Cheng'en, and its multiple adaptations. However, in the early chapters of the story, he is a villainous protagonist who commits assault on Heaven, theft, and vandalism, only to get the title of the Great Sage Equaling Heaven."

The game is based on his assault on heaven before he becomes "the Great Sage Equaling Heaven" His story ark is one of redemption.

[Mister Magician]

Originally posted by Marlon Brandolorian:

Originally posted by Mister Magician:

this game has wukong trying to go to war with the heavens in the end, in fact the entire story is one giant ploy for wukong to inhabit a body not bound by his crown.

your other comments are not only not promoted by the game but rejected.

Sun Wukong
"the main protagonist of the sixteenth-century Chinese classic novel Journey to the West by the late Wu Cheng'en, and its multiple adaptations. However, in the early chapters of the story, he is a villainous protagonist who commits assault on Heaven, theft, and vandalism, only to get the title of the Great Sage Equaling Heaven."

The game is based on his assault on heaven before he becomes "the Great Sage Equaling Heaven" His story ark is one of redemption.

Are you sure?

It references and mirrors journey to the west, but takes place after it.

[Phishfood]

I must have missed the part about coexisting because everyone seems to hate everyone else.

[Mister Magician]

Originally posted by Phishfood:

I must have missed the part about coexisting because everyone seems to hate everyone else.

Like I said, "black myth,"

He's wrong about the story, unfortunately.

He's also wrong about the "gender" stuff, Fortunately.

[Googledebunker]

Originally posted by Mister Magician:

Originally posted by Marlon Brandolorian:

Sun Wukong
"the main protagonist of the sixteenth-century Chinese classic novel Journey to the West by the late Wu Cheng'en, and its multiple adaptations. However, in the early chapters of the story, he is a villainous protagonist who commits assault on Heaven, theft, and vandalism, only to get the title of the Great Sage Equaling Heaven."

The game is based on his assault on heaven before he becomes "the Great Sage Equaling Heaven" His story ark is one of redemption.

Are you sure?

It references and mirrors journey to the west, but takes place after it.

So you're okay with such a drastic change to the source material, and established lore because that's what the CCP wants?

Again this is a topic discussing Journey to the West, which is the established lore surrounding Sun Wukong. If you don't want to talk about the source material that's fine, no one is forcing you to talk about the novels.

the Black Myth version of Wukong is a vessel, with many before and after him.

the Buddha has said:
"There's really no such thing as time. There is really only Now--an eternally present Present with no beginning and no ending. Everything is completely new, distinct, and original every instant, with no real "change" or "motion" at all."

Buddhist Philosophy is about embracing the contradictory nature of it, trying to resist or reject it doesn't make it go away, it just means you are prolonging your path to enlightenment.


ULTRA MEGA SPOILERS AVOID IF YOU DON'T WANT SPOILERS!!!!!!








SPOILER AHEAD! HIDDEN ENDING SPOILER!!







Let's start with the hidden true ending. We learn that Sun Wukong chose to end his own life. Why? Because he was indestructible and craved free will. By shattering the golden hoop, he plunged himself back into the cycle of reincarnation. His physical form was destroyed, but his soul was reborn, ready to face the 81 tribulations anew and achieve true enlightenment.

Erlang Shen confirms this in his dialogue. Remember the opening battle? Erlang Shen purposely lured away the Four Heavenly Kings to fight Sun Wukong one-on-one. If you replay this scene after experiencing the hidden battle with Erlang Shen, you'll notice they were both pulling their punches, avoiding lethal moves. It was all part of their plan for Sun Wukong's staged "death".


Wukong respawning after death, and the multiple endings further support the Buddhist teachings about the present and circular nature of time. The game is before, during, and after The Journey to the West because time isn't necessarily elapsing in a linear fashion outside of our perception of the present.

Ultimately it's a game, there will be limitations in how some of these philosophical ideas are implemented in favor of fun gameplay mechanics, and avoiding the censorship of the CCP, but I don't really feel like it's an outright rejection of the source material, but a diversion on his path to true enlightenment. At least that's my interpretation.

[Mister Magician]

Originally posted by Marlon Brandolorian:

Originally posted by Mister Magician:

Are you sure?

It references and mirrors journey to the west, but takes place after it.

So you're okay with such a drastic change to the source material, and established lore because that's what the CCP wants?

Again this is a topic discussing Journey to the West, which is the established lore surrounding Sun Wukong. If you don't want to talk about the source material that's fine, no one is forcing you to talk about the novels.

the Black Myth version of Wukong is a vessel, with many before and after him.

the Buddha has said:
"There's really no such thing as time. There is really only Now--an eternally present Present with no beginning and no ending. Everything is completely new, distinct, and original every instant, with no real "change" or "motion" at all."

Buddhist Philosophy is about embracing the contradictory nature of it, trying to resist or reject it doesn't make it go away, it just means you are prolonging your path to enlightenment.


ULTRA MEGA SPOILERS AVOID IF YOU DON'T WANT SPOILERS!!!!!!








SPOILER AHEAD! HIDDEN ENDING SPOILER!!







Let's start with the hidden true ending. We learn that Sun Wukong chose to end his own life. Why? Because he was indestructible and craved free will. By shattering the golden hoop, he plunged himself back into the cycle of reincarnation. His physical form was destroyed, but his soul was reborn, ready to face the 81 tribulations anew and achieve true enlightenment.

Erlang Shen confirms this in his dialogue. Remember the opening battle? Erlang Shen purposely lured away the Four Heavenly Kings to fight Sun Wukong one-on-one. If you replay this scene after experiencing the hidden battle with Erlang Shen, you'll notice they were both pulling their punches, avoiding lethal moves. It was all part of their plan for Sun Wukong's staged "death".


Wukong respawning after death, and the multiple endings further support the Buddhist teachings about the present and circular nature of time. The game is before, during, and after The Journey to the West because time isn't necessarily elapsing in a linear fashion outside of our perception of the present.

Ultimately it's a game, there will be limitations in how some of these philosophical ideas are implemented in favor of fun gameplay mechanics, and avoiding the censorship of the CCP, but I don't really feel like it's an outright rejection of the source material, but a diversion on his path to true enlightenment. At least that's my interpretation.

Well, I think you will take some interest in my new thread:
https://steamcommunity.com/app/2358720/discussions/0/4763206964690375166/

[Googledebunker]

Originally posted by Mister Magician:

Originally posted by Phishfood:

I must have missed the part about coexisting because everyone seems to hate everyone else.

Like I said, "black myth,"

He's wrong about the story, unfortunately.

He's also wrong about the "gender" stuff, Fortunately.

Denial is just a detour from the path of enlightenment. Good luck on finding your way back to the path.

I am not going to engage with you further since you only seem interested in harassing, arguing, and trying to derail my post rather than having an actual discussion that is relevant to my post.

Again, good luck on finding your way back to the path.

[Mister Magician]

Originally posted by Marlon Brandolorian:

Originally posted by Mister Magician:

Like I said, "black myth,"

He's wrong about the story, unfortunately.

He's also wrong about the "gender" stuff, Fortunately.

Denial is just a detour from the path of enlightenment. Good luck on finding your way back to the path.

I am not going to engage with you further since you only seem interested in harassing, arguing, and trying to derail my post rather than having an actual discussion that is relevant to my post.

Again, good luck on finding your way back to the path.

I made a reply but it was deleted. By who, I don't know.

your curses are Consummately Returned. But don't be too put off by that, just Defnding myself dependent on what you mean.

I already understand buddhism, and I know what they get right and what they get VERY wrong. Also I will admit you ARE right about the game's story, I was misconstruing your points because of your snide comments at the end of the op which you should have just left out.

Perhaps you should stop trying to control things yourself, take your own advice, and just read the thread I wrote that I quoted here. I thought you would like it. Seems, in total irony, your ego got in your way there lol.

Originally posted by Mister Magician:

Well, I think you will take some interest in my new thread:
https://steamcommunity.com/app/2358720/discussions/0/4763206964690375166/

See this!

[Ice.River]

Journey to the West can be interpreted differently at various ages and from different perspectives. This is the charm of literary works, much like how "a thousand readers have a thousand Hamlets." There are many adaptations of Journey to the West, such as the “A Chinese Odyssey” series, and the recent “Monkey King: Hero Is Back”.

Sun Wukong is known for his intelligence, liveliness, loyalty, and strong sense of justice. In popular culture, he represents wit and courage.

To me, the "Golden Circlet" (tightening spell) is increasingly seen as a form of shackle. Interpreted from this angle, wearing the headband symbolizes restraining one's inner demons to ensure the safety of oneself and others. Removing the headband represents freeing one's nature and gaining liberty.

[Mister Magician]

Originally posted by Ice.River:

Removing the headband represents freeing one's nature and gaining liberty.

freedom is Responsibility, so that's silly.

[Googledebunker]

Originally posted by Phishfood:

I must have missed the part about coexisting because everyone seems to hate everyone else.

That is just part of the ebb and flow of the sometimes chaotic path to enlightenment. That shared struggle often leads to co-existing, but nothing lasts forever.

Zhu Bajie

Zhu Bajie is one of Wukong's oldest and closest friends, having known each other since their time accompanying Xuanzang to Tianzhu. Bajie also tends to be annoyed with Wukong for his antics such as dragging him to assist in the Evil Dragon War despite having been retired.
Sha Wujing (First-Generation)

Wujing is one of Wukong's oldest and closest friends, having known each other since their time accompanying Xuanzang to Tianzhu. Wujing also tends to be annoyed with Wukong for his antics such as dragging him to assist in the Evil Dragon War despite having been retired. Wujing is also frustrated with Wukong keeping called him Kappa despite Wujing reminding Wukong countless times that he is a Water Hermit Youkai.

Also it is a fun video game. I don't think it would be quite as enjoyable if it was a story focused walking simulator, so a little conflict and action is understandable.

Something that I am mindful of is that this is a story in a long list of stories and branching paths based on the adventures of Sun Wukong. They can exist in parallel with and without conflict, or stand alone. He has 81 trials on his path to enlightenment, this is just one of those trials.

[Ice.River]

Originally posted by Mister Magician:

Originally posted by Ice.River:

Removing the headband represents freeing one's nature and gaining liberty.

freedom is Responsibility, so that's silly.

That's why I say different perspectives lead to different interpretations. Sun Wukong has both a demonic side and a clever, courageous side. From the perspective of his demonic nature, wearing the headband means restraining that side of him. It's similar to how everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses.

[Googledebunker]

Originally posted by Ice.River:

Journey to the West can be interpreted differently at various ages and from different perspectives. This is the charm of literary works, much like how "a thousand readers have a thousand Hamlets." There are many adaptations of Journey to the West, such as the “A Chinese Odyssey” series, and the recent “Monkey King: Hero Is Back”.

Sun Wukong is known for his intelligence, liveliness, loyalty, and strong sense of justice. In popular culture, he represents wit and courage.

To me, the "Golden Circlet" (tightening spell) is increasingly seen as a form of shackle. Interpreted from this angle, wearing the headband symbolizes restraining one's inner demons to ensure the safety of oneself and others. Removing the headband represents freeing one's nature and gaining liberty.

That is incredible. I love your interpretation of the Golden Circlet he wears. That's what I love about Journey to the West, and the various related works. There is so much detail, symbology, and intention that can often be overlooked. Almost like "Missing the forest for the trees"

I will need to check out A Chinese Odyssey, it sounds so cool!

I had recently re-read a hero of a thousand faces by Joseph Campbell. Its amazing how writers, and readers can have so many ways of looking at similar stories based on their interpretation of a particular work.

Thanks for the thoughtful reply