Monkey: A Folk Novel of China

While studying under Subodhi, Monkey learns basics of etiquette, cleaning, and manners. During a lecture given by the Patriarch, Monkey gets too excited and causes disruption, after which the Patriarch asks Monkey what he would like to study, and the two engage in a lengthy philosophical exchange about areas of study, until Subodhi chastises Monkey and leaves. Monkey’s fellow pupils believe “he’s thoroughly offended and goodness know when he’ll come back” (22). However, Monkey understands secret signs and knows that the master has actually indicated he should come to him later for more teaching.

Subodhi gives Monkey the secret of immortality, cautioning that even though his life will be prolonged, he will still face The Three Calamities and needs further study to combat them. Monkey then learns “the trick of the Earthly Conclusion, which involves seventy-two kinds of transformation” (25), as well as the art of cloud soaring. After mastering these skills, Monkey starts showing off to the other pupils, prompting Subodhi first to chastise him for endangering himself by encouraging jealously, and then to exile Monkey from further study.

Monkey returns home to his kingdom, where he finds that a Demon of Havoc has taken over his cave, stolen his possessions, and terrified his monkey subjects. Monkey uses his newfound transformation skills to defeat the demon in a great battle and recover his subjects and home.  

Monkey teaches his subjects to use practice weapons but decides that they need actual weapons to protect themselves. Monkey goes to a nearby human kingdom, where he creates a magic tempest to scare the residents of the kingdom and then uses his trick of creating other monkeys from his hair to steal all of the weapons. He returns, and beasts and demons from the surrounding kingdoms pay homage to Monkey on a yearly basis going forward.

Monkey decides that he needs a special weapon and goes to visit the Dragon King of the Eastern Sea, with whom he argues about the right weapon for him. Eventually Monkey is shown “the magic iron with which the bed of the Milky Way was pounded flat” (35), which he decides is special enough to be his weapon. Monkey further demands armor to go with his weapon, and the Dragon King calls his brothers to help supply Monkey with shoes, a cap, and a jerkin. They agree on the condition that they will complain to Heaven about Monkey as well.

One night, Monkey falls asleep and dreams of being dragged to the city of Death because his “time in the World of Life is up” (39). Monkey kills his captors and erases his name from the registers of death, along with the names of his monkey subjects, angering the Judges of the Dead. Both the Dragon Kings and the Judges of the Dead go to Heaven and complain to the Jade Emperor of Monkey’s behavior. The Spirit of Venus suggests that the Jade Emperor call Monkey to Heaven and give him a place there to test whether he is worthy or just a troublemaker. 

Monkey arrives in Heaven, where he behaves improperly when being introduced to the Jade Emperor. The ministers of Heaven are offended by Monkey’s behavior, but the Jade Emperor suggests that Monkey “comes from earth below […] and only recently learned human ways” (45). The Jade Emperor has no positions available, so he makes Monkey supervisor of the stables, a role Monkey later learns is the lowest ranking position, with no prestige or salary. Monkey, deeply offended and believing that he deserves more because of his importance on Earth, leaves Heaven angrily.

Upon his return, two demons pay homage to Monkey and tell him that he ought to be called “Great Sage, Equal of Heaven” (47). When the Jade Emperor finds out that Monkey has abandoned his position, he sends an army to subdue Monkey. Monkey engages in lengthy magical battles with representatives of Heaven, insisting that he will behave if Heaven will acknowledge his new title. The Spirit of Venus again intervenes, suggesting the Jade Emperor give Monkey his title, as it is meaningless, and that by bringing Monkey back to Heaven, they will be able to keep an eye on him. Monkey returns to Heaven, placated, and receives a place to live and an allowance of wine and flowers.

suggests to the Jade Emperor, “Trouble will come of it, unless some way is found of employing [Monkey’s] time” (53). The Jade Emperor tells Monkey to look after the Peach Garden, which contains magical peaches that provide long life. Monkey tricks the attendants of the garden by saying he will take a nap, and then eats almost all of the most potent magical peaches. He falls asleep in the trees.

While Monkey is asleep, the Queen of Heaven arrives to pick peaches for her Peach Banquet. The Queen’s fairy assistants accidentally wake Monkey, who believes that he deserves to attend the prestigious banquet. He tricks an Immortal into going elsewhere, takes that Immortal’s likeness, invades the preparations for the banquet, and then steals large quantities of food and wine. Drunk, Monkey tries to go back to the garden but accidentally ends up in Lao Tzu’s palace, where he steals and drinks all the special elixir he finds there. Finally concerned that his behavior will get him in trouble, Monkey returns home to his cave on earth.

Monkey returns to Heaven just long enough to steal wine for his monkey subjects. All the denizens of Heaven whom Monkey has wronged complain to the Jade Emperor, who sends his armies to surround Monkey’s kingdom and attack. Monkey and his subjects fight two grand battles, and during the second many of Monkey’s allies are captured. Monkey is unconcerned, saying, “Not one of our monkey-kind was taken or hurt; so there is nothing to worry about” (61). 

The Bodhisattva Kuan-yin arrives at the destroyed Peach Banquet. After hearing about Monkey’s antics, she sends her disciple Hui-yen to help Heaven’s forces, as Monkey’s egotism only increases with every battle. Hui-yen and Monkey fight, and neither wins. Kuan-yin suggests that the Jade Emperor send his magician nephew, Erh-lang. Erh-lang brings his brothers to assist him. Enraged by Monkey’s impudence in claiming that he is “equal of heaven” and by Monkey’s taunts that “I am half minded to give you a bit of my mind, but you are not worth it” (67), Erh-lang attacks.

Erh-lang is enough of a match for Monkey that Monkey gets worried and runs from the battle, while Monkey’s generals flee, and many of his subjects are captured by Erh-lang’s brothers. Erh-lang and Monkey engage in a lengthy magical chase, turning into different creatures and objects, until Erh-lang drives Monkey back to his home on the Mountain of Flowers and Fruit. Watching the fight from Heaven, Lao Tzu throws down his snare, startling Monkey enough for Erh-lang to restrain him and “[sever] his lute-bone with a knife, so that he could not transform himself” (71). The Jade Emperor orders Monkey be brought to Heaven for execution.

The Jade Emperor’s soldiers try to execute Monkey using weapons, fire, and thunderbolts but are unsuccessful because of Monkey’s longevity. Lao Tzu offers to help by burning Monkey with alchemical fire but still does not succeed in killing Monkey. Monkey escapes Lao Tzu, running amok in Heaven, and “this time Monkey hit out recklessly, not caring whom he struck or what he smashed” (73). The Jade Emperor sends messengers to Buddha asking for help in dealing with Monkey.

Buddha arrives and talks with Monkey, and he learns that Monkey believes he should be allowed to rule Heaven in place of the Jade Emperor. Offended by Monkey’s hubris, Buddha offers him a wager: “If you are really so clever, jump off the palm of my right hand. If you succeed, I’ll tell the Jade Emperor to come and live with me […], and you shall have his throne” (75). Monkey fails Buddha’s challenge, and in response, Buddha pushes Monkey out of Heaven and places a mountain on top of him with a guardian to keep watch and provide food and drink when necessary.