Immortality be damned

—The Great Sage, Equal to Heaven

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Últimamente he estado escuchando El Cuarteto de Nos y hay algunas canciones que me recuerdan a Wukong jjfkwjfka

sorry for my absence, been busy all semester. Here’s a Wukong as a peace offering

(click for quality 👊😼)

currently designing his generals and some art of FFM/Mount Huaguo

Not to mention if he had shown Tang, a scholar who lived and breathed JTTW, his memories... I'm pretty sure Tabg would have straight up attacked him for trying to describe what happened to Wukong while he was held captive by Heaven had been anything less than what it was: Torture. For example, at this point, Sun Wukong is more than a fairytale or storybook character. He's more than just some demon who lived thousands of years ago as a footnote in a history book. He's a person, not only that, but he's someone who has since become part of Tang's family! He's a flawed but still wise master who is impulsively self sacrificial to the point of unintentionally hurting the people who care about him, he's temperamental and tends to be forgetful about the limits of normal mortals because he's never had a baseline, he's petty, but ultimately... Sun Wukong is someone who cares deeply and honestly about the people who manage to get past the ironclad walls he has erected around his heart, someone who is selfless at heart even when his actions seem selfish, someone who has had a very difficult life and is still learning to let other in and trust them. Tanghas read Wukong's story a hundred times over, analyzed his written actions a thousand times, out of everyone he is probably the one who knows the ksot about Wukong's past besides the Demon Bull King and Macaque, the person who pribavly raised Wukong the most besides the Sentinels and his mate respectively. He recognizes how much Wukong has changed for the better, how he's still learning after all these centuries, and how he's trying so very hard to be a good mentor for MK and teach him the lessons he never had so he doesn't suffer the same way he did even while his own past comes back to bite him.

So no... Tang would absolutely be offended by Azure's narrative

YUP. referencing.

Tang about to bust out his Bachelors in ancient Chinese history and literature to poke a million holes in Azure Lion's whiteashed narrative:

(In the Scroll of Memory as Azure is showing his memories of the Rebellion): Tang, suddenly appearing in the memory: "Where is Erlang Shen?" Azure, startled: "How did you get in here?" Tang: "As someone who lives for this era in history - I can poke so many holes in your story. Sun Wukong was strong enough for the Jade Emperor, but fell to his nephew Erlang Shen, his Plum Hill Lads, and Lao Tzu's binding ring. From there he was tossed into the Trigram Furnace and was forced to endure 49 days of the Samadhi Fire to extract his immortalities." Azure, pleasantly impressed: "You know your stories well monk-" Tang, interupting: "AND-! I am not finished. The great Tang Monk, aka Tripitaka, did not yield to the Taoist gods! Only to the Buddha and his diciples! To call him an Agent of the Oppressors greatly overlooks how many times he helped his fellow mortals, even at the threat of being executed for his faith!" Azure: "You're becoming overwhelmed-" Tang, angry tears: "And I know Wukong! He wouldn't have targeted you guys at Camel Ridge unless you did something warranting his anger! How can you call him a traitor when YOU left him to burn!?" (*Azure's memories dispate, instead showing Wukong when he was with the Pilgrims - from the perspective of Tripitaka. Wukong is laughing along with his brothers Zhu Bajie, Sha Wujing, and Ao Lie*) Tang, volume increasing: "Wukong didn't stay with the Pilgrims to hurt people. He stayed because he knew that his mind and emotions needed healing after such a tremendous amount of pain. They cared enough for him to address this pain and help him towards being a true sage. Something your *Brotherhood* obviously never bothered to do! HE DIDN'T BETRAY YOU AS MUCH AS YOU BETRAYED HIM!!" (the memory scroll completely disapates back to reality. the entire MKrew + the Brotherhood are staring shocked at Tang's show of power*) Tang: *breathing heavily and angry crying* MK, wide-eyed and impressed: "...whoa" Pigsy, proud: "Yup. Don't try to twist what happened back then Azure. My Tangy knows his history." Peng, whispers to the others: "The Golden Cicada lives on. I knew I wasn't mistaken." Yellow Tusk: "I suggest we retreat for now. Once the Celestial Realm senses our escape, they are sure to have increased their defences." Azure, eyes narrowing: "No. We go forward with our plan. No matter what this monk-" Tang: "I'M NOT A MONK!" Tang: *casts Magic Missile*

Because at the end of the day, Azure understimated the receipts that Wukong's new dad-friend would have on their political movement.

Soul-Stealing Picture Phobia

I've heard of the superstition that cameras steal someone's soul when a picture is taken. I'm not sure when or where this belief first took hold, but Journey to the West (Xiyouji, 西遊記, 1592) exhibits an example that predates the camera. Chapter 32 reads:

Among those thirty little fiends, there were some who did not recognize Eight Rules. There were a few, however, who found his face somewhat familiar, and pointing at him, they said, "Great King, this monk looks like the portrait of Zhu Eight Rules." The old fiend told them at once to hang up the picture so that they could examine it more closely. When Eight Rules saw it, he was greatly shaken, muttering to himself, "No wonder I feel somewhat dispirited of late! They have caught my spirit in this portrait!" (emphasis added) (Wu & Yu, 2012, vol. 2, p. 101) 那三十名小怪，中間有認得的，有不認得的。傍邊有聽著指點說話的道：「大王，這個和尚，像這圖中豬八戒模樣。」叫掛起影神圖來。八戒看見，大驚道：「怪道這些時沒精神哩，原來是他把我的影神傳將來也。」

I'm sure a phobia of having one's picture drawn goes back even further.

Source:

Wu, C., & Yu, A. C. (2012). The Journey to the West (Vols. 1-4) (Rev. ed.). Chicago, Illinois: University of Chicago Press.

LMK JTTW

I just had a random thought instead of giving the LMK fandom the JTTW answers we want in the show. They instead make another show LEGO JTTW and I made a book/ show cover.

ITS UNFISHED but im tired and my just forget about so i thought i share before i lose sight of it and share it with all of you.

LEGO MONKIE KID X DRAGON BALL Z : Equivalent Soul Au.

Context: Sun Wukong Died by Azure Lion's slash and he got reincarnated or his soul merge On Son Goku. So basically Son Goku is the new Sun Wukong he doesn't know it . The New JTTW gang still defeated Azure but Barely.

I wanted angst and also Found family.

Also since Goku is FAR more different to sun wukong and NO I DON'T WANT FIGHTING SHUT UP GOKU SOLOS MY ASS I JUST WANTED FOUND FAMILY OKAY FOUND FAMILY-NO DEBATING-

monkey king doodles! gonna try to design the whole gang :D

Chapter 36

@journeythroughjourneytothewest

I am going to say it's been around 3 years at this point because the Ginseng fruit arc was around the 1-year point and the Bone Demon/Yellow Robe must have been the 2 year making Silver Horn and Golden Horn 3 or so. So almost 1 to 2 demons years, making around a demon every 6 months.

Wukong legit says "I thought you were smart" And Sanzang "I'm smart I can't read DIRT!"

I just think its funny he stretched

SANZANG THERE IS NO REASON TO BE RUDE Even Wukong like 'damn we get it'

This head monk be a deadass little bastard

Like Sanzang likes to be CAUSAL heaven forbid they don't judge on looks

I do like how he cries like "what did I do?" like I can tell you know it was your first thought

But also Sanzang be like "I can't tell Wukong, he is going to kill these monks he hears" which wouldn't be the FIRST time Wukong threatens monks for being disrespectful but do like how he was worried about that happening again

He remembers Guanyin's head monk, he NEVER going to forget that

Sanzang legit like "I'm..... LEGIT allowed to be here?????" Fucking monk "Can't you just get the fuck out of my building you no-name little poor peasant" Wukong somewhere in the back "...I have a strange feeling that I am about to kick someone's ass"

NO SANZANG DON'T CRY! WHY YALL BEING MEAN TO HIM

Holding back tears he just wanna leave

Do love Bajie and Wukong like "Did they hit you? Yell are you? Why are you sad?"

He did WHAT to his own fillet?

NGSKNGSIEGNOSEIG SLAMS THE DOOR ON HIM RUDE

LET HIM IN

GASP!

He's learning not to kill!!

Now he is JUST threatening

Bajie like "See that is how it's done, dumbass" Sanzang can't say anything just a "shut up" Goes inside to make sure no monks are dead

Just Wukong going on about moon poems

He delighted!

They by talking about THINGS

EVEN WUJING GOT TO JOIN

Oh wait now i know which story this is

Ghost King with the Lion Demon

JTTW Chapter 36 Thoughts

Chapter 36 for the @journeythroughjourneytothewest Reading Group!

We’ve got creatures galore this time around!

Why can’t you give us the slice of life, huh? Why can’t you, the people want to read fluff too! I know I’d love to.

So as I’m attempting to keep track of the passage of time stated in the text there seems to have been a timeskip of multiple years. The changing of seasons up until last chapter only indicated around one and a half years passing, so either Tang Sanzang is exaggerating and only half a year to one year passes, so definitely one Winter since the narration mentioned frost, or it’s really been a couple of years.

Deer, deer, deer! No fallow deer, those are muntjac deer in the Chinese Original. Cute in the silliest way.

River deer basically yes, our lovely goofy Chinese Water Deer.

Now hold it! Those are not wolves! In the Chinese Original they are either Dholes or a kind of jackal. All three are in the family of Canidae. The wolf shares the Canis genus with jackals, while dholes and jackals are of the same tribe Canini.

I’m leaning more towards Cuon Alpinus so Dholes, which range throughout Asia and are also called Red Wolf or Mountain Wolf, but that might also be personal bias for I watched the Wild Kratts episode on them.

They are really social even more so than wolves and just overall very sweet. However they are classed as endangered!

They also come in a fluffy variant.

Jackals are really neat too though, here it might specifically be the Canis Aureus commonly known as Golden Jackal, which are native to Eurasia.

From Anthony C. Yu’s notes I concur the Vajra-guardians definitely do not look like cherubs neither the modern version nor the biblically accurate one. But they might be somewhat similar in function! Cherubim are assigned to protect special places as one of their jobs, so that guardian function might be the similarity that led to the comparison.

Tang Sanzang getting pouty is so endearing, much more than any ‘scared of demon’ instance.

Though in my opinion the monastery should have been able to kick out those guys that were causing needless trouble over multiple years. Give aid to fellow people yes, but if they knowingly and wilfully act out like that they rescind their right to stay.

Again with the property damage, Sun Wukong might have already cut down on violence against people, but no door is safe from him still.

Flower Fruit Mountain VisDev | JTTW VisDev Project

JTTW VisDev Project

A plant that is on Flower Fruit mountain. I have decided to draw fragrant osmanthus because it is a plant that native to Asia and grows in China. I mostly selected this plan to be in Flower Fruit mountain because it is really pretty when it blooms. Also I am struggling with how I should even develop flower fruit mountain and what I should base it off. I know Mount Huaguo is a real place but it can be debatable if Flower Fruit mountain in JTTW is even in China. So basically I am struggling with what place I should even base Flower Fruit mountain off but we will see what I decide to do eventually.

Journey to the West Chapter 36

Monkey introducing Tripitaka to others like:

Okay so in this chapter of Journey to the West with @journeythroughjourneytothewest we begin a section that I know absolutely nothing about, so that should be interesting. Let's get into it shall we?

So the group is traveling onward with renewed enthusiasm and manage to travel for quite a while without anything book worthy happening until they hit another mountain. Tripitaka who hasn't had a good track record with mountains, is worried about being attacked by yet another demon here. He also points out that they've been traveling for at least five years by now and wonders how much longer they have to go. Monkey points out that they are still very early in the morning and that they've barely left their front door. Then he has to spend ten minutes explaining what a metaphor is to Pigsy, when he asks how there could possibly be a house this big.

Anyways they continue traveling until it gets late and they luckily stumble across some buildings and Tripitaka suggests they rest here for the night. However the group has also not had a good track record with random monastery's and abbey's so Monkey asks to take a look first to make sure it's not evil or anything. Once Monkey takes a good look at the place he gives it the all clear and says it's a buddhist monastery. Which I take to mean that whatever flavor of shenanigans is about to happen, it won't involve demon's wanting to eat Tripitaka. Probably.

So they arrive at the monastery and Monkey asks which Monastery this is. Which causes Tripitaka to snap back 'How is he supposed to know? He doesn't know every monastery in the world!' Monkey points out that there's a sign, and Tripitaka snaps back that he wasn't in a position to see the sign when Monkey asked, also the sign is covered in grime. So Monkey decides to grow twenty feet tall in order to wipe the sign down and show it to Tripitaka. Tripitaka then reads the sign saying this place is apparently the Precious Grove monastery Built by Imperial Command. Anyways now that Monkey and Tripitaka are done arguing like an old married couple, Tripitaka say's he'll go inside and ask for lodging since all his disciples are so rude and ugly. Monkey's just like 'fair enough' and let's Tripitaka go in alone.

So Tripitaka goes inside admiring the architecture and doing his Buddhist thing and what not on his way in. Eventually a worker at the temple spots him and asks who he is and what he wants. Tripitaka explains his typical spiel and asks for lodging for the night. The worker explains that he doesn't have the authority to approve that so he goes to get his boss. So the worker goes to get his boss who gets all dressed in his fancy outfit and goes out to greet Tripitaka. But I guess Tripitaka failed a charisma check or something because his pretty face isn't enough to impress the Master when his clothes are so travel worn.

Anyways the Master yells that Tripitaka is just some beggar, and tells the worker to just let them squat in the corridor instead of letting them into the abbot. Tripitaka is so hurt by this he even tears up a bit. Anyways Tripitaka is upset and offended but not so upset and offended that he's willing to sic Sun Wukong on that guy just yet. So Tripitaka resolves to get the whole story first and follows after the master to question him.

So Tripitaka once again explains about his quest and asks for lodging again. The master however is unwilling to budge and points out that there is an Inn just a few miles away, so he should get his food and rest there instead of bothering him about it. Tripitaka however points out that all abbey's and monastery's are supposed to offer lodging and food to any priests who stop by. Apparently Tripitaka passes his charisma check this time because the priest now tells about his monastery's tragic back story and why he's unwilling to host Tripitaka. Which basically just comes out to he hosted some beggars once, only for those beggars to never actually leave and just continue to act like parasites to the monastery. The master wouldn't mind that much if it wasn't also for the fact that they continue to trash the place.

Anyways Tripitaka cries a little again, but wipes his tears away before going back outside to meet his disciples. He doesn't hide it well enough though since Monkey immediately notices he looks upset and asks if the monks there striked him. Tripitaka denies it, and also denies it when Monkey asks if they scolded him. Tripitaka then changes the subject and says that the Monks don't want them to stay here. To which Monkey asks Tripitaka to wait here and he'll handle this. These Monks are about to learn that the first time you get Tripitaka's form of diplomacy. But the second time you get Sun Wukong's. And his form of diplomacy involves a lot more hitting things and people with a stick.

Monkey comes in HOT. He states that he is is the disciple of the Tang Monk who came specifically to ask for lodging, and if they refuse he will start off by smashing their statues of Buddha. This gets the attention of yet another worker who is immediately intimidated into getting his manager to have him sort out this mess. The master of the place is annoyed to be disturbed yet again by these monks, but the worker explains that this is a different Monk, and is a lot more frightening then the last one.

So the master goes out to take a look, but immediately slams the door closed again as soon as he see's Monkey. Monkey however isn't having it and breaks the door open demanding that they set up 1000 rooms for them all. The master says that they don't even have a thousand rooms, they have like three hundred. The Monk once again tries to say that it's inconvenient for them to host them and asks that they try elsewhere. Monkey however has the perfect solution to this, if it's so inconvenient then *they* can just move out. He also makes sure to make his staff extra large and asks that if they truly can't move out, then one of the monks should come outside and take their punishment by being caned by him. The master immediately tries to sacrifice the poor worker to the cause, the worker however is not getting paid enough for this, so the two start arguing.

Monkey however doesn't actually want to hit them, after all if he kills them Tripitaka is going to get mad at him again. So instead he decides to just give them a little show of his power to intimidate them. He finds a conveniently placed lion statue and pulverizes the thing with one hit. This terrifies the monk master into literally crawling under the bed to hide while the worker decides to take charge and say that they'll host them after all. Monkey then asks the worker how many monks there are here, and upon receiving his answer, demands that all five hundred of them get dressed in their best robes and come out to receive Tripitaka personally. So the worker rings the bell to wake all the monks and demand that they file into line to welcome the Tang Monk. Monkey really knows how to get the red carpet rolled out for his master, all it takes is a little threat of violence to get star treatment.

Pigsy is also sure to point this out once he see's all the Monks kowtowing to them (under threat of violence) calling Tripitaka incompetent. Tripitaka meanwhile is rather embarrassed by this display and asks them to rise. Which causes the monks to plead with Tripitaka and have him convince Monkey not to hit them. Tripitaka tells Monkey not to hit them, and Monkey says that he hasn't, since if he had they would all definitely be dead by now. Which- fair enough. Anyways the monks finally rise and go to take care of the horse and all their luggage and stuff and finally lead them all inside.

Now that Monkey has these monks whipped into shape the monks wine and dine them with a fresh vegetarian meal and lead them to their rooms. However even after they lead them to the rooms, all five hundred monks are still loitering around even when Tripitaka tries to dismiss them. Only when he says that he's completely satisfied with his service please go away now, do they dare leave.

Anyways during the night Tripitaka gazes at the moon and makes a bit of poetry about it. Monkey meanwhile gives his two cents and manages to share some wisdom with Tripitaka and enlighten him a bit. Sandy is also sure to share some wisdom and enlightenment. When Pigsy tries to chime in however, he fails to enlighten Tripitaka in anyway and has him saying 'okay that's enough moon gazing for one night. Goodnight'. Anyways while the three disciples head to bed, Tripitaka decides to stay awake to meditate on the scriptures he learned in his youth.

Anyways, I guess we'll see where they are going with this in the next chapter of Journey to the West.

Current Sun Wukong Stats: Names/Titles: Monkey, The Stone Monkey, The Handsome Monkey King, Sun Wukong (Monkey awakened to the void), Bimawen (Banhorseplague), The Great Sage Equal To Heaven and Pilgrim Sun. Immortality: 5 + 94,000 years. Weapon: The Compliant Golden Hooped Rod Abilities: 72 Transformations, Cloud-Somersault, Ability to transform his individual hairs, super strength, Ability to Summon Wind, Water restriction charm, and the ability to change into a huge war form, ability to duplicate his staff, ability to immobilize others, the ability to put others to sleep, and the Fiery eyes and Diamond Pupils, intimidating horses, churning large bodies of water, sleeplessness, seizing the wind, enhanced smell, discerning good and evil within a thousand miles, Spirit Summoning, lock picking, object transformation, distance reduction and vanishing in a flash of light. Demon Kill Count: 9+ Unknown Number of Minions Human Kill Count: 1006 God's Defeated: 22 + Unknown number Defeats: 4 Crime List: Robbery, Murder, Mass Murder, Arson, Theft, Coercion, Threatening a Government Official, Resisting Arrest, Assault, Forgery, Employee Theft, False Imprisonment, Impersonating a Government Official, Treason, attempted murder, failure to control or report a dangerous fire, desecrating a corpse, breaking and entering, trespassing, violating Tree Law, looting corpses, trading counterfeit goods and Criminal Threat Cry Count: 6 + 2 fake cries Mountains Trapped Under: 4

Current Tang Sanzang stats: Names/Titles: River Float, Xuanzang, Tang Sanzang, Tripitaka Abilities: Curing Blindness, making branches point a certain direction (allegedly), reciting sutras, pretty privilege, memorization and Heart Sutra. Cry Count: 18 Tight Fillet Spell Uses: 27 Paralyzed by fear: 5 Bandit Problems: 2 Kidnapped by demons: 4 Falling Off Horses: 6

Current Bai Long Ma Stats: Names/Titles: Bai Long Ma (White Dragon Horse), Prince of the Western Ocean, and third prince jade dragon of the dragon king Aorun Abilities: Transforming into a human, a water snake, and a horse, eating a horse in one bite, flight, Magic of Water Restriction, Singing, and Sword Dancing. Cry Count: 1 Crime List: Arson, and Grave Disobedience. Contributions to the plot: 2

Current Zhu Wuneng Stats: Names/Titles: The Marshal of the Heavenly Reeds, Zhu Wuneng (Pig who is aware of ability), Zhu Ganglie, Pigsy, Idiot and Eight Rules. Weapon: Rake Abilities: 36 Transformations, parting water, fighting underwater, cloud soaring and size enhancement Demon Kill Count/Kill steals: 2 Kidnapped by Demons: 1 Human Kill Count: 1 Failed Flirtation/romances Attempts: 3 Cry Count: 1 Crime List: Sexual Harassment, Murder, Kidnapping and arson.

Current Sha Wujing Stats: Names/Titles: The Curtain-Raising General, Sha Wujing (Sand Aware of Purity), Sandy and Sha Monk Weapon: Monster Taming Staff Abilities: Fighting underwater and Cloud soaring. Demon Kill Count: Unknown number of minions. Kidnapped by Demons: 2 Human Kill Count: 1 Crime List: Breaking a Crystal Cup, murder, and desecration of a human corpse.

Zu Baijie: We need a doctor!

Wukong: *raises hand because he's been WAITING for this moment* I'm a licensed alchemist and doctor!~

Zu Baijie: *remembering how much he would mess with/bully Wukong* One that isn't likely to poison me!!

Wukong as a doctor is both hilarious and terrifying for the gang since that means that they're most experienced medical professional is a roughly four-foot monkey covered in peach juice.

Wukong also spends his whole doctor chapter goofing on the others and the king's retainers. The only time he keeps professional is when he explains to the king how to take the medicine + interrupting Zhu Zajie when he almost drunkenly revealed that there was Dragon-Horse Pee in the medicine.

Zhu Bajie now has also realised that Wukong can 100% identify plants out in the wild that can give the pig the worst runs of his life. He stops messing with Wukong's food afterwards.

I LOEV THIS AU SM

Art for @ask-thesparedau 's little macaque! I adore him.

Anyways i thought about it for a little bit and I've come to the conclusion that Macaque ALSO likes violence. Not a thing he always shows but in the jttw chapter he's actually seen to be aggressive (e.g. literally committing cannibalism and breaking Tripitaka's back when he got angry💀)

Estranged AU: In an alternate universe, Princess Iron Fan didn't choose DBK after his affair in the Journey to the West. She chose herself. Meanwhile, MK and Red Son end up in a fake relationship. 

Chapter 40: The King, the Prince, and the Shadow

Summary:

Good news: Tang figured out where the fourth ring is.

Bad news: Tang found himself trapped inside the second-largest lantern with no way out with the Six-Eared Macaque. Also, Mac has the ring.

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1st ring: Mei overcomes a conflict with Longnü, the Dragon Girl of Guanyin Bodhisattva.

2nd ring: Sandy overcomes a conflict with the Black Wind Guardian of the Guanyin Bodhisattva.

3rd ring: Pigsy overcomes a conflict with the Jade Rabbit.

4th ring: Tang overcomes a conflict with the Six-Eared Macaque.

5th ring: MK must overcome a conflict with ????? (To be in future chapters).