The real tale of the Monkey King in Heaven - Ji Hao

328,059 views ・ 2024-10-15

TED-Ed


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After snatching the sea dragon’s mystical weapon,
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outsmarting the lords of death and securing immortality for his followers,
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Sun Wukong had truly earned his title as the Monkey King.
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But while his disciples loved their roguish leader,
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his misadventures had spread chaos throughout the land.
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The Jade Emperor, watching from his throne in Heaven,
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decided he would no longer stand by
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as this monkey wreaked havoc across his domain.
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After consulting with his aide,
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the Emperor decided the best way to maintain order
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was to keep a close eye on Sun Wukong.
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So, he invited the Monkey King to serve as supervisor of the imperial stables.
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Sun Wukong jumped at what he thought was a prestigious job in Heaven.
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He began working diligently to care for Heaven’s horses,
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and for a time, the Emperor’s plan appeared to be working.
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But eventually, Sun Wukong realized his job was the lowest rank imaginable.
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Deeply offended, he whipped out his shapeshifting staff
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and transformed it into an iron cudgel.
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Blasting his way back to Earth,
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he erected a great banner proclaiming the job title he felt entitled to.
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Furious, the Emperor dispatched his heavenly troops
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to bring the Monkey King back under control.
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But even his army’s shapeshifting general was no match for Sun Wukong.
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Using his guile, the Monkey King bested his opponents,
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and the Jade Emperor was forced to offer him the post he desired.
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He reinstated Sun Wukong in Heaven, this time in an opulent mansion.
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From his new home, the Monkey King threw himself into a life of leisure—
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exploring the realms and socializing with various deities.
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But the Jade Emperor was still concerned about his guest’s chaotic nature.
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To keep him busy, he asked Sun Wukong to protect
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the sacred Garden of Immortal Peaches.
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At this task, the Monkey King failed spectacularly.
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But gorging on fruit did keep him occupied...
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until he spotted fairies collecting the peaches for a Grand Festival.
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Despite his official role, Sun Wukong hadn’t been invited to the celebration,
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and he quickly hatched a plan to get his revenge.
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Transforming a few of his hairs into sleep-inducing insects,
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the Monkey King incapacitated the Emperor’s servants
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and consumed the entire feast himself.
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Bloated with food and wine, Sun Wukong stumbled towards his mansion.
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But in his drunken stupor, he ended up at the palace of the Daoist leader Laozi.
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Sun Wukong giddily explored Laozi’s deserted home,
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and in the alchemical room, he found a particularly tempting treasure:
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five gourds filled with golden elixir.
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Sensing the medicine was sacred, he vowed only to sneak a taste—
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but soon he was surrounded by empty vessels.
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The elixir instantly sobered him up,
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and suddenly Sun Wukong knew he’d gone too far.
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To avoid Laozi’s legendary wrath, he caught the nearest cloud back to Earth.
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But it didn’t take long for the Emperor to uncover his trail of chaos.
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Vowing to subdue Sun Wukong once and for all,
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he called on his nephew Erlang Shen.
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Erlang Shen was known throughout the realms for his heroic feats
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and ability to see through any illusion.
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He and Sun Wukong began a great battle,
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transforming into all manner of beasts in their attempts to best one another.
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The fight was fearsome, but Sun Wukong’s quick wits kept him one step ahead—
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until Laozi’s bracelet struck him from the heavens.
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This stumble was all Erlang Shen needed to capture the Monkey King
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and deliver him to Laozi.
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The religious leader imprisoned Sun Wukong in a white-hot brazier,
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cooking him for 49 days.
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But when Laozi opened the lid, a pair of burning eyes stared back at him.
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The golden elixir had made Sun Wukong’s body indestructible,
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and he rose from the pot stronger than ever.
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At this terrifying triumph, the Jade Emperor despaired.
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He’d tried tricking, appeasing, and battling Sun Wukong—
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but it had only led to more chaos.
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It seemed that only the greatest power in the world could defeat the Monkey King—
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it was time for Buddha himself to intervene.
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