Sun Wukong (the Monkey King) is a legendary Chinese mythological figure and the breakout star of the 16th-century classic novel Journey to the West. Here is his biography in short: • Origin: He was born from a mythical stone atop the Mountain of Flowers and Fruit, acquiring supernatural powers through Taoist practices. • The Rebel: He mastered the 72 Earthly Transformations, became immortal, and styled himself the "Great Sage Equal to Heaven." He famously waged war against the Celestial Heaven, defeating its armies single-handedly until the Buddha trapped him under a mountain for 500 years. • The Redemption: To atone for his sins, he was released to protect the monk Tang Sanzang on a perilous pilgrimage to India to retrieve sacred Buddhist sutras. • Attainment: After battling countless demons and successfully completing the mission, he was rewarded with Buddhahood, achieving the title of the "Victorious Fighting Buddha."
