This week I read the story of Sun Wu Kung, which is the
first unit I’ve read for this class that focused on a quest for wisdom. Gaining
power and knowledge was the focus of Sun Wu Kung from the beginning of the
story, where he set out to find immortality and what he called “The Truth.” Sun
Wu Kung was especially curious about the world, but mostly sought after
whatever would benefit him the most.
The thing that gets him thinking and the reason that he goes
on this quest to begin with is because he realizes that all of his ape friends,
as well as him, are getting old and will eventually die. At first, Sun Wu Kung
has no destination in mind, but early on he learns that spirits, buddhas, and
gods are the only ones who can be immortal. So he sets out to find an immortal
being, but has no idea where to begin. He walks through the mountains and sees
what looks like a place where spirits might live.
Eventually he winds up at the palace of a saint and learns
transformative powers there. He continues to get more powerful by obtaining a
weapon from the sea but he begins to anger people along the way with his
actions and gains the attention of the gods.
In his own opinion, Sun Wu Kung would probably consider his
quest a success. His journey brought him all the way to the heaven, he gained
transformative power, met Buddha, and ate peaches that made him immortal.
However, I believe Sun Wu Kung’s quest is actually meant to teach the reader a
lesson. The more power he seeks, the more he finds and thus gains. He also
becomes increasingly arrogant with his ever-increasing power. This arrogance
eventually leads to his downfall in the end, though and is taught a lesson of
humility.
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| Sun Wu Kung and a Buddhist monk. |
Image Info: A Modern Journey to the West by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi. Web Source: Wikipedia.
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