Journey to the West "The True and False Monkey King": The Truth and Metaphor of the Six-Eared Macaque

Brief Introduction

Among the many classic chapters of Journey to the West, "The True and False Monkey King" is a plot of great deception and philosophical depth. The story occurs during the pilgrimage to the West, where a "False Monkey King" appears who is identical in appearance and ability to Sun Wukong. He not only impersonates the pilgrim but knocks out Tang Seng and steals the luggage, attempting to form a team on his own to fetch the scriptures from the Western Heaven. This incident leads to a breakdown in the master-disciple relationship and even disturbs the Heavenly Court and the Underworld; ultimately, only the Tathagata Buddha can reveal the truth.

Core Knowledge Points

1. The True Identity of the False Monkey King

The False Monkey King is not an ordinary demon, but the Six-Eared Macaque. It is one of the Four Great Chaotic Monkey Kings in Journey to the West and does not belong to the ten categories of sentient beings. The Six-Eared Macaque possesses the abilities to "listen well, understand principles, know past and future, and comprehend all things." Therefore, he can perfectly imitate everything about Sun Wukong, even knowing the inside details of the pilgrimage.

2. Event Process and Motivation

The Six-Eared Macaque appears when Sun Wukong is driven away by Tang Seng. He knocks out Tang Seng with one strike, steals the luggage and horses, and creates a fake Wukong, fake Bajie, and fake Sha Seng. His motivation is not purely evil; rather, he aims to replace the true Wukong and complete the great cause of fetching scriptures to attain enlightenment. This behavior directly leads to a trust crisis within the pilgrimage team.

3. Ending and Symbolic Meaning

The true and false Wukongs seek verification in heaven and hell without success, finally revealing their true forms before the Tathagata Buddha. After the Buddha reveals the Six-Eared Macaque's identity, Sun Wukong kills him on the spot. In literary interpretation, the Six-Eared Macaque symbolizes Sun Wukong's "Second Heart". Killing the Six-Eared Macaque signifies Wukong abandoning distractions and devoting his heart to Buddhism, completing inner cultivation and sublimation.

Connection to the Book's Content

Chapter Location

This plot mainly appears in Chapter 57 to Chapter 58 of Journey to the West. This is the turning point where the conflict between the master and disciples is most intense during the pilgrimage. Before this, Tang Seng misunderstood Wukong many times; after this incident, Tang Seng's trust in Wukong recovered, and the team's cohesion was reshaped.

Philosophical Metaphor

From the structure of the original work, "The True and False Monkey King" is not just a fighting plot, but an externalization of psychological description. The appearance of the Six-Eared Macaque reflects Sun Wukong's inner restlessness and rebellion. Only by eliminating the "Second Heart" can one achieve the "True Fruit". This design deepens the theme of Journey to the West as a cultivation novel, indicating that the pilgrimage is not only an external journey but also a tempering of inner character.

Search Keywords

Journey to the West, Six-Eared Macaque, True and False Monkey King, Sun Wukong, Tang Seng, Tathagata Buddha, Second Heart.