Wansheng Dragon King: The Mastermind Behind the Green Wave Pool of Rocky Mountain in "Journey to the West"

Brief Introduction

The Wansheng Dragon King is a core antagonist in the "Jisai Kingdom" arc of the latter half of Journey to the West. He is not one of the Four Sea Dragon Kings who govern the East, West, South, and North Seas, but rather the leader of an independent dragon faction occupying the Green Wave Pool of Rocky Mountain. Due to his plot to steal the national treasure of the Jisai Kingdom, which caused the nation to suffer heavenly punishment, he came into conflict with Tang Sanzang and his disciples. This character enriches the complexity of the dragon system in Journey to the West, breaking the stereotype that "all dragons are righteous deities," and serves as an important case study for understanding the genealogy of monsters in the book.

Core Knowledge Points

Identity: The Wansheng Dragon King of the Green Wave Pool on Rocky Mountain; a branch of the dragon race possessing an independent cave dwelling and subordinates, not directly under the jurisdiction of the Four Sea Dragon Kings.
Major Crimes: Orchestrated the theft of the "Buddha's Relic" and other national treasures from the Golden Light Temple in the Jisai Kingdom, resulting in three years of drought and the king being wrongly accused.
Accomplices: Committed crimes together with his daughter, the Dragon Girl, and his sworn brother, the Golden Scale King (a snake spirit), forming a family-style criminal gang.
Magical Abilities: Proficient in "Water Escape" (stealth), capable of changing forms, and once attempted to escape by transforming into a fish, demonstrating deep dragon cultivation.
Final Fate: Under the joint suppression of Sun Wukong and Sha Wujing, his magic was broken, and he was ultimately captured to be tried in the Heavenly Court, returning to the orthodox order.

Connection to Book Content

This character primarily appears in Chapters 87 to 89 of Journey to the West. When the pilgrims arrived at the Jisai Kingdom, they discovered that due to the loss of the national treasure, the king was framed, and the common people suffered. Sun Wukong learned from an old monk that there was dragon qi hidden in a well, leading him to lock onto the Green Wave Pool of Rocky Mountain. He observed the color and smell of the well water to deduce the location of the dragon qi. Sha Wujing was ordered to dive to the bottom of the pool and engaged in fierce combat with the Wansheng Dragon King and his troops. The Wansheng Dragon King attempted to use "Water Escape" to flee but was seen through by Sun Wukong, who trapped him with immobilization magic. Ultimately, the Dragon Girl and the Golden Scale King were also captured. This plot not only drives the climax of the Jisai Kingdom arc but also showcases Sun Wukong's meticulous demon-slaying skills and Sha Wujing's water combat abilities. This section is a rare tribulation on the pilgrimage road led by a dragon, possessing unique narrative value and demonstrating the tacit cooperation among the three disciples.

Character Significance

The existence of the Wansheng Dragon King reveals the hierarchy within the mythological system of Journey to the West. The orthodox Four Sea Dragon Kings are under the jurisdiction of the Heavenly Court, while local dragons like the Wansheng Dragon King may fall into the path of demons due to desire. His story serves as a warning about the consequences of power and greed, while also providing a stage for the pilgrimage team to demonstrate their collaborative abilities. For those studying the monster genealogy and dragon settings of Journey to the West, the Wansheng Dragon King is an不可忽视 (unignorable) case that reflects the author's conception of the diversity of mythological characters. This character reflects the dual treatment of the "Dragon" totem in Ming Dynasty novels, possessing both a divine aspect and a demonic aspect, thereby increasing the tension of the story.