In the 16th century during the Qing dynasty, Sun Wukong, The Monkey King, was introduced in a functional novel. First mentioned in the novel "Journey to the West" or "西游记", Sun Wukong quickly captured the imaginations of many readers with his exciting adventures. 

Throughout his journeys, Wukong displays symbols of courage and wisdom, as he outsmarts his enemies and wins his battles. The interesting thing, however, is that he is also very rebellious as he often defies authority. One instance of this defiance was when he rebelled against the authority of the Jade Emperor, who was the ruler of Heaven. This act of defiance led to his imprisonment under a mountain for 500 years. 

Wukong also symbolizes eternal life. Throughout his journey, Wukong has defied the natural order of life and death multiple times, as he uses his trickery to narrowly escape life-threatening situations. This defiance of death has also turned Wukong into a symbol of immortality and eternal life, a symbol that we can also see in other animals of Chinese history like the turtle. 

This work is just one of the many that have been made of Wukong, depicting his human-like features and holding his staff, also known as the "如意金箍棒" (Ruyi Jingu Bang). This staff is a magical weapon that Wukong can control, as he can change it to any weapon he desires, making him very strong. 

This art piece shows Wukong sitting on a throne with his staff and a peach, which is his favorite fruit. This fruit in the novel grants longevity and Wukong's love for it serves as a recurring motif in the novel, symbolizing immortality.

From the collections of: Art UK

Made by Bowen Hu