#magic primate

[journeytothewestresearch]

Sun Wukong, Guardian of the Immortal Peaches

I suggest in my recent article that the episode in chapter four of Journey to the West where Sun Wukong (孫悟空) serves as a guardian of immortal peaches might be based on a Song-era story of the Warring States military strategist Sun Bin (孫臏) guarding fruit (Ming fiction identifies it as immortal peaches).

Both stories include: 

Characters surnamed Sun (孫) (Sun Bin VS Sun Wukong) guarding special fruit. 

Supernatural primates stealing the fruit for consumption (a white ape VS Sun Wukong).   

 So the Monkey King serves as both the guard and the thief!