Monkey

Wu, Cheng-en. Monkey. 2020. 819 mins. ISBN 978-1094016429.

Monkey rules over a tribe of monkeys on the summit of a mountain. There, Monkey acquires enough smarts, weapons, and skills to pretend to join the Jade Emperor's court in Heaven. Monkey may be many things, but what he is most certainly not is patient and humble. In confrontations with deities, Monkey makes enemies, and fights many battles. He is quarrelsome enough that even the Jade Emperor is forced to banish him from Heaven. 

Seeking enlightenment, Monkey heads to a renowned school, where he learns the many forms designed to reach Buddha's grace. He unfortunately angers Buddha himself, who casts him off and imprisons him underneath a mountain. For five hundred years, Monkey is stuck and must reflect on his wanton ways.

When a monk tasked to head west from China to India, to retrieve holy scriptures and bring them back to the Chinese court passes by, he rescues Monkey, who joins him as a disciple. Accompanied by others who are also castaways from Heaven, the small group make their way to India where, after countless perils, adventures, and confrontations with demons, they secure an audience with Buddha himself, and gain a copy of the holy scriptures.

Returning to China, the group is redeemed and achieves enlightenment, and even Monkey learns to become a better individual.

Originally written in the 16th century but most likely told even before, this story tells of the many adventures of the Monkey King. Combining folk tales with lessons on humility and achieving enlightenment, these stories are entertaining and filled with advice. Fans of this story will also enjoy The Epic Crush of Genie Lo, inspired from the Monkey King's epic tales, or the graphic novel American Born Chines.