Do you know why Tang Seng in "Journey to the West" can make the three tyrants of the Heavenly Court Sun Wukong obedient and obedient? The secret behind this is not simple! Tang Seng, this monk who seems to be a weak scholar, is actually a golden cicada in his previous life, and Jin Chanzi is not an ordinary existence, he was once an ancient demon who made the creatures of the Three Realms tremble! All this, does it surprise you a little? Who is the golden cicada, and why do powerful apprentices such as Sun Wukong obey him? Follow me to explore the secret and uncover the unknown story behind "Journey to the West"!
"Journey to the West" is one of the four great masterpieces of ancient China, in which the adventure stories of the protagonist Tang Seng and his three apprentices Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie and Sha Seng are well-known. The Monkey King, in particular, is famous for his omnipotent supernatural powers. Why would this Monkey King obey a monk Tang Seng who is often verbose?
In fact, Tang Seng's previous life identity is not trivial. He is the second apprentice of the Buddha, the golden cicada, but this golden cicada is not very human, but the insect of the ancient flood that once terrified the entire Three Realms. It is said that the power of the golden cicada was unmatched at that time, and even the heavenly court was afraid of him.
The story of the golden cicada begins with his strength and arrogance. In the ancient flood period countless years ago, the golden cicada existed in an incomparably fierce form, and his strength was so great that he was able to compete with heaven and earth. However, as the saying goes, "extreme prosperity must decline", when his strength reached its peak, he was subdued by the Buddha.
Receiving the Buddha, he took advantage of a rare opportunity to successfully subdue this great demon who once shocked the Three Realms, and let him reincarnate as a human being, becoming the Tang monk we are familiar with. Such a transformation is not only a transfer of the power of the golden cicada, but also a symbol of the road to redemption from a demon to a Buddha.
The reincarnated golden cicada, that is, Tang Seng, was given a major mission - to retrieve the true scriptures of the Western Heavens. This is not just a simple trip, but a journey of deep baptism of the soul. The reason why the Buddha chose him is because only the golden cicada, who has undergone great transformation, has the ability to understand and carry those profound Buddhist truths.
Why did Sun Wukong bow down to Tang Seng? The reason for this may be related to his previous life. Although Sun Wukong is powerful, he still has to bow his head when he meets the Buddha. And Tang Seng, as the second apprentice of Rulai, naturally has incredible heritage and strength, although these powers are not obvious after he is reincarnated as Tang Seng.
In addition, the mantra on Tang Seng is a deep-seated constraint. This magical magic weapon can make Sun Wukong feel the pain of a splitting headache when he disobeys his master's orders, which invisibly strengthens Tang Seng's control over Sun Wukong. But it is undeniable that Sun Wukong's loyalty to Tang Seng is not all out of the deterrence of the Tight Spell, his respect and obedience to Tang Seng is partly due to the deep memory and awe of the identity of the golden cicada in his previous life.
And the story of Zhu Bajie and Sha Seng is equally exciting. Zhu Bajie was originally Marshal Tianpeng, but he was demoted to the mortal world for molesting Chang'e, and Sha Seng was demoted to the monster of the quicksand river because of his mistakes. Although these three disciples have their own origins, they are all punished for their past mistakes, and their reincarnation and practice are actually a process of redemption.
This team of wrongdoers is not just doing a simple journey of learning from the scriptures, but more like a profound self-redemption and soul purification. From this point of view, "Journey to the West" is not just a simple mythological novel, it deeply explores the themes of crime and punishment, redemption and growth.
The complexity of Tang Seng's role lies in the fact that he carries both the expectations of the Buddha and the power of his previous life. Every word, every thought, is actually silently demonstrating a deep Dharma wisdom. His weakness is only the appearance, and his persistence and patience are what makes him truly strong.
Although Sun Wukong is the most eye-catching, without the guidance of Tang Seng, he may never really understand what wisdom and foolishness are and what true power is. And this kind of power is not a simple fight with fists and feet, but a spiritual awareness and detachment.
The story of the entire "Journey to the West" is not only an adventure across thousands of mountains and rivers, but also a spiritual journey, in which every character finds their place and meaning. Whether it is the reincarnation of the golden cicada or the submission of the Monkey King, a profound truth is revealed: true strength comes from the awakening of the heart and the unremitting pursuit of noble goals.
Through the classic masterpiece "Journey to the West", we can not only enjoy wonderful stories, but also deeply understand the life philosophy behind each character. Although Tang Seng is weak on the outside, he is tenacious on the inside, and although Sun Wukong is infinitely powerful, he eventually surrenders to higher spiritual pursuits. All this makes us understand that everyone's life journey is a process of finding and realizing oneself.