The monsters in Journey to the West are diverse, some are greedy and fierce, and some are a bit human. The black bear spirit I'm going to talk about today, he's a special existence. Back then, this black bear spirit accidentally put out a fire in the mountains and accidentally picked up a priceless Buddhist robe. But his take is not just as simple as returning things to their original owners, but has triggered a big war with Sun Wukong. You might wonder why the Black Bear Spirit, who didn't have malicious intentions, ended up ending up with a different ending than the other youkai and ended up being a mountain guardian instead of a member of the scripture-learning team.
Speaking of black bear spirits, this monster is no ordinary character. His first appearance was a mountain overlord with bright clothes and strong martial arts. Not only is the appearance somewhat similar to Sun Wukong, but even the strength is comparable. The black bear spirit's outfit can't help but be reminiscent of Sun Wukong's combat equipment, the two seem to be mirror images, and they both have extraordinary aura and strength.
But what makes the black bear spirit different is that he doesn't have so many scheming and ambitions. He accidentally found the Buddha's clothes by fighting fires, and had no other intentions, but was drawn into a big war because of this. The several battles between him and Sun Wukong are not only a duel of strength, but also a contest of understanding and misunderstanding. Although the black bear spirit stole the Buddha clothes, he did not have the cunning and cruelty that monsters often have, and even specially invited the owner of the Buddha clothes, Elder Jin Chi, to appreciate it, which made people laugh and cry.
In the confrontation with the Monkey King, the black bear spirit showed his open-mindedness and demeanor. He is not like other monsters, who speak ill of Sun Wukong as soon as he sees him, but instead shows a calm and unhurried attitude, and can even argue with Sun Wukong. In their conversations, the black bear spirit always seems polite and thoughtful, while Sun Wukong constantly provokes with sharp words, this contrast makes people look at the black bear spirit differently.
Although the Black Bear Spirit exhibits a number of positive qualities, his ending is very different from that of other youkai. In the face of Guanyin Bodhisattva, the black bear spirit did not have any resistance and obediently handed over the Buddha's clothes. Guanyin Bodhisattva's treatment of him was also quite special, not destroying or transforming him, but making him a mountain god. Such an arrangement can't help but make people think, how does Guanyin Bodhisattva view the behavior of the black bear spirit, and what is the meaning behind it?
Behind all this, it is not only the personal fate of the black bear spirit, but also a profound exploration of the concept of good and evil. Although the black bear spirit stole the Buddha's clothes, his actions were not so simply malicious. His theft was more like an unconscious act, and his subsequent manifestations also showed that he did not have evil intentions. In the contest with Sun Wukong, he has repeatedly paid attention to not hurting the other party, and this kind of behavior that can still take care of the safety of the opponent in the battle is difficult to see in other monsters in Journey to the West.
This characteristic of the black bear spirit precisely reflects his complexity and contradiction. On the one hand, he is a monster, and the act of stealing Buddha clothes is undoubtedly wrong; On the other hand, there are many positive qualities in his personality, such as honesty, bravery, and respect for the Dharma. This seemingly contradictory character makes him an object worthy of redemption and reuse in the eyes of Guanyin Bodhisattva.
As for his failure to join Tang Seng's team to learn scriptures, there are also deep reasons for this. Although the Black Bear Spirit has many advantages, his original intention was not to learn the Dharma or achieve positive results, and the reason why he came into contact with Buddha clothes was purely accidental. Although his strength is strong, in the world of Journey to the West, there are many characters who are more powerful than him, and his ability does not show enough influence at critical moments.
What's more, the fate of the black bear spirit may be to protect that mountain and protect that land. Guanyin Bodhisattva's arrangement is not necessarily just about some of his behaviors, but more about seeing his potential to protect the party. Becoming a mountain guardian is the best placement of his character and ability, and it also gives him more opportunities to practice and protect others.
The black bear spirit is actually a very philosophical chapter in Journey to the West, and through his experience, we can see that even monsters may show moral brilliance beyond ordinary people. His transformation and final destination reflect the deep understanding of tolerance and redemption in Eastern culture, as well as the deep concern for the fate of the individual.
The Black Bear Spirit is not just a simple discussion of good and evil, it is more like a mirror that reflects the complex and subtle various facets of human nature. Every choice he makes, every battle, is constantly testing and revealing his inner world. In the end, he did not become a member of the scripture-learning team, but became a mountain god, such an ending is not only an affirmation of his personality, but also a kind of redemption for his past behavior. In the story, we see the possibility of growth, and see that even youkai have the power to do good.