In the vast treasure trove of classical Chinese literature, "Journey to the West" is undoubtedly a bright pearl. This work is not only full of fantasy, but also contains profound philosophy. Among them, the images of the four Tang monks and apprentices are deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, and their images and roles are distinct, but have you ever wondered why the other three were the mounts of the gods except for Sun Wukong?
As one of the four famous Chinese novels, "Journey to the West" is full of vitality due to the colorful story and profound character description of the characters. In particular, the four Tang monks and apprentices are not only travelers who learn scriptures, but also symbolize the various faces of human beings. Among them, Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie, Sha Seng and Little White Dragon have their own characteristics, but except for the witty Wukong, the other three were all mounts of the gods of the heavenly realm, which is quite interesting.
Let's take a look at Tang Seng, a senior monk of the Tang Dynasty in the Eastern Soil, whose previous life was a golden cicada, and was the second disciple of the Buddha. In the distant mythological era, the golden cicada was originally a six-winged golden cicada, and after countless calamities, it achieved an immortal body. He is not only a disciple of Nyolai, but in a sense, he has become a "zazen prop" of Nyolai. When the Buddha was practicing, the golden cicada incarnated as his cushion to help the Buddha reach a higher level of cultivation. This transformation of the image not only shows the important position of the golden cicada, but also reflects the profound meaning of "the cycle of cause and effect" and "reincarnation" in Buddhism.
Next is Zhu Bajie, the humble Marshal of Tianpeng, who was one of the mounts of Mori Zhitian in his previous life. Morichiten, the god of great achievement, has seven golden pigs as mounts and assistants. The image of Zhu Bajie is particularly vivid here - he is not only a powerful warrior, but also a loyal and reliable mount. From Marshal Tianpeng to the pig demon in the mortal world, and then to Zhu Bajie on the way to learn scriptures, his identity change is not only a display of his personality, but also a satire of loyalty and change.
The story of the sand monk is equally exciting. He was originally a monster of the quicksand river, and was later subdued by Guanyin Bodhisattva and became a member of the road to learn scriptures. His steadfastness and poise make him an indispensable pillar of strength in the team. Although the Sand Monk's previous life as a mount is not clear in the original book, his infinite strength and loyalty make him have all the good attributes of a mount.
We can't ignore the little white dragon, who was the mount of Guanyin Bodhisattva in the story. As a member of the dragon clan, he was originally the third prince of the Dragon King of the West Sea, but was demoted to a horse for violating the rules of heaven, and later returned to the dragon form and became the retinue of Tang Seng. This transformation of the little white dragon is not only a reflection of his own journey of redemption, but also the dignity and strength of his journey from a divine dragon to a mortal mount and then to a reborn dragon.
The mount identities of these four characters are not only a reflection of their personal fate, but also a deeper reflection of reincarnation and redemption, a core theme in "Journey to the West". Each character has a past, and their past directly influences their present while also foreshadowing their future. In this process, Sun Wukong, as the only character who has not become a mount, is particularly special. His free spirit and independent behavior make him unique among many gods and demons. The reason why Goku didn't become anyone's mount may be because of his unruliness and rebellion, he is the kind of soul that cannot be tamed.
This setting makes one wonder, what is it that allows Goku to maintain such an independent character? Was it his boundless desire for freedom, or his extreme quest for power? Maybe it has something to do with his background, after all, he jumped out of the stone, and his unusual origin gave him a fate and abilities that were different from ordinary people.
For the other three, their mount identities offer a reflection: how did they accept and adapt to such a role, and how did their personalities and destinies shape their past? These questions are not only a discussion of the fate of individuals, but also an in-depth reflection on the order of the entire universe and the meaning of life.
In its unique way, "Journey to the West" presents a world of loyalty, sacrifice, redemption, and self-realization. The fate of each character tells us an ancient and eternal truth: no matter what the situation is, inner choice and perseverance are the key to shaping destiny.
Through careful analysis of the characters in "Journey to the West" and their respective stories, it is not difficult for us to find that although these stories are rooted in mythology, the philosophy of life reflected is universal and profound. The journey of Tang monks and apprentices is not only a simple journey of learning scriptures, but also a profound journey of self-discovery and inner practice. Each character is exploring and realizing their own value and meaning in life in their own way.