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Reading Notes: The Monkey King Part B

Monkey Fights a Demon: Source
        Like I said with part A's reading, I was very excited to continue The Monkey King's story to see where the adventure leads. I was not disappointed with where the story led. The story wrapped up very nicely and was very satisfying when Sun became a Buddha himself. To me, the story was something positive to look towards. I understand the role model that Sun serves as to young Chinese Buddhists. I really enjoyed the first story in the second half of the lineup, "The Lord of the Heavens". To me, this story was a great culmination. My favorite passage reads, "the Evening Star came forward, however, and said: “This ape was born of the purest powers of heaven and earth and sun and moon. He has gained the hidden knowledge and has become an immortal. Recall, O Lord, your great love for all that which has life, and forgive him his sin! Issue an order that he be called up to the heavens and be given a charge here, so that he may come to his senses. Then, if he again oversteps your commands, let him be punished without mercy" (Martens). I thought that this story could almost serve as a synopsis of the entire story, because it speaks about Sun's journey, how he was born out of the rocks and fertilized by the heavens. To me, this was the most powerful part of all of the readings. I am really glad that I got the opportunity to read this story, and like I said with Part A's reading, I will certainly be including this story (or at least the shorter excerpts as they are broken up) in my curriculum as a teacher shortly in the future.

Story: The Monkey King
Focus Story: The Lord of the Heavens
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