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Part of
Humour in the Beginning: Religion, humour and laughter in formative stages of Christianity, Islam, Buddhism and Judaism
Edited by Roald Dijkstra and Paul van der Velde
[Topics in Humor Research 10] 2022
► pp. 236–252

Finicking monkeys

Sun Wukong (Monkey King) as a humorous force in the Chinese discourse on the Three Teachings

| Radboud University

This chapter discusses the Chinese trickster figure Monkey King in narrative scenes in which he either steals or is tempted to steal food. It explores the way in which Monkey King is humorously utilised in the discourse on which of the Three Teachings (sanjiao), Daoism, Confucianism, or Buddhism, is superior to the others. First, this chapter discusses Monkey King’s multifarious origins. Afterwards, three texts are analysed: The story of how the monk Tripiṭaka of the great country of Tang brought back the Sūtras; The interpreter Pak; and The journey to the West. In all these texts, the type of humour utilised is best described by the superiority theory.

Keywords: China, Buddhism, Confucianism, Daoism, folklore, mythology, literature, Three Teachings (sanjiao), Sun Wukong (Monkey King), superior laughter
Article outline
  • 1.The beginning of the Three Teachings
  • 2.Possible origins of Sun Wukong
    • 2.1Namesakes
    • 2.2Hanumān
    • 2.3Demonic White Monkeys
    • 2.5The water spirit Wizhiqi
    • 2.6Summarising conclusion
  • 3.The textual transformations of Sun Wukong
    • 3.1 The story of how the monk Tripiṭaka of the great country of Tang brought back the Sūtras (Da tang sanzang qujing shishua)
    • 3.2The interpreter Pak (Pak t’ ongsa ŏnhae)
    • 3.3 The journey to the West (Xiyouji)
  • 4.Conclusion
  • Bibliography
Published online: 27 October 2022
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/thr.10.17ste
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