Huangmei Dawang
Huangmei Dawang is a major antagonist featured in the 16th-century Chinese classic novel Journey to the West. He appears as one of the most challenging adversaries for Sun Wukong and his fellow pilgrims. His story is notable for his immense power, the high-level celestial beings he defeats, and his direct connection to the future Buddha, Maitreya.
Unlike most demons in the novel, who are escaped animals or spirits, the Yellow-Browed Great King has a celestial origin. He is, in fact, the yellow-browed pageboy who serves Maitreya Buddha. Having grown bored with his heavenly duties, he stole two of his master's most powerful magical treasures and escaped to the mortal world.
Appearance in ''Journey to the West''
As Tang Sanzang and his disciples journey through the West, they see a magnificent temple complex that bears a striking resemblance to the Thunder Monastery on Vulture Peak, the home of the Buddha. Tang Sanzang, earnest in his faith, insists on entering to pay his respects, despite Sun Wukong's deep suspicions. Upon entering, the temple is revealed to be a trap. The Yellow-Browed King, who had created the entire complex through magic, captures Tang Sanzang and the other disciples.Sun Wukong manages to escape and confronts the demon, who proves to be a formidable adversary. The demon's power derives from two magical items he stole from Maitreya: the Golden Cymbals, a pair of enchanted cymbals capable of trapping anyone within them, and the Human-Race Pouch, a magical bag that can capture and imprison gods, immortals, and heroes regardless of their number. During their confrontation, Sun Wukong is trapped inside the Golden Cymbals and can only be freed when the celestial uses its horn to pry them open. As Sun Wukong calls upon a wide range of celestial allies for aid—including the Twenty-Eight Mansions, the Five Great Dragon Kings, and various heavenly generals—the Yellow-Browed King captures each of them with the Human-Race Pouch. This string of defeats represents one of Sun Wukong's most vulnerable moments throughout the pilgrimage, leaving him utterly powerless.
Under the guidance of the heavenly official, Sun Wukong sought assistance from Guoshiwang Bodhisattva, who sent Little Crown Prince Zhang and the Four Great Divine Generals to aid him. The Yellow-Browed Great King provoked Little Crown Prince Zhang with harsh words and subsequently engaged in battle against multiple opponents, with neither side gaining a decisive advantage. After some time, the Yellow-Browed King used the Human-Race Pouch to capture Little Crown Prince Zhang and the Four Great Divine Generals, forcing Sun Wukong to flee once again.
After exhausting all his options, Sun Wukong is finally advised to seek the demon's true master. He travels to the paradise of Maitreya and tearfully explains his plight. Maitreya recognizes the demon as his escaped pageboy and agrees to help. To defeat his own disciple, Maitreya devises a plan. He transforms himself into a melon farmer. When the demon, who has been tricked by Sun Wukong into a contest, comes to eat a melon, he is unknowingly swallowed by Maitreya. Trapped inside his master's stomach, the demon is tormented until he surrenders. He returns the stolen treasures and is taken back to heaven by Maitreya to face punishment.
Character evaluation
Qing dynasty Taoist Wuyizi said that "the Yellow-Browed Great King borrowed the all-encompassing 'cloth bag' that contained everything to collect the desires of all living beings, which was truly sorrowful. Fortunately, a single melon was enough to subdue it."Zhu Hongbo, a professor at the Chinese Department of East China Normal University, analyzes the Yellow-Browed Great King's role: