List of Journey to the West characters

Main characters

• Sun Wukong, better known as the Monkey King in translations, is a monkey born from a stone on Mount Huaguo who acquires magic powers by learning from Master Bodhi. After starting a rebellion against Heaven, he is subdued and imprisoned under a mountain by the Buddha for 500 years. After his release, he agrees to become a disciple of the monk Tang Sanzang and protect the latter on his quest to obtain sutras from Tianzhu and bring them back to the Tang Empire.
• Tang Sanzang, based on the historical figure Xuanzang, is a Buddhist monk who is the reincarnation of Golden Cicada, a disciple of the Buddha. After taking an oath of brotherhood with Emperor Taizong of the Tang Empire, he is sent by the emperor on a quest to Tianzhu to bring Buddhist sutras back to the Tang Empire.
• Zhu Bajie, also known by his Buddhist name Zhu Wuneng, is originally the Marshal of the Heavenly Canopy who was banished from Heaven for attempting to seduce Chang'e and reincarnated as a humanoid monster with a pig's head. He becomes Tang Sanzang's second disciple and accompanies the monk on his quest for the sutras as a means of atoning for his past sins.
• Sha Wujing, is originally a Curtain-Lifting General who was banished from Heaven for breaking a goblet or vase during a festival and reincarnated as a hideous-looking humanoid monster living in Flowing Sand River. Later, he is told by Guanyin that he has a chance to redeem himself by protecting Tang Sanzang on his quest for the sutras. He initially fights with Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie when they arrive, but after learning that they are Tang Sanzang's disciples, he asks them to bring him to their master and becomes Tang Sanzang's third disciple.
• The White Dragon Horse is the third son of Ao Run, the Dragon King of the West Sea. He was originally supposed to be executed for accidentally destroying a pearl gifted by the Jade Emperor, but Guanyin saved him and brought him to Yingchou Stream in Shepan Mountain. When Tang Sanzang and Sun Wukong pass by the stream, the Dragon devours Tang Sanzang's horse and retreats after realising he is no match for Sun Wukong. Later, the Dragon transforms into the White Dragon Horse to serve as Tang Sanzang's steed for the rest of his journey.

  Buddhist pantheon

• The Buddha, referred to as Tathāgata Buddha in the novel, is based in Leiyin Temple on Vulture Peak in the Western Pure Land. When Sun Wukong is wreaking havoc in Heaven, the Buddha shows up to subdue him and imprison him under a mountain for 500 years. During their quest to Leiyin Temple, the protagonists have to occasionally seek help from the Buddha to deal with certain yaoguai along the way. At the end of their quest, the protagonists obtain the scriptures from the Buddha.
• * Ananda and Mahākāśyapa are the Buddha's disciples who have been instructed to pass the scriptures to the protagonists. When they ask for offerings in return for the scriptures, Tang Sanzang has nothing to offer them so they give him blank copies of the scriptures instead.
• * Mahamayuri is the [Dapeng Jinchi Mingwang|Golden Winged Great Peng]'s sister and the Buddha's godmother. Both of them were born to the Fenghuang.
• * The Eight Wisdom Kings and the Four Heavenly Kings stand guard at Leiyin Temple.
• ** The Eight Wisdom Kings:
• *** Kuṇḍali
• *** Padanakṣipa
• *** Acala
• *** Yamāntaka
• *** Trailokyavijaya
• *** Aparājita
• *** Mahācakra
• *** Hayagrīva
• ** The Four Heavenly Kings:
• *** Vaiśravaṇa
• *** Virūḍhaka
• *** Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• *** Virūpākṣa
• * The Eighteen Arhats
• ** The Arhat Who Rides a Deer
• ** The Joyous Arhat
• **The Arhat Raising an Alms Bowl
• **The Arhat Who Holds a Pagoda
• **The Arhat Who Meditates
• **The Arhat Who Crossed Rivers
• **The Arhat Astride an Elephant
• **The Arhat Who Plays With a Lion
• **The Arhat Who Reveals His Heart
• **The Long-Armed Arhat
• **The Arhat Deep in Thought
• **The Arhat Who Cleans His Ears
• **The Cloth Bag Arhat
• **The Banana Arhat
• **The Arhat With Long Eyebrows
• **The Gatekeeper Arhat
• **The Arhat Who Mastered a Dragon
• **The Arhat Who Tamed a Tiger
• * The Guardians of the Five Positions
• ** Vairocana
• ** Akṣobhya
• ** Ratnasambhava
• ** Amitābha
• ** Amoghasiddhi
• * The Twenty-Four Protective Deities
• ** Maheśvara
• ** Chandra
• ** Guhyapāda
• ** Pañcika
• ** Skanda
• ** Pṛthvī
• ** Spirit of the Bodhi Tree
• ** Hārītī
• ** Mārīcī
• ** Sāgara
• ** [Yama (Buddhism)|Yama]
• ** Kinnara King
• ** [Zi wei emperor|Emperor Zi Wei]
• ** Emperor Dongyue
• ** The Thunder God
• * The Eighteen Sangharama
• Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva, better known as Guanyin Bodhisattva or simply Guanyin in the novel, is based on Mount Potalaka. During their quest, the protagonists seek help from Guanyin from time to time to deal with yaoguai that they cannot overcome, such as Great King of Numinous Power and Sai Tai Sui.
• Lingji Bodhisattva, who might be based on Mahasthamaprapta, shows up to help the protagonists deal with the Yellow Wind Demon.
• Manjusri Bodhisattva shows up to help the protagonists deal with the Lion-Lynx Demon and Azure Lion, which are actually the Azure Lion he rides on.
• Maitreya Buddha shows up to help the protagonists deal with the Yellow Brows Great King.
• Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva offers his steed, the Diting, to help in distinguishing between Sun Wukong and the Six-Eared Macaque when the latter pretends to be Sun Wukong.
• * Ox-Head and Horse-Face
• Pilanpo Bodhisattva, who might be based on Ākāśagarbha, shows up to help the protagonists deal with the Hundred-Eyed Demon Lord. She is also the mother of the Sun Rooster of Hairy Head, one of the 28 Mansions.
• Samantabhadra Bodhisattva shows up to help the protagonists deal with the Yellow Toothed Elephant, which is actually the White Elephant he rides on.
• Zen Master Wuchao, who might be based on Niaoke Daolin, teaches Tang Sanzang the Heart Sutra.
• Dipankara Buddha sends his disciple Baixiong Zunzhe to inform the protagonists that Ananda and Mahākāśyapa had given them blank copies of the scriptures.
• Guoshiwang Bodhisattva, who might be based on Sangha, subdued the Shuimu a long time ago when it was causing trouble in Si Prefecture.
• * Little Zhang Crown Prince is Guoshiwang Bodhisattva's disciple. Under his command are the Four Great Divine Generals.

  Taoist pantheon

• The Jade Emperor, who is based in the celestial palace in Heaven, is the supreme ruler of the Three Realms.
• The Lishan Laomu, in the novel, is the matriarch deity in the Taoist pantheon. She disguised herself as a grieving widow and helped Sun Wukong seek the help of Pilanpo, in order to defeat the Hundred-Eyed Demon Lord.
• The Queen Mother of the West, also referred to as Lady Queen Mother in the novel, is the matriarch deity in the Taoist pantheon. She reports Sun Wukong to the Jade Emperor for stealing the peaches meant for a feast she is hosting.
• The Three Pure Ones are the three highest ranked deities in the Taoist pantheon:
• * Yuanshi Tianzun
• * Lingbao Tianzun
• * Daode Tianzun, often referred to as Taishang Laojun in the novel, manages to subdue Sun Wukong when he is wreaking havoc in Heaven. Sun Wukong is then trapped in Taishang Laojun's bagua furnace for 49 days to be destroyed, but he survives and acquires the "Fiery Golden Eye" ability instead. Later, when the protagonists are on their quest, Taishang Laojun occasionally shows up to help them deal with some yaoguai they encounter along the way.
• Xuanwu, also known as Zhenwu Great Emperor
• * The Turtle and Snake Generals serve under Xuanwu
• ** Taixuan Shuijing Heiling Zunshen
• ** Taixuan Huojing Chiling Zunshen
• The Six Ding and Six Jia
• * The Six Ding
• ** Jade Maiden of Yin
• ** Sima Qing of Dingmao
• ** Cui Juqing of Dingyi
• ** Shi Shutong of Dingwei
• ** Zang Wengong of Dingyou
• ** Zhang Wentong of Dinghai
• ** Zhao Ziyu of Dingchou
• * The Six Jia
• ** Jade Man of Yang
• ** Wang Wenqing of Jiazi
• ** Zhan Zijiang of Jiaxu
• ** Hu Wenchang of Jiashen
• ** Wei Yuqing of Jiawu
• ** Meng Feiqing of Jiachen
• ** Ming Wenzhang of Jiayin
• Li Jing, the Pagoda Bearing Heavenly King, is a warrior deity carrying a miniature pagoda which can trap any spirit, deity or yaoguai. When Sun Wukong rebels against Heaven, Li Jing is ordered to lead a celestial army to attack the monkey at Mount Huaguo.
• * Jinzha is Li Jing's eldest son.
• * Muzha is Li Jing's second son and a disciple of Samantabhadra and Guanyin.
• * Nezha, the Third Lotus Prince, is Li Jing's third son and a warrior deity. He fights with Sun Wukong when the latter rebels against Heaven but loses to the monkey's trickery.
• * Juling Shen leads the vanguard to attack Sun Wukong.
• Erlang Shen is a maternal nephew of the Jade Emperor and a warrior deity. Among all the warrior deities in the Taoist pantheon, he is the only one who manages to defeat and capture Sun Wukong when the latter rebels against Heaven.
• * The Howling Celestial Hound and the Six Brothers of Mount Mei serve under Erlang Shen
• The Five Elders of the Five Positions
• * Guanyin of the South
• * Chong'en Holy Emperor of the East
• * Baidi White Emperor of the West
• * Xuanling Doumu Yuanjun of the North
• * Yellow Horn Immortal of the Central
• The Lords of the Five Elements
• * Wood Lord of the East
• * Fire Lord of the South
• * Metal Lord of the West, often referred to as in the novel, shows up occasionally to help the protagonists deal with yaoguai.
• * Water Lord of the North
• * Earth Lord of the Central
• The Ten Yama Kings
• * Qinguangwang
• * Chujiangwang
• * Songdiwang
• * Wuguanwang
• * Bianchengwang
• * Taishanwang
• * Pingdengwang
• * Dushiwang
• * Zhuanlunwang
• Weather deities:
• * The Duke of Thunder
• * The Mother of Lightning
• * The Marquis of Wind
• * The Master of Rain
• Taiyi Leisheng Yinghua Tianzun
• Taiyi Jiuku Tianzun, better known as Taiyi Zhenren in the novel, shows up to help the protagonists deal with the Grand Saint of Nine Spirits.
• Emperor Wenchang
• The Deity of the Moon, also known by her incarnation Chang'e
• The Deity of the Sun
• Marshals:
• * Marshal of the Heavenly Canopy
• * Marshal of Heavenly Blessing
• Patrol deities:
• * The Day Patrol Deity
• * The Night Patrol Deity
• Watcher deities:
• * Gao Ming, the Thousand Li Eye
• * Gao Jue, the Wind Following Ear
• The Twelve Earthly Branches
• * Zi
• * Chou
• * Yin
• * Mao
• * Chen
• * Si
• * Wu
• * Wei
• * Shen
• * You
• * Xu
• * Hai
• The 28 Mansions
• * The Azure Dragon of the East
• ** The Wood Jiaolong of Horn
• ** The Golden Dragon of Neck
• ** The Earth Tanuki of Root
• ** The Sun Rabbit of Room
• ** The Moon Fox of Heart
• ** The Fire Tiger of Tail
• ** The Water Leopard of Winnowing Basket
• * The Black Tortoise of the North
• ** The Wood Xiezhi of Dipper
• ** The Golden Ox of Ox
• ** The Earth Bat of Girl
• ** The Sun Rat of Emptiness
• ** The Moon Swallow of Rooftop
• ** The Fire Pig of Encampment
• ** The Water Ya Yu '''of Wall
• * The White Tiger of the West
• ** The Wood Wolf of Legs
• ** The Golden Dog of Bond
• ** The Earth Pheasant of Stomach
• ** The Sun Rooster of Hairy Head
• ** The Moon Bird of Net
• ** The Fire Monkey of Turtle Beak
• ** The Water Ape of Three Stars
• * The Vermilion Bird of the South
• ** The Wood Bi An of Well
• ** The Golden Sheep of Ghost
• ** The Earth Water Deer of Willow
• ** The Sun Horse of Star
• ** The Moon Deer of Extended Net
• ** The Fire Snake of Wings
• ** The Water Earthworm of Chariot
• The Dragon Kings of the Four Seas
• *Ao Guang, Dragon King of the East Sea
• *Ao Qin, Dragon King of the South Sea
• *Ao Shun, Dragon King of the North Sea
• *Ao Run, Dragon King of the West Sea
• The Four Time Guardians
• * Li Bing, Guardian of Years
• * Huang Chengyi, Guardian of Months
• * Zhou Deng, Guardian of Days
• * Liu Hong, Guardian of Hours
• The Five Gates
• * Golden Light Gate
• * Silver Headed Gate
• * Pāragate
• * Pārasaṃgate
• * Mahagate
• The Nine Stars
• * Gold Star
• * Wood Star
• * Water Star
• * Fire Star
• * Earth Star
• * Erode Star
• * Jidu Star
• * Ziqi Star
• * Yuebo Star
• The Seven Stars of the North Formation
• * Greedy Wolf Star of Sunlight, based on the Dubhe.
• * Giant Gate Star of Dark Essence, based on the Merak.
• * Lasting Prosperity Star of True Man, based on the Phecda.
• * Civil Star of Mystery and Darkness, based on the Megrez.
• * Danyuan Star of Honesty and Chasity, based on the Alioth.
• * Military Star of the North Pole, based on the Mizar.
• * Army Defeating Star of Heaven's Gate, based on the Alkaid.
• The Six Stars of the South Formation
• * Star of Life
• * Star of Prosperity
• * Star of Longevity
• * Star of Benefit
• * Star of Adversity
• * Star of Birth
• The Stars of Luck, Prosperity and Longevity
• * Star of Luck
• * Star of Prosperity
• * Star of Longevity
• The Five Sacred Dragons
• * Yellow Deity
• * Bluegreen Deity
• * Black Deity
• * Red Deity
• * White Deity
• The Devil King of Great Strength
• Wang Shan, the Keeper of Spirits
• Lu Ban is the deity of carpentry and building, and was the one who crafted Sha Wujing's weapon.
• The Four Heavenly Masters
• * Zhang Daoling
• * Xu Xun, also known as Xu Jingzhi or Xu Jingyang.
• * Qiu Hongji
• * Ge Hong
• The Barefoot Immortal
• The City Gods
• The Earth Gods
• The Mountain Gods'''

  Historical figures

• [Emperor Taizong of Tang|Li Shimin, Emperor Taizong of Tang]
• Wei Zheng
• Xu Maogong
• Yuchi Gong
• Qin Qiong
• Xiao Yu
• Fu Yi
• Yin Kaishan
• Yuan Tiangang
• Li Chunfeng
• Li Yuan, Emperor Gaozu of Tang
• Li Jiancheng
• Li Yuanji
• Xu Jingzong
• Wang Gui
• Xue Rengui
• Liu Hongji
• Duan Zhixian
• Ma Sanbao
• Cheng Yaojin
• Gao Shilian
• Zhang Gongjin
• Fang Xuanling
• '''Du Ruhui'''

  Antagonists

• The Demon King of Confusion is a yaoguai who led his minions to seize control of the Water Curtain Cave and drive away the primates shortly after Sun Wukong left to study under Master Bodhi. Many years later, Sun Wukong returns, defeats the yaoguai and takes back control of the cave.
• General Yin, Xiong Shanjun, and Techushi are three yaoguai whose true forms are a dark yellow tiger, a black bear, and a yellow buffalo respectively. They ambush Tang Sanzang and his two escorts at Double-Forked Ridge and capture them. The escorts are killed and eaten by the yaoguai while Tang Sanzang is rescued by Taibai Jinxing.
• Elder Jinchi is the greedy abbot of the Guanyin Monastery, who intents to kill Tang Sanzang and Sun Wukong to take Sanzang's cassock for himself, having been so impressed by it. He is also later revealed to be a long-time friend of the Black Wind Demon, who taught him magic that allowed him to achieve longevity, thus he has lived for 270 years.
• * Guangzhi and Guangmou are Elder Jinchi's disciples. Guangmou is the one who gives Jinchi the idea to murder Tang Sanzang and steal his cassock.
• The Black Wind Demon is a black bear yaoguai based in the Black Wind Cave on Black Wind Mountain. Appearing as a dark-complexioned man armed with a spear with a black tassel, he steals Tang Sanzang's cassock during the fire at a nearby monastery. The fire is set by the monastery's abbot, Elder Jinchi in an attempt to murder Tang Sanzang so that he can take the cassock for himself. Sun Wukong confronts the yaoguai later to retrieve his master's cassock, but the yaoguai manages to evade him every time. The yaoguai ultimately surrenders to Guanyin and serves as the mountain's guardian deity.
• * Baiyi Xiushi and Lingxuzi, whose true forms are a white floral-patterned serpent and a grey wolf respectively, are the Black Wind Demon's yaoguai friends. They are both killed by Sun Wukong.
• The Yellow Wind Demon, is a yaoguai based in Yellow Wind Cave at Yellow Wind Ridge. After Tang Sanzang is captured by the yaoguai, Sun Wukong attempts to save his master but is held back by the yaoguai, who can blow great blasts of the "True Wind of Samadhi". Sun Wukong then seeks help from Lingji Bodhisattva, who subdues the yaoguai and reveals that the yaoguai is actually a yellow marten spirit from Vulture Peak.
• * The Tiger Vanguard is a minion of the Yellow Wind Demon who captures Tang Sanzang while Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie are distracted. He is killed by Zhu Bajie.
• Immortal Zhenyuan, the patriarch of all earthbound immortals, is based in Wuzhuang Temple on Longevity Mountain in West Continent. In his temple, there is a special ginseng tree that produces only 30 fruits every 10,000 years. The fruit is shaped like an infant less than three days old; anyone who smells the fruit can extend their lifespan by 365 years, and anyone who consumes the fruit can live for another 48,000 years. Zhenyuan was away when the protagonists arrive at his temple on their journey. Earlier on, he had instructed his servants to serve two fruits to Tang Sanzang. When Tang Sanzang sees the fruit, he is disgusted by its appearance and refuses to eat it. The servants then secretly eat the fruits, but are seen by Zhu Bajie, who tells Sun Wukong about it. Sun Wukong then steals more fruits for himself and his juniors. When the servants realise some fruits are missing, they accuse Sun Wukong of theft and Sun Wukong destroys the tree in anger before escaping with his companions. When Zhenyuan returns to his temple, he turns furious after hearing about what happened and confronts the protagonists. The conflict is eventually resolved when Sun Wukong gets the Star of Longevity to restore the tree to life. Zhenyuan is so pleased that he becomes sworn brothers with Sun Wukong and treats all of them to a fruit feast before sending them off on their journey.
• The White Bone Demoness, sometimes translated as Lady White Bone, is a shapeshifting skeleton yaoguai. She disguises herself as a young woman, pretending to offer poisoned fruits to Tang Sanzang. Sun Wukong sees through her ruse and apparently kills the young woman, but the yaoguai escapes and returns later in disguise as the young woman's mother. Sun Wukong sees through her disguise again and apparently kills the older woman. The yaoguai flees yet again and returns in disguise as a man claiming to be the older woman's husband and younger woman's father. Sun Wukong sees through the yaoguai's third disguise and finally destroys her. However, Tang Sanzang has been misled into believing that Sun Wukong has just murdered three innocent people, so he banishes Sun Wukong after the third time.
• The Yellow Robe Demon is a yaoguai based in Moon Waves Cave on Bowl Mountain in the Kingdom of Baoxiang. When Tang Sanzang is captured by the yaoguai, Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing attempt to save their master but are no match for the yaoguai, so Zhu Bajie reluctantly goes to bring back Sun Wukong, who was previously banished by their master for killing the White Bone Demoness. With the help of celestial forces, Sun Wukong uncovers the yaoguai's true identity: the Wood Wolf of Legs, one of the 28 Mansions. The Kuimulang had fallen in love with a Jade Maiden and wanted to elope with her, but they were caught and punished as romantic feelings were forbidden among celestials. After she is reincarnated as Baihuaxiu, the third princess of the Kingdom of Baoxiang, the Kuimulang kidnaps her, marries her for 13 years and has two children with her. The Jade Emperor orders the remaining 27 Mansions to assist Sun Wukong in subduing their wayward fellow member and take him back to Heaven.
• The Golden Horned King and Silver Horned King are a pair of yaoguai brothers based in Lotus Cave on Flat Peak Mountain. They use disguises to capture Tang Sanzang, and manage to pin down Sun Wukong under three mountains. With help from the local deities, Sun Wukong frees himself and uses trickery to save his master and rob the yaoguai of their five magic weapons, trapping them in their own magic gourd. Just then, Taishang Laojun appears and explains that the two yaoguai are actually his servants who had stolen their master's weapons and escaped to cause trouble. Then, he takes back his weapons and brings his servants back with him to Heaven.
• * The Dragon Suppressing Great Immortal, based in Dragon Suppressing Cave, is a nine-tailed vixen. Taking the form of an elderly woman, she is actually the mother of the Golden and Silver Horned Kings. She is killed by Sun Wukong when her sons send their minions to fetch her to their mountain.
• * Hu'aqi, whose true form is a fox, is the nine-tailed vixen's brother. He is killed by Zhu Bajie.
• The Lion-Lynx Demon is a yaoguai who drowns the king of the Kingdom of Wuji in a well, and impersonates the king for three years. After the ghost of the dead king appears to Tang Sanzang in a dream and begs him for help, Tang Sanzang sends his disciples to retrieve the king's body and use a Pill of Immortality to restore him to life. When they confront the yaoguai and expose him as an imposter, the yaoguai transforms into Tang Sanzang to confuse Sun Wukong. However, his cover is blown when he fails to recite the Ring-Tightening Mantra that gives Sun Wukong a headache. Just as Sun Wukong is about to destroy the yaoguai, Manjusri shows up and reveals that the yaoguai is actually the Azure Lion he rides on, and that he was acting on the Buddha's instruction to allow his steed to serve as an obstacle to the protagonists to test their resolve to complete their quest. Once he is done, Manjusri takes back the Azure Lion.
• Red Boy, also known as Divine Infant Great King, is a yaoguai who is Bull Demon King and Princess Iron Fan's son. A formidable opponent to Sun Wukong, he is capable of breathing samadhi fire, which drives back Sun Wukong. After Sun Wukong seeks help from Guanyin, Red Boy later finds Guanyin's lotus throne by chance and disrespectfully sits on it, but ends up being trapped and subdued. Red Boy eventually agrees to give up his evil ways and serve as an attendant to the bodhisattva.
• The Water Lizard Dragon, is a yaoguai armed with a Bamboo-Linked Bronze Club and based in Black River in Hengyang Valley. He disguises himself as a boatman, pretends to ferry the protagonists across the river, and captures Tang Sanzang when they are unaware. Sun Wukong later learns that the yaoguai is actually the ninth son of the Dragon King of the Jing River, and had been placed there by Guanyin to serve as an obstacle to the protagonists. The Water Lizard Dragon is eventually subdued and taken away by his cousin, Crown Prince Mo'ang.
• The Immortal of Tiger Power, Immortal of Elk Power, and Immortal of Antelope Power are three yaoguai who disguise themselves as magicians to deceive the ruler of the Kingdom of Chechi and become the king's advisers. As their names suggest, their true forms are a tiger, an elk, and an antelope respectively. Sun Wukong competes with them in a contest of magic powers and lures them into meeting their respective ends: Tiger is beheaded; Elk is disemboweled; Antelope is fried in boiling oil.
• The Great King of Numinous Power, armed with a bronze hammer, is a yaoguai based in Heaven-Reaching River. He terrorises the people living near the river and demands that they sacrifice a boy and a girl to him every year, or else he will cause flooding. After Sun Wukong defeats him, he retreats to his underwater lair. Later, Sun Wukong learns from Guanyin that the yaoguai is actually a goldfish from a lotus pond at Mount Putuo who had obtained his powers after listening to the bodhisattva recite Buddhist scriptures every day. Guanyin uses a fish basket to trap the goldfish and take him back to the pond.
• The Great White Turtle is a giant turtle based in Heaven-Reaching River who was forced out of his underwater residence by the Great King of Numinous Power. After the yaoguai was subdued and taken away, the turtle feels so grateful to the protagonists that he ferries them across the river on his back. Before continuing on his journey, Tang Sanzang promises to help the turtle ask the Buddha when the turtle will be able to assume human form. However, Tang Sanzang forgets his promise when he and his disciples reach their final destination at Vulture Peak and meet the Buddha. On their way back to Chang'an, the protagonists are abruptly dropped off at Heaven-Reaching River, where they meet the turtle again. While ferrying them across the river on his back again, the turtle asks Tang Sanzang about his promise, and Tang Sanzang apologises for forgetting. The unhappy turtle throws them off his back into the water, forcing them to swim across the river. This incident fulfils the last of the 81 tribulations that Tang Sanzang is destined to face on his journey to obtain the scriptures.
• The Single Horned Rhinoceros King, armed with a bronze spear, is a yaoguai based in Golden Pouch Cave on Golden Pouch Mountain who captures Tang Sanzang, Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing. While fighting the yaoguai, Sun Wukong loses his Ruyi Jingu Bang after the yaoguai uses a giant magic ring to suck it away from him. Sun Wukong then seeks help from various celestial forces, including Li Jing, Nezha, the fire deities, and the Eighteen Arhats, but all of them also lose their weapons. The yaoguai is eventually revealed to be Taishang Laojun's steed, the Azure Bull, who had stolen his master's magic ring and used it to cause trouble. Taishang Laojun shows up to subdue the Azure Bull and take back his magic ring.
• The Ruler of Women's Country is the ruler of a country in Western Xiliang with an all-female population — reminiscent of Amazons. When the protagonists arrive in her country, she falls in love with Tang Sanzang and wants to marry him. On Sun Wukong's suggestion, Tang Sanzang pretends to marry the ruler and lies that his three disciples will go to fetch the scriptures in his place. Just as the protagonists are about to leave the country and continue on their quest, the Scorpion Demoness shows up and captures Tang Sanzang.
• Immortal Ruyi is a yaoguai who is Bull Demon King's brother. He is based in Immortal Gathering Temple on Mount Jieyang in Women's Country. While they are in Women's Country, Tang Sanzang and Zhu Bajie unsuspectingly drink from the Spring of Pregnancy and become pregnant. The only cure is to drink from the Spring of Abortion, which is under Ruyi's control. When the women in Women's Country want to drink from the spring, they need to present gifts to Ruyi first. Ruyi holds a grudge against Sun Wukong because of the fate of his nephew, Red Boy, and he behaves in a hostile manner when Sun Wukong comes to seek water from the spring. Ruyi is eventually outwitted and defeated by Sun Wukong.
• The Scorpion Demoness, whose true form is a pipa-sized giant scorpion, is a yaoguai based in Pipa Cave on Venom Mountain. Shortly after leaving Women's Country, Tang Sanzang is abducted by the yaoguai and taken to her lair, where she tries to seduce him to marry her. Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie fight the yaoguai to save their master but are held back by her venomous sting. Eventually, they seek help from the Sun Rooster of Hairy Head, one of the 28 Mansions, who transforms into a giant rooster and kills the scorpion.
• The Six-Eared Macaque is a spiritual primate on par with Sun Wukong in terms of their powers and abilities. Hoping to prove that he is better than Sun Wukong, the Macaque first appears in Western Liang in disguise as Sun Wukong, knocks Tang Sanzang unconscious, and steals the baggage and paperwork. Later, when he fights with Sun Wukong, neither of them is able to overcome his opponent. No one is able to identify who the real Sun Wukong is until they show up before the Buddha, who tells them about the spiritual primates. The Macaque attempts to flee when he realises his identity is revealed, but the Buddha traps him under a giant alms bowl, and he is then killed by Sun Wukong.
• The Bull Demon King, whose true form is a giant white bull, is a yaoguai based in Sky-Scraping Cave on Thunder-Accumulating Mountain. Early in the novel, he becomes sworn brothers with Sun Wukong and five other yaoguai and is ranked the most senior of the seven. Later on, when the protagonists arrive at the Flaming Mountains on their journey, they get into conflict with Bull Demon King and Princess Iron Fan, especially since Sun Wukong had caused the downfall of their son, Red Boy. Bull Demon King is ultimately subdued by celestial forces and taken to Heaven for the Jade Emperor to decide his fate.
• * The Water Repelling Golden Crystal Beast is Bull Demon King's steed.
• * The Jade-Faced Princess, whose true form is a vixen, is Bull Demon King's concubine. She is killed by Zhu Bajie.
• Princess Iron Fan is a rakshasa who is Bull Demon King's estranged wife and Red Boy's mother. Her secret weapon is a banana leaf fan, which can create strong winds. When Sun Wukong tries to borrow her fan to put out the fires at the Flaming Mountains, she is extremely hostile towards him because of his role in her son's downfall. Sun Wukong then uses trickery to steal the fan from her.
• The Wansheng Dragon King is a yaoguai based in Emerald Waves Lake at Rocky Mountain in the Kingdom of Jisai. He plots with his son-in-law, the Nine-Headed Beast, to steal a śarīra from the pagoda in Golden Ray Monastery and release a rain of blood in the kingdom. Without the śarīra, the pagoda loses its magical glow. The king blames the calamity on the monks, accusing them of stealing the śarīra and persecuting them. When Sun Wukong and his companions arrive in Jisai, they uncover the truth and confront and kill the dragon king and his family. The lost śarīra is found and returned to the pagoda.
• * The Wansheng Princess is Wansheng Dragon King's daughter and the Nine-Headed Beast's wife who had stolen the Nine Leaves Lingzhi Herb from the Queen Mother of the West. She is slain by Zhu Bajie.
• * The Nine-Headed Beast, also known as the Nine-Headed Prince Consort, is Wansheng Dragon King's son-in-law who is armed with a monk's spade. He collaborates with his father-in-law to steal the śarīra from the pagoda. Sun Wukong enlists the help of celestial forces to deal with the demons. The Nine-Headed Beast has one of his heads bitten off by Erlang Shen's hound but manages to escape.
• * Benbo'erba and Babo'erben are two minions of the Nine-Headed Beast whose respective forms are a sheatfish and a blackfish. Sun Wukong encounters them at the pagoda and captures and interrogates them, finding out the truth behind the theft of the śarīra.
• A group of tree yaoguai are based in Wood Immortal Temple at Bramble Ridge. The four most senior are Jinjie Shiba Gong, Guzhi Gong, Lingkongzi and Fuyun Sou, who appear in human form as four old men. Their true forms are a pine tree, a cedar tree, a juniper tree, and a bamboo tree respectively. Tang Sanzang encounters them in the temple and discusses poetry with them. Other yaoguai include the Naked Demon and the Apricot Immortal, whose true forms are a maple tree and an apricot tree respectively, while their servants are flowers. Sun Wukong sees through their disguise and tells Zhu Bajie when the latter asks him if he detects any yaoguai in the vicinity. Zhu Bajie then destroys all the yaoguai on his own initiative. Tang Sanzang reprimands Zhu Bajie for killing the yaoguai because they never harmed him, but Sun Wukong explains that it is better to destroy them in case they turn evil in the future.
• The Yellow Brows Great King is a yaoguai who creates a replica of the Leiyin Temple at Vulture Peak and impersonates the Buddha while his followers disguise themselves as the Buddha's followers. Tang Sanzang, Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing fall for the ruse, mistakenly believing that they have reached Leiyin Temple, and end up being captured by the yaoguai. Sun Wukong, unable to overcome the yaoguai, seeks help from various celestial forces but they all get trapped by the yaoguai in a magic sack. Just then, Maitreya shows up and reveals that the yaoguai is actually his attendant who had escaped to cause trouble. At Maitreya's suggestion, Sun Wukong transforms into a watermelon, allowing the unsuspecting yaoguai to eat him and enter his stomach. Sun Wukong causes great agony to the yaoguai in his stomach, forcing him to surrender and return to Maitreya.
• The Python Demon is a yaoguai based in Tuoluo Manor on Qijue Mountain. Armed with a pair of spears, which are actually the tips of his forked tongue, his true form is a giant python with red scales and glowing eyes. He has eaten many people and animals living in the surroundings. He is killed when Sun Wukong enters his body in disguise as a fly and breaks out of his stomach.
• Sai Tai Sui is a yaoguai based on Qilin Mountain in the Kingdom of Zhuzi. Armed with a broad axe, he also has a set of Purple-Gold Bells, which can conjure fire, smoke and dust storms. He kidnaps one of the king's concubines and tries to force her to marry him. Unknown to him, the Immortal Ziyang has secretly cast a protective charm on the lady such that anyone who touches her will feel like being pricked by thorns. Sun Wukong uses tricks to steal the bells from Sai Tai Sui and then uses them against the yaoguai. Eventually, the yaoguai is revealed to be the Golden-Haired Hou, a large canine beast which Guanyin rides on. The bodhisattva shows up to subdue the Hou and take him back.
• The Spider Demonesses are seven spider yaoguai sisters based in Silk Cave at Silk Ridge. Tang Sanzang stumbles upon their thatched hut while begging for alms and tries to leave after suspecting that they are yaoguai. However, it is too late as the yaoguai emit spider silk from their navels and spin a web to trap Tang Sanzang. They are defeated by Sun Wukong later and have no choice but to release Tang Sanzang. They are ultimately killed by Sun Wukong.
• The Hundred-Eyed Demon Lord, also known as the Multiple-Eyed Creature, is a giant centipede yaoguai based in Yellow Flower Temple who has a thousand eyes radiating brilliant golden light to confuse enemies and victims. He is a friend of the seven spider sisters, who approach him for help in taking revenge after Sun Wukong defeats them. When the protagonists stop at his temple for a break, he pretends to offer them drinks, which have been poisoned. After Sun Wukong sees through his ruse, he holds Tang Sanzang hostage while Sun Wukong then captures the seven spiders. When he refuses to exchange Tang Sanzang for the spiders, Sun Wukong kills the spiders in anger. The centipede is eventually subdued by Pilanpo Bodhisattva and sent to guard the Thousand Flowers Cave at Purple Clouds Mountain.
• The three yaoguai based in Lion Camel Cave at Lion Camel Ridge :
• * The Azure Lion is armed with a bronze sword and capable of transforming himself into several times bigger or smaller than his usual size. While he is fighting Sun Wukong, he swallows the latter, who causes him great pain inside his stomach. The Lion then pretends to agree to open his mouth to let Sun Wukong out, while secretly planning to bite him to death when he comes out. Having seen through the Lion's ruse, Sun Wukong sticks out his Ruyi Jingu Bang instead and the Lion breaks his teeth after biting on the staff. Sun Wukong then ties a long rope around the yaoguai's heart and plays with it before leaving his stomach. The bodhisattva Manjusri shows up again and reveals that the yaoguai is actually the Azure Lion he rides on, and he helps the protagonist subdue the Lion and takes it back.
• * The Golden Winged Great Peng, armed with a ji and capable of flying over great distances, possesses a magic flask which can trap victims and reduce them to a bloody pulp. He uses the flask to trap Sun Wukong but the latter breaks out and renders the flask useless since its contents have been spilled in the process. The Peng is later revealed to be the brother of the peacock Mahamayuri, the Buddha's godmother. The Buddha shows up to subdue the yaoguai and takes him back to Vulture Peak.
• * The Yellow Toothed Elephant, armed with a long spear, appears as a gigantic humanoid with an elephant's head and a long nose capable of trapping and crushing victims. While he is fighting with Zhu Bajie, he uses his nose to wrap around the latter and capture him. The Elephant is eventually revealed to be the Six-tusked White Elephant that the bodhisattva Samantabhadra rides on. Samantabhadra shows up to subdue the Elephant and takes him back.
• The White Deer Spirit and his adoptive daughter, the White-Faced Vixen Spirit, are a white deer and a vixen respectively. Disguising himself as a middle-aged man, the Deer transforms the Vixen into a beautiful young maiden and gets the ruler of the Kingdom of Biqiu to marry her while he becomes the king's father-in-law. Under the two yaoguai's influence, the king's health gradually deteriorates, so the Deer lies that he needs the hearts of 1,111 children to make a cure. The king then gives an order to capture 1,111 children and imprison them in cages, preparing to have them killed and their hearts harvested. When the protagonists show up in Biqiu, the Deer lies to the king that Tang Sanzang's heart is the best cure. Sun Wukong saves the children, stops the two yaoguai, and exposes their true forms. The Vixen is killed by Zhu Bajie, while the Deer, which turns out to be the White Deer that the Old Man of the South Pole rides on, is taken back by its master.
• Lady Earth Flow is a yaoguai who is actually a Golden-Nosed Albino Rat Spirit who obtained her powers after practising Taoist arts for 300 years and secretly consuming sacred candles at Vulture Peak. After she was captured by Li Jing and Nezha, she was supposed to be executed but the Buddha told them to spare her life. She was so grateful that she acknowledged Li Jing as her godfather and Nezha as her godbrother. Later, she moved to the Bottomless Pit at Flaming Air Mountain and armed herself with a pair of swords. When the protagonists pass by Black Pines Forest, she disguises herself as a damsel in distress to attract Tang Sanzang's attention. Tang Sanzang takes pity on her and lets her accompany them to a nearby temple, but Sun Wukong sees through her guise. She eats six monks in the temple and captures Tang Sanzang when Sun Wukong and the others are distracted. Sun Wukong finds out her true identity later and brings Li Jing and Nezha to subdue her and take her back.
• The King of the Southern Hill is a yaoguai based in Linked Cave on Bent Peak at Hidden Misty Mountain. Armed with an iron pestle, he is capable of creating windstorms and mist. When he learns that the protagonists are approaching the mountain, he comes up with a plan to separately lure Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing away from Tang Sanzang and capture their master. Sun Wukong infiltrates his lair later and casts a sleeping spell on the yaoguai and his minions and saves Tang Sanzang. The yaoguai is slain by Zhu Bajie just as he awakes, and his true form is revealed to be a leopard with mugwort-shaped patterns on its body, possibly a snow leopard.
• The Ruler of the Kingdom of Miefa hates Buddhists and once made an oath to slaughter 10,000 monks. He has already killed 9,996 monks when the protagonists arrive in his kingdom. To evade trouble, the protagonists disguise themselves as horse traders and hide in a big cupboard in an inn. That night, the cupboard is stolen by thieves but recovered by the authorities and brought to the palace. Sun Wukong cast sleeping spells on everyone in the palace and shaved their heads. The next morning, when the king wakes up, he is shocked to see that he, his family members, and his subjects are all bald just like monks. He realises that he has done wrong in persecuting Buddhists so he repents and renames his domain "Kingdom of Qinfa".
• The Tawny Lion Demon, armed with a giant spade, is a lion yaoguai based in Tiger's Jaw Cave at Leopard's Head Mountain in the Kingdom of Yuhua, and a god-grandson of the Nine-Headed Lion. When he learns that the protagonists are approaching the mountain, he steals their weapons out of greed. They attack his cave to take back their weapons and end up killing him and his minions. His death leads to the conflict between the protagonist and the Nine-Headed Lion.
• The Grand Saint of Nine Spirits is a lion yaoguai revered as the grand spiritual ancestor by a clan of lion yaoguai at Jiuqu Panhuan Cave at Bamboo Links Mountain near the Kingdom of Yuhua. When he learns that his god-grandson, the Tawny Lion Demon, has been killed by Sun Wukong, he seeks vengeance and captures Tang Sanzang, Zhu Bajie, Sha Wujing and the royal family of Yuhua and has all of them whipped. Eventually, Sun Wukong uncovers the yaoguai's true identity: the Nine-Headed Lion that the immortal Taiyi Zhenren rides on. He seeks help from Taiyi Zhenren, who shows up to subdue the Lion and take him back to Heaven.
• * Roushi, Xueshi, Suanni, Baize, Fuli and Boxiang are six lion yaoguai who used to inhabit the Jiuqu Panhuan Cave before the arrival of the Nine-Headed Lion, whom they honour as their grand spiritual ancestor. They are captured by Sun Wukong and his companions and executed.
• The King of Cold Protection, King of Heat Protection and King of Dust Protection are three rhinoceros yaoguai based in Xuanying Cave on Azure Dragon Mountain in Jinping Prefecture. Armed with a battleaxe, a broadsword, and a rattan staff respectively, they disguise themselves as buddhas and steal aromatic oil from lamps on a bridge, tricking worshippers into believing that the "buddhas" have accepted the oil offered to them. When Tang Sanzang goes to pay respect to the "buddhas", the yaoguai capture him and flee. Sun Wukong and his companions try to save their master but are outnumbered by the yaoguai and their minions, so they seek help from celestial forces. The yaoguai are eventually defeated and killed by the combined efforts of Sun Wukong, his companions, four of the 28 Mansions, and marine forces led by Crown Prince Mo'ang.
• The Jade Rabbit Spirit is actually the moon rabbit which pounds a mortar and pestle in Guanghan Palace on the Moon. She holds a grudge against the fairy Su'e, who had hit her before. After Su'e is reincarnated as a princess of Tianzhu, the rabbit escapes from the Moon to take her revenge and lives on Maoying Mountain. Armed with a short staff transformed from her pestle, she kidnaps the princess and impersonates her. When Tang Sanzang passes by Tianzhu on his journey, she wants to marry him so that she can absorb his yang essence and increase her powers. Sun Wukong sees through her disguise and fights with her. Just as Sun Wukong is about to defeat the rabbit, the Moon Deity show up and stop him and takes the rabbit back to the Moon.

  Others

• Puti Zushi, based on Subhūti, is the one who named Sun Wukong and taught him the various magic powers. Before Sun Wukong leaves after completing his training, Master Bodhi forbids him from ever revealing the identity of his master.
• The Seven Sages are a fraternity of demon kings who become sworn brothers with Sun Wukong early in the novel. They are Bull Demon King, Jiao Demon King, Peng Demon King, Lion Camel King, Macaque King, and Long-Tailed Marmoset King.
• Liu Boqin is a hunter who protects Tang Sanzang from wild beasts and provides him with food and shelter. He introduces the latter to Sun Wukong, who was trapped under a mountain by the Buddha.
• Gao Cuilan is a woman forced by Zhu Bajie to be his wife.
• Squire Gao is Gao Cuilan's father.
• The Dragon King of Jing River is the ruler of the Jing River and a relative of the Dragon Kings of the Four Seas. He makes a bet with Yuan Shoucheng, who claims he can predict the weather. Upon learning that the prediction matches what the Jade Emperor has decreed for the next day's weather, the Dragon King changes the timing and amount of rainfall in order to win the bet. However, in doing so, he has broken celestial rules so the Jade Emperor orders his execution, which was carried out by Wei Zheng. The Dragon King has nine sons:
• * Little Yellow Dragon, who oversees the Huai River
• * Little Black Dragon, who oversees the Ji River
• * Green-Backed Dragon, who oversees the Yangtze
• * Red-Bearded Dragon, who oversees the Yellow River
• * Fortunate Old Dragon, who serves as a bell keeper for the Buddha
• * Civil Longevity Dragon, who guards the ridge at the celestial palace
• * Fervent Loyalty Dragon, who guards the Sky-supporting Huabiao at the celestial palace
• * Divine Dragon, who stays at Taiyue Mountain with his uncle, the Dragon King of the East Sea
• * Water Lizard Dragon
• Crown Prince Mo'ang, the eldest son of the Dragon King of the West Sea.
• Wu Gang is the one responsible with chopping down a self healing osmanthus on the moon, a branch from the tree is stated to have been crafted into Sha Wujing's weapon.