Restore the Monkey King: Based on the Early Narratives of Journey to the West

Abstract

The Monkey King, one of the most celebrated figures in Chinese culture, has had his superhero tale passed down through at least several centuries. His story has been retold in numerous oral traditions, written texts, performances, and operas. Over the past century, the Monkey King has transcended borders to become an international star, gaining prominence in various literary works, film and television productions, animations, games, and other industries in multiple countries. He has starred in over 100 films and TV shows, becoming a prominent figure from Disney to Hollywood, widely believed to originate from the late 16th-century Chinese novel Journey to the West.

This project traces the Monkey King's history and reveals that this iconic character significantly predates the 16th-century novel. By extending traditional literary comparisons to encompass interdisciplinary, cross-cultural, cross-regional, and cross-temporal research of religious art, architectural decoration, and other related fields, including a comparative study of the Monkey King and Hanuman, this practice-led research offers new insights into the century-long debate concerning the origins of Monkey King. Through character design, it illustrates how myths and mythological figures evolve through dialogues among ancient civilizations. The project also attempts to validate methodologies applicable to recreating classic mythological characters in design practice.