The Monkey King of the novel 西游记: a monkey born from a stone, master of 72 transformations, who rebels against heaven and then guards the monk 唐僧 on the journey to India.
His master took the surname from 猢狲, an old word for monkey: take the animal radical off 狲 and 孙 is left. 悟空 means 'awakened to emptiness'.
culture
The 1986 CCTV series, with 六小龄童 as Wukong, is the definitive version for mainland audiences. The actor's stage name means 'Little 六龄童': his father, a famous Monkey King of Shao opera, performed as the 'Six-Year-Old Boy'.
Legendary character from Journey to the West (《西游记》), one of China's Four Great Classical Novels. Wields a magic staff (金箍棒), can transform into 72 forms, somersault 108,000 li in one bound. Referenced constantly in Chinese pop culture - the source inspiration for Son Goku in Dragon Ball, Dota 2's 'Monkey King' hero, and countless games, films, and cartoons.
