How did Sun Wukong become Bi Ma Wen

Mondo Culture Updated on 2024-03-04

In the classical Chinese masterpiece "Journey to the West", the character of Monkey King has won the love of readers with his unique character, powerful ability and tortuous experience. He has grown from an ordinary stone monkey to a Monkey King with supernatural powers, and among them, his experience as a member of the Heavenly Court - serving as Bi Ma Wen is particularly noteworthy.

After Sun Wukong learned the supernatural powers such as seventy-two changes and somersault clouds, he was sued to heaven by the Dragon King of the East China Sea because of his demonic energy. However, what was unusual was that Heavenly Court did not immediately send troops to arrest him, but instead adopted a more gentle strategy. Tai Bai Xing suggested that the Jade Emperor give Sun Wukong an official position in order to bring him into the system of the Heavenly Court and thus resolve potential conflicts.

So, under the recommendation of Tai Bai Xing, Sun Wukong stepped into the gorgeous heavenly court for the first time. The Jade Emperor asked the immortals what official positions were vacant, and Wuqu Xingjun replied: "There are many officials in every palace and hall in the Heavenly Palace, all sides and everywhere, but the Imperial Horse Supervisor lacks a main hall steward. The Jade Emperor then sent a decree: "Just get rid of him and be a 'Bi Ma Wen'." ”

The position of Bi Ma Wen, although it does not have a high status in the official system of the Heavenly Court, is a position of real power, responsible for the management of the Imperial Horse of the Heavenly Court. For Sun Wukong, this was his first contact with the power and order of Heavenly Court, and it was also an important stage for him to begin to understand and learn about Heavenly Court culture.

However, Sun Wukong's character determines that he cannot be content with the status quo for a long time. When he learned from his subordinates that Bi Ma Wen was actually a petty official who "raised horses", he felt great anger and humiliation. He thought that he had been deceived by the Heavenly Court, so he broke out of the Heavenly Gate, returned to Huaguo Mountain, and proclaimed himself the "Monkey King".

Although this experience was short, it had a profound impact on the growth of the Monkey King. It made Sun Wukong understand the operation of power and the existence of hierarchy, and also strengthened his determination to pursue freedom and dignity. At the same time, this experience also laid the groundwork for the subsequent development of the plot, foreshadowing a more complex and intense conflict between Sun Wukong and Heavenly Court.

Overall, Sun Wukong's experience as Bi Ma Wen is an important plot in "Journey to the West". It not only enriches the character and experience of the Monkey King, but also provides us with a unique perspective to observe and understand the culture and power of the Heavenly Court.

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