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Lore of Wukong

Discover the Backstories of Characters
in Black Myth: Wukong

Enhance Your Understanding of the Game's Plot

Who is Wukong?

Wukong (Sun Wukong) is a household name in China, a super hero known to virtually everyone. He is one of the most important protagonists in the famous Chinese classical novel "Journey to the West". It is said that in China, no one is unfamiliar with Sun Wukong, and every boy has dreamed of becoming him.

Wukong was born from a magical stone and, due to his bravery and abilities, became the Monkey King of Mount Huaguo (Flower Fruit Mountain). After experiencing life and death separations, he sought immortality and traveled the world to learn the Tao (Dao). Upon returning, his disdain for worldly rules and mischievous nature led him to commit various offenses. Following a series of earth-shattering battles, he was eventually sealed under the Five Elements Mountain by the Buddha. 500 years later, he was saved by the monk Tang Sanzang, converted to Buddhism, and accompanied him on a journey to the West to fetch sacred scriptures. Along the way, they vanquished many Yaoguai (demons) and monsters. Ultimately, Wukong attained enlightenment and became the Victorious Fighting Buddha.

See also: The Growth Journey of Wukong

The Journey to the West Universe

In the Journey to the West universe, the world is divided into the Heavenly Realm, the Buddhist Realm, the Human Realm, and the Underworld. Characters are categorized as Xian, Buddhas, Humans, Yaoguai, and Spirits.

  • The Heavenly Realm is the world of the Xian (Immortals), ruled by the Jade Emperor. Key locations include the Hall of Miraculous Mist, the Peach Garden, and the Tushita Palace.
  • The Buddhist Realm is the world of the Buddhas, ruled by the Buddha Tathagata. The main location is Mount Lingshan, which is the destination of the Journey to the West team to retrieve the sacred scriptures.
  • The Human Realm is the world of humans and Yaoguai (demons), which is the world we are familiar with. In this realm, Yaoguai are animals that have cultivated into semi-human forms (similar to half-orcs). Most of the time, they are antagonists (occupying mountains and harming humans), but there are also good Yaoguai, just as there are good and bad humans. It is worth mentioning that Wukong is also considered a Yaoguai. Both humans and Yaoguai can cultivate to become immortals or transcend tribulations to become Buddhas. However, if they fail to achieve this within their lifespan, they will enter the Underworld for reincarnation. Besides humans and Yaoguai, many Xian and Buddhas also choose to live freely in the Human Realm, though it often comes at a cost. In Chinese mythology, there are numerous stories where humans, Yaoguai, Xian, and Buddhas are entangled with each other in complex relationships
  • The Underworld is the world of spirits, ruled by King Yama. King Yama governs the life and death of humans and Yaoguai. Typically, both humans and Yaoguai have preordained destinies, such as how long a person is destined to live. King Yama follows these destinies to control the life and death of individuals.

Lore of Black Myth: Wukong's Characters

Wukong

Wukong (Sun Wukong) is a powerful, rebellious, and cunning character who embarks on a journey of redemption and self-discovery while escorting the monk Tang Sanzang to retrieve sacred Buddhist scriptures.

Yang Jian (Erlang Shen)

Yang Jian, also known as Erlang Shen, is a formidable deity with a third truth-seeing eye and immense martial prowess, who often aids the forces of good in maintaining cosmic order and justice.

Elder Jinchi

In order to obtain the kasaya, Elder Jinchi followed Guangzhi and Guangmou's advice and planned to set a fire to kill Tang Sanzang

Black Wind King (Black Bear Guai)

After obtaining the kasaya, the Black Wind King invited Whiteclad Noble and Lingxuzi to appraise the treasure with him. They planned to hold a "Buddhist Robe Gathering".

Tiger Vanguard

Tiger Vanguard use the shed skin to distract Wukong and Bajie while it circled back to capture Tang Sanzang.

Yellow Wind Sage

Yellow Wind Sage blew gust of yellow wind directly into Wukong's eyes, and become The First Yaoguai to Defeat Wukong

Macaque Chief

These four kinds of ape do not come within any of the ten categories and are not listed among the creatures that live between heaven and earth.

Kang-Jin Loong (Kang-Jin Star)

The Twenty-Eight Mansions use Kang-Jin Loong's horn to create a small opening and drill a hole in the horn, allowing Wukong to crawl through and be successfully rescued.

Zhu Bajie (Pigsy)

Zhu Bajie, once Marshal Tianpeng in Heaven, was banished for flirting with Chang'e and became a pig Yaoguai due to a reincarnation error.

Yellowbrow

Yellowbrow's two magic weapons caused endless trouble for Sun Wukong, the Twenty-Eight Mansions and the other immortals.

Violet Spider

Violet Spider is one of the Seven Sisters. They planned to eat Tang Sanzang while he was out begging for alms, but they ended up in big trouble and were teased by Zhu Bajie.

Hundred-Eyed Daoist Master

The senior brother of the Seven Sisters, the Daoist priest from Temple of Yellow Flowers, gave up the Seven Sisters in his pursuit of Tang Sanzang's flesh.

Red Boy

Red Boy used a scheme to sow discord among Tang Sanzang and his disciples, captured Tang Sanzang, and defeated Wukong with his Samadhi Fire.

Bull Demon King

Bull Demon King is the husband of Princess Iron Fan and Princess Jade Face, and the father of Red Boy. He is also the sworn brother of Sun Wukong.

Lore of Black Myth: Wukong's Region

Mount Huaguo

Mount Huaguo (Flower-Fruit Mountain) is the birthplace of Sun Wukong and a paradise for monkeys.

Black Wind Mountain

Black Wind Mountain is a picturesque peak that has been praised for its stunning scenery by both Wukong and Guanyin

Yellow Wind Ridge

Yellow Wind Ridge as having steep cliffs and unusual winds frequently blowing through the mountains.

The New West

New West really exists in the real world. The scene of New Thunderclap Temple that you see in the game is actually based on the real New West.

The Webbed Hollow

The Webbed Hollow is the dwelling place of the Centipede Yaoguai and his seven spider Yaoguai sisters.

Flaming Mountains

Flaming Mountains is engulfed in fierce flames that cannot be extinguished by ordinary means; only the magical Banana Leaf Fan can quell the fire.

The Journey to the West pilgrimage team

  • Tang Sanzang (also known as Tripitaka or Xuanzang)（唐三藏、唐僧）, a devout Buddhist monk, was chosen by the Tang Emperor to undertake the pilgrimage to India to retrieve sacred scriptures.
  • Sun Wukong (the Monkey King)（孙悟空、孙行者）, after being released from his imprisonment under a mountain by Tang Sanzang, joined the pilgrimage team as a powerful and loyal disciple.
  • Zhu Bajie (Pigsy)（猪八戒）, a former heavenly marshal who was banished to Earth and transformed into a pig Yaoguai, joined the team after being subdued by Tang Sanzang and Sun Wukong.
  • Sha Wujing (Sandy)（沙悟净、沙僧）, a former celestial general exiled to the mortal world, became a disciple of Tang Sanzang after being defeated and reformed by the team.
  • The White Dragon Horse（白龙马）, originally a dragon prince who was punished and transformed into a horse, became Tang Sanzang's steed after being tamed by Sun Wukong.