Glossary

The names, titles, and terms of the novel — Chinese characters, pinyin, and what each one means.

Sun Wukong (孫悟空, Sūn Wùkōng)

“Monkey Awakened to Emptiness” — the dharma-name Subodhi gives him: sun (monkey, also “grandson”), wu (awaken), kong (emptiness, śūnyatā).

Qitian Dasheng (齊天大聖, Qítiān Dàshèng)

“Great Sage, Equal of Heaven” — Wukong’s self-declared title during the rebellion.

Ruyi Jingu Bang (如意金箍棒, Rúyì Jīngū Bàng)

“As-You-Will Gold-Banded Cudgel” — the 13,500-catty staff.

Jindou Yun (筋斗雲, Jīndǒu Yún)

The somersault cloud — 108,000 li per leap.

Huoyan Jinjing (火眼金睛, Huǒyǎn Jīnjīng)

Fiery golden eyes — the furnace-forged sight that pierces disguise.

Jin’gu (緊箍, Jǐngū)

The tight fillet — the golden headband.

Xinyuan (心猿, Xīnyuán)

“Mind-monkey” — the Buddhist image of the restless mind; Wukong’s allegorical identity.

Huaguoshan (花果山, Huāguǒ Shān)

The Mountain of Flowers and Fruit — Wukong’s home.

Shuilian Dong (水簾洞, Shuǐlián Dòng)

The Water Curtain Cave — the monkey kingdom’s palace behind the waterfall.

Xiyouji (西遊記, Xīyóu Jì)

Journey to the West — “Record of the Journey to the West.”

Xuanzang (玄奘, Xuánzàng, 602–664)

The historical Tang monk; in the novel, Tang Sanzang.

Tang Sanzang (唐三藏, Táng Sānzàng)

The novel’s pilgrim-master — “Tripitaka of the Tang.”

Zhu Bajie (豬八戒, Zhū Bājiè)

“Boar Awakened to Eight Precepts” — Pigsy.

Sha Wujing (沙悟淨, Shā Wùjìng)

“Sand Awakened to Purity” — Sandy.

Guanyin (觀音, Guānyīn)

The Bodhisattva of Compassion — the pilgrimage’s patron, donor of the headband.

Yu Huang (玉皇, Yù Huáng)

The Jade Emperor — ruler of Heaven, Wukong’s great antagonist and occasional employer.

Erlang Shen (二郎神, Èrláng Shén)

The star-god warrior who nearly defeated Wukong — Heaven’s champion.

Nezha (哪吒, Nézhā)

The boy-warrior prince who fought Wukong to a draw in the heavenly war.

Laozi (老子, Lǎozǐ)

The Daoist sage as celestial alchemist — owner of the furnace that forged Wukong’s eyes.

Douzhansheng Fo (鬥戰勝佛, Dòuzhànshèng Fó)

Victorious Fighting Buddha — Wukong’s final title.

Baigujing (白骨精, Báigǔjīng)

The White Bone Demon — the disguise-artist of chapter 27.

Niumowang (牛魔王, Niúmówáng)

The Bull Demon King — Wukong’s sworn brother turned enemy at the Flaming Mountains.

Tiezhan Gongzhu (鐵扇公主, Tiěshàn Gōngzhǔ)

Princess Iron Fan — keeper of the banana-leaf fan.

Li (里, lǐ)

The Chinese mile — roughly half a kilometer in Ming usage; the cloud’s 108,000 li is about 54,000 km.

Jin (斤, jīn)

The catty — roughly 600 grams in Ming usage; the staff’s 13,500 catties is about eight tons.

Source notes

• Pinyin follows standard Mandarin; character forms are simplified/traditional as commonly printed.
• Weights and measures are approximate Ming-dynasty values; the novel’s figures are literary, not engineering.