Sun Wukong of India

 

Sun Wukong of India

 

"Sun Wukong", the most popular "monkey god" in Chinese mythology, no matter whether he comes from the East or the West, wears yellow, white or black skin, speaks Chinese or foreign languages, no one is unfamiliar with him. Indians call Sun Wukong "Chinese Hanuman", while Chinese people call Hanuman "Indian Sun Wukong". What is the connection between these two "monkeys"?

Agudemba and his donkey came to the foot of the bodhi tree by the river. He told the donkey the legendary story of the Indian monkey god Hanuman.

The donkey said: Mr. Agudenba, you told me the story of the birth of the monkey Hanuman, his emergence from the mountains and crossing the sea. It turns out that he is the son of the wind god. He holds a golden stick in his hand, soars into the clouds and rides on the mist. He is brave and powerful. He can actually change 73 times, which is better than Sun Wukong. There is one more change. Why do I always feel that this Indian monkey god Hanuman is the Chinese Sun Wukong.

Agudengba smiled: It should be said that the Chinese Sun Wukong is the Indian monkey god Hanuman. Hanuman, the "monkey god" who occupies an important position in Indian literature, is 1,000 years older than China's Sun Wukong. His historical relics appear in Dunhuang murals, and reliefs appear in Prambanan Temple in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, Angkor Wat and Thailand. Ancient temples etc. The monkey god Hanuman is the ancestor of the Monkey King. Many historians also said that people should not take seriously the statement that "Sun Wukong originated from the Indian monkey god". Only the exchange and spread of different cultures can promote the development of human civilization.

Agudenba explained:

Hu Shi, one of the leaders of the early Chinese New Culture Movement, believed that the prototype of Sun Wukong in "Journey to the West" was taken from Hanuman. He said: "I always suspect that this powerful monkey is not a domestic product (China), but imported from India. Maybe even the myth of Wuzhiqi was influenced by India and imitated." He proposed that, with Buddhism, Spread eastward to China, the plot of the "Battle of Lanka City" recorded in the Indian epic "Ramayana" and the riot in Wushou Garden is the prototype of the story of Sun Wukong's 72 transformations. Although most scholars believe that the allusion to the birth of Sun Wukong originates from the Hindu monkey god Hanuman, it is also influenced by Chinese Buddhism and Taoism. It is the product of the combined influence of multiple cultures, which further reflects the richness of monkey culture. sex.

Agudenba said:

It is said that Hanuman is immortal and he is still alive from ancient times to this day. Ramayana, the great Indian epic with a long history, was originally written in Sanskrit. The monkey god Hanuman is one of the protagonists. It was written no earlier than 300 BC. The epic tells the story of Hanuman helping Prince Rama of Ayodha king to rescue Princess Sita from the demon king Ravana, burning down the demon king’s city of Lanka, flying to the Himalayas to retrieve medicinal herbs, He treated Rama’s wounded soldiers. Rama rewarded him for his efforts and granted him immortality.

Hanuman is the son of the wind god, and he had an extraordinary experience when he was born. Hanuman learned the truth from the ancestor Brahma and dedicated himself to eliminating evil and promoting good in the three realms of heaven, earth and underworld. His weapon, the tiger-headed Ruyi Golden Stick, has played a great role in hoeing demons, strengthening the body and dispelling evil spirits. Its origin and whereabouts are both amazing and puzzling.

According to legend, Hanuman can fly in the air, his face and body can change at will, and he can move mountains and seas. It is also said that Hanuman has a ruby-like face, golden hair, a tall body, a strangely long tail, a roar like thunder, and is so powerful that he can move mountains and capture moving clouds. Another image of him is that he has 5 faces and 8 hands, is extremely intelligent, and is the embodiment of wisdom and strength.

It is said that when Hanuman was just born, he saw the sun and thought it was edible, so he grabbed it in his hand. In order to protect the sun from the unexpected, Indra hurriedly struck Hanuman's jaw with thunder. The jaw is called "Hanu" and "Hanuman" means its protruding jaw, hence the name Hanuman.

The story of Hanuman is a masterpiece in Indian mythology. He has made great contributions to eliminating violence and bringing peace to the Indian people, so he is regarded as a god and is respected. He is not only a household name in India, but also respected as a hero in the hearts of people in Southeast Asia.

Agudemba said: I have traveled to China, India, Sri Lanka, Bali and other places, and I have seen Hanuman statues of various shapes. The Indian statue of Hanuman has shallow carvings, so it lacks three-dimensionality. The statue of Hanuman in Bali vividly depicts his expression fighting a poisonous snake. The Hanuman statue in Cambodia kneels down and pays respect. Another form of Hanuman is called the "Five-faced Monkey", which has five faces: bird king, human lion, monkey, donkey, and pig. The statue of Hanuman in Nepal is powerful and intimidating. The Hanuman statue that people generally see has a kind face and a body that is no different from ordinary people; however, it is said that the real Hanuman looks very fierce and is covered with hair. Different regions have different versions of Hanuman's stories, but the contents are basically the same, mainly based on the story content of Ramayana.

The Hanuman Monkey Temple located on Jalan Scott, Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur has a history of more than a hundred years. Outside the temple, there are many stone statues of Hanuman, the monkey god, from India, Thailand, Bali, Cambodia, Vietnam and Nepal. They vary in size, sitting, standing, or with hands clasped together in a praying manner. But the most impressive thing is the stone sculpture on the roof that is holding a short blade and fighting a poisonous snake. The poisonous snake opens its bloody mouth ferociously and tightly. It entangled Hanuman's body, but Hanuman was fearless and fought against it. It showed Hanuman's bravery. Although he comes from different countries, Hanuman's image is generally very uniform, with protruding eyes and mouth, wearing a headband, and a ferocious face. Entering the temple, the Hanuman statue inside is half human and half monkey, which seems more humane. The colorful statue of Hanuman has a green face and a red nose. The murals on the ceiling of the temple are hand-painted by artists from India, with bright colors and fine painting skills. The murals on the ceiling of the temple describe Hanuman's life, all hand-painted by artists from India.

Agudengba said again: Sun Wukong is China’s Hanuman. Sun Wukong can transform 72 times, soar into the clouds and ride in the mist. He also has a pair of fiery eyes that can see through the disguises of monsters and monsters. He can turn a thousand miles with a single somersault. The weapon he uses is the Ruyi Golden Cudgel, which can be large or small and can be changed at will. He is known as the embodiment of wit and bravery, and represents the feelings and pursuits of kindness, justice, and freedom in human nature. "

Agudengba sang a song in praise of the sacred monkey, "Holy Monkey Blesses the People":

 

Sun Wukong of India

Hanuman of China

half human half monkey

green face red nose

Fierce eyes and golden eyes

protruding jaw

Coat color golden

Extraordinarily long tail

Tall body

roar like thunder

 

The true biography of Brahma

Designed to eliminate evil in the three realms

Wearing a gold hoop

Holding golden rod

Changeable incarnations

Can be big or small

Soaring in the clouds and riding in the fog

Hoe the demon and shovel the demon

Move mountains and seas

Strengthen the body and eliminate evil