Wu Kong is a troublemaker, who disobeys anything and everything. He's a proud and overconfident person with his magic of 72 capabilities and would eliminate anyone that goes in his way. He broke his limit when after defeating all the gods in the heavens, he went on to sit on Jade Emperor’s place. Then the Buddha appeared and Wu Kong challenged him, he said the Jade emperor lost to him and he was the most powerful in the entire universe.
Wu Kong said that with a few somersaults he can travel to the edge of the world. Buddha said he could not somersault out of his palm. Wu Kong laughed and asked Buddha to prepare to have the Jade Emperor’s seat for him for he would surely lose the bet.
With a few somersaults Wu Kong reached to what he believed was the edge of the universe. There was 5 pillars there and he was sure it was the place. To prevent dispute and to prove he had won, he wrote a few words on the last pillar and then made a mark by peeing on the place. Then he went back to the Buddha.
But the Buddha showed him that in fact, he had never somersaulted out of the Buddha’s palm. Wu Kong was shown the words that he had engraved on the pillar and said that his hand still smelled of Wu Kong’s urine smell. And with that, Buddha proceed to lock Wu Kong into the 5 Finger Rock Mountain.
Wu Kong would be released in 500 years later- only by Tang Shazang. When he was there trapped in the mountain, he had time to contemplate about his life- the wondered how his other monkey followers were doing back home and he thought about his childhood. Actually his childhood was quite pitiful he doesn't have a mother or father and was born out of a rock.
Lesson: We, as human can sometimes be over confident of our achievements in life. We at times are raised to high positions and are bowed under by others. We would only do things our way or no way, and aren't hesitate to eliminate the people that got in our way. We never think of one day, when we might have down times where we usually realize, what we need can't be buy with money for example, love and health.
Tang Sanzang
Every year in heaven, the Buddha would arrange for a great gathering where chanting and Dhamma is shared. 1500 years ago, who can guess that during a gathering, the Buddha was to banish one of his favorite disciples down to earth. It was during that gathering, as the Buddha was speaking the Dhamma, a loud snoring sound was heard in the assembly. The favorite disciple was fast asleep and snoring that is….
The Buddha went on the say that he had undergo very much hardship to achieve Buddhahood. Despite being one of his favorite disciple, he was to be banished to earth to go through the difficulties in the Journey to the West to take back the sutras. The disciple would bear the name Tang Sanzang (Golden Cicada).
Lesson: Don't fall asleep while in school kids... lol
Zhu Bajie
Piggy as I like to call it or Zhu Bajie (btw He's my favorite, Wayne Lai did a splendid job) was a heavenly commander Tian Peng holding high position. He was on his way to a successful life with a bright future ahead of him. But in the long run, he fell in love with a heavenly maiden who is in love with another official. Even though he had tried numerous methods, he was not able to capture her heart.
The lovers had planned to elope (since courting is not allowed in heaven) and the Piggy had broken numerous heavenly laws in order to try to win the maiden’s heart- such as turning back time a few times, stealing the red fate string to attempt to tie on the maiden’s feet so that she would fall in love with him.
In the end, the three of them were caught and the heavenly maiden and her lover were banished while the Piggy was banished to earth to go through 1000 lifetimes of love and lost of love. Each lifetime he was to die pitifully because of a love to a woman. Each time he was brought to see the Judge of Underworld who would then read out his next lifetime. (a bit painful for the piggy.)
Piggy's most favorite poem to express his sadness (for the Viet as well)
Đa tình tự cổ năng di hận
I am overwhelmed by love in emptiness and resentment condition.
dĩ hận miên miên vô tuyệt kỳ?
I only resend all these years that goes on without end.
After going through 501 of such sadness lifetime, he had enough and begged for mercy with the King of Underworld. He was told nothing much could be done, so he rebelled and in the process, was actually pushed to take birth in the wrong realm- animal realm. He was then born with a body similar to a pig…which saw him eventually becoming one of the disciple in the Journey of the West.
He had to live a hidden life because of his hideous look- coming to look for food at night. But even in that look and the lack of intellect, he would have lust for beautiful girl- and in such instance when he attacked a girl, he was caught by villagers who wanted to burn him at the stake.
As they were setting him on fire, Guan Yin (Goddess of Mercy) came and told the villagers they were on the wrong. Guan Yin rescued him, restored his original powers, intellect and past life memory (as what he used to have when he was a heavenly marshal) and advised him to wait for Tang Shazang.
Lesson: Sometimes in life, we accept the outcomes of relationships. I like her, she doesn't like me, I like him, he doesn't like me. At times, love triangles or even squares are appearing in front of our eyes but we won't surrender. There's a saying that " happiness can't appear in things that retrieve by forced." Jealousy is sharpest weapon to future consequences.
Sha Wujing
Originally Sha Wujing resided in heaven. He was a bit low in IQ and hence tried to steal a light of wisdom from Jade Empress. While admiring the lamp, suddenly Jade Empress walked in. In shock, and in fear, he dropped and broke the lamp. He was then punished to earth with daily to have 7 knifes pierced through his organs. In order to run away from the flying knives, he went deep into the river.
He hated the heavens for doing what they did to him. He also had another friend who was the prince of the underwater Dragon. The prince was also banished from the sea kingdom because he also broke something valuable. Together, both of them stayed under the river and started killing fisherman and boatman for their meat.
Lesson: Hate is also a reason for people to lose their control of evilness inside, can cause major changes in a person. Sha Wujing, though has little IQ, he's acutally a good person. But one punishment have had him eat human. Ease the hate and turn it into a lesson might earn some extra things for you in the future.
Alrighty, thats the pack... I will continue to do review for this drama, tvb now cannot be compared to the past tvb.
