Monkey King

30315

2024

Journey to the West

Bi Ma Wen, a minor yet memorable character from the classic Chinese novel *Journey to the West*, is a title given to Sun Wukong, the Monkey King, early in his celestial career.

After rebelling in search of immortality and proving his martial prowess, Sun Wukong is offered a position in Heaven to appease him. The Jade Emperor, seeing him as a potential nuisance, grants him the post of "Bi Ma Wen," ostensibly a caretaker of horses.

However, Sun Wukong soon discovers the true nature of his role. Bi Ma Wen is essentially a stable boy, the lowest rank in the heavenly bureaucracy. He is responsible for feeding and grooming the horses, a task he finds demeaning and insulting to his perceived worth.

Enraged by the deception and the perceived slight to his dignity, Sun Wukong abandons his post. He returns to his mountain kingdom and declares himself the "Great Sage Equal to Heaven," further fueling his rebellion against the celestial order. The incident highlights Sun Wukong's pride, ambition, and unwillingness to accept a subordinate position. It also acts as a key catalyst for the larger conflicts to come.