Session 17: The Little Sage subdues the Great Sage
- liz zhang
- Feb 27
- 2 min read
In this session, we will explore the fierce battle between Erlang Shen (the True Lord) and Sun Wukong (the Great Sage) as they engage in a spectacular display of transformations. Ultimately, Sun Wukong is captured with the combined efforts of Erlang, his sworn brothers, Bodhisattva Guanyin, and Lord Lao Zi.
Key Questions for contemplation:
Q: What did Erlang Shen and Sun Wukong use to fight each other?
Q: Why did Sun Wukong lose heart in the fight against Erlang Shen? What does this reveal about his character?
Q: What were the different transformations used during the battle?
Q: Why was Erlang able to see through Sun Wukong’s transformation into a temple?
Q: How was Sun Wukong finally detected when he turned himself invisible?
When Guanyin, Jade Emperor and the Lord Laozi came together to view the fight, Guanyin Bodhisattva said, “I will drop that pure water of willing twigs on the monkey’s head. It doesn’t kill him but will knock him off balance.”
Q: What do you learn from Guanyin’s approach?
How does Guanyin’s wisdom differ from the brute force used by the celestial army?
Q: What weapon did Lao Zi propose to help capture the monkey?
Q: How was the Great Sage captured? And what was his reaction when captured?
The bully and cheat now meets with a bitter punishment,
The heroic spirit must now come to an end.
Q: What is your interpretation of this verse?
What does it suggest about Sun Wukong’s journey at this stage?
Wealth and honour, glory and fame,
Are predetermined by fate:
No one should act against conscience to covet any of them.
Far−going and deep
Are the good results of true enlightenment and loyalty.
Heaven punishes all wild and wicked deeds
If not at once then later on.
Ask the Lord of the East the reason why
Disasters now strike him.
It is because his ambition was high, his plans far−reaching,
He did not respect authority, and he smashed convention.
Q: What does the first verse in Chapter 7 reveal about fate, destiny, and consequences?
I am Nobu, currently living in Prague.
Modern wisdom teaches us to choose our friends and leaders carefully. Sun Wukong, the Monkey King, rose to great heights only to fall dramatically. Like many of us, he aspired to change his destiny for the better. When he first set out from home in search of immortality, I doubt he ever imagined ending up a prisoner.
Within myself, I recognize a similar Sun Wukong—one who desires worldly power, wealth, and the recognition of success. Sun Wukong's journey so far serves as a powerful lesson: a path to change, if not guided, can lead to disaster.
So, what does a guided path look like? I observed that Sun Wukong missed two critical opportunities:…
I am Chuan, living in Prague of Czech Republic.
Before Sun Wukong learned the 72 transformations, his character was very kind. But after returning to Mount Flower and Fruit from the Patriarch Subhuti, his character began to change when he found that his monkey children were bullied by the Demon King of Confusion. He wanted to protect his kind, so he stole weapons, forcibly seized the Golden Cudgel, and forcibly erased the names on the Register of Life, trying to get a place in heaven for the monkeys. Later, after Sun Wukong defeated the celestial generals and soldiers, he felt that he was a sage equal to the heavens. Later, he even stole the peaches of immortality, and the Lord…