Introduction:
It has been well known for many centuries that the story of Journey to the West has been a focal point of Chinese folklore. A story which may seem hard to relate to the struggles that lie for a teenage boy growing up in a suburban home, fighting his way through school to survive the dread of school cafeterias and classrooms. But, much like the original Monkey King, who has god like powers, and deals with constant struggle to find his place in the world. This story shows how, even centuries later, a character’s struggles remain.
This story continues through American Born Chinese, a TV show, originally based on Gene Luen Yang’s 2006 graphic novel, also called American Born Chinese. This adaptation not only conveys the special character Sun Wukong is, but brings a twist where it is in the world of a Chinese-American teenager. This story brings together the ideas of Chinese mythology to a character’s development of self-acceptance while working through cultural diversity.
A Book Cover to the Story of Journey to the West
The Original:
In the story of Journey to the West, we follow the Monkey King, Sun Wukong, a strong, smart, and ambitious monkey. He is always on his way to confront those in the Heavens. Over this continuous fight, they punish him by putting him under the Buddha mountain. During his time in exile, he focuses on his real goals of resisting conformity. In the end, he encompasses the qualities of independence and acceptance, which play a direct role in the development of American Born Chinese. This showcases the qualities of rebellion and pride in this modern world.
The Modern Adaptation:
A Cover Release for the Show American Born Chinese
The TV show American Born Chinese picks up the life of a suburban American high schooler, Jin Wang. He deals with the common struggles of racism and not “fitting in”. On the other end, there is Wei-Chen, who initially comes off as curious, polite, and eager to fit in as a transfer student from Taiwan. But when it is revealed he is the son of the Monkey King, it gives the viewer a perspective to realize how Chinese mythology intertwines with a suburban American High school.
The resemblance of how the culture of Monkey King continues to interplay in the modern world, from the defiance of Heaven to the struggle of fitting into a new culture. This theme of defiance continued even through his descendants, as many foreign students are shy, Wei-Chen continues to try to fit in, a rebellion of the norm.
This was also displayed through how the Monkey King tried to fit in with the culture of gods, while trying to fit in with the mere mortals. Wei-Chen is often trying to code-switch between his Chinese Culture and his American culture; the question of where he truly fits in bothers him.
Not only were they focused on character traits that were similar, but also story elements have transcended through time. For the original story where the heavenly figures used to send messages by traveling across clouds, to now moving through the clouds of the internet that run through the phones. These slight nuances in the story carry the meaning of what was contained in the original story of Monkey King, while bringing that modern twist to make it more fitting and understandable.
The Similarities in everyday life:
The mythology that we learn throughout this story is often thousands of years old, but throughout each scene, it is an intricate reminder that the effects of the culture have impacts to this day. We learn in a similar experience to the Monkey King’s rebellion that each teenager has a struggle of trying to adapt. Throughout time, in different circumstances, they deal with the troubles of validity in their identity. One of the most eye-opening struggles that is still dealt with is peer pressure. Jin, who often struggles to create friendships in the cafeteria. There is always a focus to try to fit in, just as Monkey King was trying to figure out where he belongs.
An insider perspective of the actors, in a show release promotion.
Global Significance:
By learning about the story of Journey to the West through American Born Chinese, it shows how the next age of Chinese media is going worldwide. From being on different platforms like Disney, which also has a show that promotes the ideas of the Monkey King. It brings new attention to the tale that is originally a Chinese story. Then, to incorporate American and Chinese elements, it brings new viewers who are interested in learning about the middle ground these two cultures face.
Conclusion:
Journey To the West becoming more prevalent globally.
American Born Chinese is a transcendent show, not only showing who the Monkey King is. But bring him to the modern world and adapt his story and traits in niche ways for the viewers to learn about the culture. A culture that is not only now known to the modern world, but even now on a Western stage, attracting many new viewers. In the end, we know the Monkey King was never a strong force from the get-go, but one who harnessed his powers to become the best he could be. And in this modern adaptation, it perfectly shows how enlightenment was never just in heaven, but really it’s about embracing who you are