JOURNEY TO THE WEST Episode 1
The story of Tripitaka and his 3 disciples going to India,
Has been told through the ages.
They went through 81 tribulations,
Defeating demons and finally reaching enlightenment.
Wu Chen gen of the Ming Dynasty...
...wrote a novel based on this popular legend,
An important work of literature...
"Journey to the west"
When earth and heaven were divided...
...the world was separated into the East, West, South and North continents.
Beyond the seas of the Eastern continent...
...there's a country called "Aolai".
It has an ocean near by.
In the middle of that ocean stands a famous island...
..."Flower Fruit Mountain".
Tongbi!
What was that?!
What is going on?!
Thousand Mile Eye! Wind Following Ear!
Yes, Emperor.
Go investigate this phenomenon.
Yes Sir!
A stone exploded with a huge crash...
...and a little monkey was born magically.
He was quickly accepted by the monkey tribe,
And gained the right to live.
From then on,
Sadness and happiness would join him in his journey.
My King, this child is so cute.
Let's take him in!
Alright. Let's give him a name.
Your Highness, let's call him...
-Stone Monkey. -Alright!
Your Majesty, we found the cause of the phenomenon.
It came from Aolai, in the Eastern sea.
There's the Flower Fruit Mountain.
A magical stone exploded...
...and gave birth to a stone monkey.
His body threw out that golden glow.
The glow has now vanished,
And both heaven and earth returned to normal.
Everything in the world was born from the essence of heaven and earth.
That's how it is.
For the time being, let him live and die.
There's no need to interfere.
What a shame, you still look like a bird!
I just need to get rid of this tail...
...and I'll become human.
Why did you steal my Golden Pill and ruin my transformation?!
Who said the Golden Pill is yours?
I found it first in the horizon!
I can only say we didn't have much luck,
The heaven didn't bless us with the Pill.
We must practice hard the next centuries!
I don't think the Pill just disappeared,
I'm going to look for it right now!
The cruelty of nature can change any second.
A merciless disaster is about to strike...
...the peaceful Flower Fruit Mountain.
Everybody run towards the river!
Run with the flow of the river! Hurry!
Tongbi, lead the way!
Hurry up! Run!
Run!
Father!
Get out of here!
Don't worry about me!
Father?
-Father!... -Great King!...
Heaven!
Why did you send us the disaster?!
Why did you take away my father?!
Why?!
We have been living on this side for so long...
..yet we didn't know the depth of this waterfall.
Our King passed away, listen,
Whoever gets to the other side of the waterfall...
...and comes out alive will be our new King. How is that?
-Yes! -Yes!
Mother, look around for a way out.
There is none. What should we do?
Stone Monkey!
Why isn't he out yet?
Let's wait for him.
Here he comes!
What a luck, Mother!
Is the water deep there?
No water at all, just a great place for a new home!
It's this mountain's paradise, the "Water Curtain Cave".
We can all live there...
...and never suffer from the storms again!
Great! Everybody, follow me!
Let's go!
Here we go!
All of you, get over here, come.
-Everyone be quiet and listen to me. -Quiet!
It is very important to keep your promises.
You said who can get in and out will be your new King.
I came in and went out, and then came in again...
Shouldn't you honor me as King?
Yes! The late King asked me to find a new King.
Let's all bow to our new King!
-Your Highness. -We salute you.
Get up.
Your Highness, I have something to report.
The previous King was "Black Monkey King", you should get a new name too.
You all call me Stone Monkey, my name should be "Stone Monkey King".
Doesn't sound good.
Your fur is gold and you are the handsomest in our tribe.
Let's call you...
..."Handsome Monkey King"
"Handsome Monkey King"? Am I handsome?
-Handsome! -Handsome!
Then I am Handsome Monkey King!
-Handsome Monkey King! -Handsome Monkey King!
Handsome Monkey King! That's my name from now on!
A natural disaster too away his father's life,
And sickness took away his mother's life.
The little stone monkey started to ponder about life and death.
My King, your mother passed away long ago, why are you still so sad?
I thought that after coming to this cave...
...we would never have to worry about storms and monsters again.
When I became King..
...I thought I would live a happy and untroubled life.
Now i realize...
...someday I'll become old and weak, and wouldn't scape from death.
Life is fragile.
We have no choice.
You know...
When death comes, we just cant escape.
Yama's book of the Life and Death can find us anywhere.
My King, are you afraid you will die one day?
Tongbi, you are very wise...
...you know the way to become immortal?
In this world, there are just 3 kinds of being Yama can't touch.
Which 3 kinds?
Buddhas, Deities and Gods. They don't have to go through reincarnation.
They exist as long as the earth and the heavens.
Where do they live?
They live among the heavens and in ancient caves.
I'm going to travel around the world...
...and find them to learn how to be immortal.
-Tongbi. -Yes?
Tomorrow morning...
...Ask the children to make a raft, then wait for me by the sea.
Yes Sir!
-Great King! -Come back soon!
The little stone monkey traveled across the sea in his search for immortality,
And arrived to the southern land inhabited by the humans.
Who is there?!
He wore human clothes and talked the human language,
But soon discovered humans are perverted by alcohol, sex and money.
They don't care about life.
Excuse me, are you alright?
Stinks!
Give that back!
This is good wine! How can it stink?!
Mister!
Mister, what are you doing?
Miss, would you join me for a cup of wine?
I don't do it for free.
Of course, I have money.
I have lots of money!
Then I'll go with you.
Get out!
What are you doing? She's my woman!
-Step aside! -I don't care.
I have a lot of money, I want your woman!
-Money? -Yeah?
-I have money too! -Who do you think you are?
Don't fight!
That's my money!
Out of here! That money is mine!
The man is dead!
This wine is good!
He once again traveled across the sea...
...and arrived to a legendary western land, where Gods and Deities lived.
♫ Speak of the Deities, and the Deities come... ♫
♫ The Deity is in front of you ♫
♫ Speak of the Deities, and the Deities come... ♫
♫ The Deity is...
Old Deity, I salute you!
Wait, young boy. I'm just a lumberjack.
I'm not a Deity.
Didn't you just say "the Deity is in front of you"?
Oh, you're talking about the song.
Actually, a Deity taught me that song.
He said a Deity is someone who lives a untroubled and cheerful life.
Like me, I cut trees, sell the wood and take care of my parents.
I don't need great wealth.
That's why I live like a Deity.
You are a loyal son, sorry for the inconvenience.
Don't worry.
May I ask where does that Deity live?
Not far...
...just over that mountain. Walk about 8 li and you'll be there.
It's the "Mountain of the Mind", where the "Moon and 3 Star Cave" is located.
Master Bodhi, the Deity lives there.
"Moon and 3 Star Cave"
I found it!
Such a place exists!
What is all that racket?!
I'm here to see the Deity, I didn't mean to disturb.
Are you the stone monkey?
This is my first time here,
How come you know me?
My Master is giving a lecture right now...
...he said a stone monkey wants to learn about Taoism...
...and asked me to open the door.
Then take me to see that Master of yours.
No.
My Master wouldn't accept you as a disciple.
You should leave.
Wouldn't accept me?
How come?!
Just go.
Hey! Wait!
Don't go! Wait a minute!
Wait!
Master! Master!
You already know me, why won't you accept me?!
Why not?!
If you don't accept me then I won't leave!
I'll kneel here forever!
I dare you to strike me!
Is this a joke?
Snow?! What month is it?
Heaven, are you mocking me?!
Now hail?
I don't care if it rains knives!
I don't care!
Come in.
You came to this western land of the Deities,
Crossing two oceans...
And the southern continent.
Why are you here?
I crossed the seas...
...and wondered across the southern continent...
...but I never found a Deity.
I sailed in a raft...
And crossed the mountains to get here,
Just to be a disciple here.
What is your name?
Master, I don't have a name.
I have no parents,
I was born from a stone.
That means you were born from the nature.
Stand up and let me see you walk.
You have the body structure of that of a tree monkey.
Remove the first character from "Husun" (Monkey)
Your surname will be "Sun". How is that?
Sun? Sun?
Thanks Master! Thanks a lot!
Now I have a surname!
Can you give me a name too?
That would make everything easier!
My sect has 12 characters...
You're in the 10th generation.
Master, what 12 characters are those?
They're Guang, Da, Zhi, Hui, Zhen, Ru, Xing, Hai, Ying, Wu, Yuan, Jue.
Your character is "awareness".
I'll give you a religious name. How about "Sun Wukong"?
Sun Wukong?
Sun Wukong!
I have a name!
Sun Wukong!
May I help you?
Move away.
Wukong!
Why are you jumping around and not paying attention?
Master, what you said was fascinating,
I can't help but jump in joy!
Master, please forgive me.
You are happy but noisy.
Answer me...
...you've been here for 7 years.
What do you really want to learn?
Master, I just want to learn the way of immortality!
There is no such thing as immortality.
Even the lives of Deities have a limit.
Master, I just want to learn about immortality...
I'm not interested in anything else!
I really must not teach you...
Come here.
Kneel down.
Go back.
-Where is the Master? -Where did he go?
You were too impolite, you dumb monkey!
The Master was teaching morals and you dare to interrupt!
This new guy angered the master, and now he left!
A monkey is a monkey, even if he dresses like a person!
Master, I've been waiting for you.
Monkey, why aren't you asleep?
What are you doing here?
Master, you hit me 3 times today.
3 times.
You wanted me to come at 3:AM...
...to teach me Taoism.
That's why I'm here.
You said you've been through north and south
and your journey took many years
I guess you also learned something about humanity.
Master, I saw it...
Men just sleep and eat
and think about money
but they gain nothing at all
even being officers they don't know their place.
But they say I'm outrageous
Because I jump around all the time
So there are no good persons?
Good persons?
Sure there are!
but they're not happy
they worry too much
Good people worry about their children
They don't think that one day Yama will call them to Hades
Leaving the children behind.
This is what you want to avoid?
Why is it?
Master, the reason is
because back at Flower-Fruit Mountain
I acknowledge
Us monkeys are better
A monkey better than a human
Please merciful Master
instruct me in the art of longevity
or any other earth-shattering skills
Let me stop Yama
Your disciple will never forget your kindness
I will teach you the 72 transformations.
Listen clearly...
Transform!
Wrong.
Don't distract yourself
Transform!
What is that?
I tried to transform into a dragon or a bird
It doesn't work if you want to become two things
You're not concentrated enough.
Master, do I look like a table?
Why does your table has a mouth?
Transform into something with a mouth.
Transform!
A pot doesn't have a mouth
Sure it does
What a relief
You are one naughty monkey!
You learn fast.
Wukong.
Listen well.
You shall not show off this skill selfishly
In a few months you will dominate it
but it should be kept secret
Don't forget it.
Master, I will remember it.
I hope you do.
Now I will teach you the cloud-somersault technique.
You will fly into the sky and back to the ground...
...traveling 108000 li in one somersault.
Wukong, is it true what we heard
That you were taught special spells by the Master?
Did you learn them all?
I'll say this with respect to you
I practiced very hard night and day
until I learned it
We have nothing to do, show us some tricks.
-Yeah! -Do it!
They're not that great.
I rather not.
Are you looking down to us?
Why do you refuse?
Looking down to us, brother?
That's not what I meant.
Then show us.
-Yeah! -Show us!
OK, what do you want to see?
-Yeah! -A big tree!
A big tree?
Move away!
Transform!
-Amazing! -That's great!
It looks so real!
I couldn't do it even if I tried my whole life.
You're awesome!
That's really good!
How was that?
Awesome!
That was nothing.
You can turn into something else?
How about... a beautiful woman?
-Yeah! -A girl!
You want to see a pretty girl?
Yeah! We all do!
Move away!
A beautiful woman.
She's gorgeous!
How dare you Wukong!
It's the Master, Let's go!
Hey! Wait!
Wait a moment!
Master...
Sun Wukong, your Master told you
to keep this skill secret
But you couldn't wait and wanted to show off.
Master, I know I was wrong...
...I deserve to be punished.
I'm not going to punish you.
You can go.
Yes.
Master...
Where do you want me to go?
Go back to where you came from!
But Master, I haven't had the chance to thank you,
How can I leave being so ungrateful?!
So what?
People like you
will only give me trouble
Then...
Just leave.
Master! Master!
It's useless to stay longer
You understand
It will only do you wrong.
Master...
I forbid you
of saying that you were my disciple
if you do
I'll know
and you'd be in big trouble
You are not welcome here.
Leave!
I'm home.
This somersault is really fast, I'm home already.
I'm back!
The beautiful looks of this land
Finally the Water Curtain Cave of Flower-Fruit Mountain!
Children! I'm back!
It's me, your Handsome Monkey King!
I'm back!