SuperMarv
For those who do not know who Sun Wu Kong is, he is a key-figure featured in the chinese classical novel "Journey to the West" (Xi You Ji 西游记
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Sun Wu Kong is more notably known as the "Monkey God". In the novel, he was born after a rock burst open and he lived at Hua Guo Mountain. Later he went to learn 72 magic from a heavenly being and after returning to Hua Guo Mountain, he called himself "Qi Tian Da Sheng 齐天大圣" (The Great Sage that ride and rule the heaven).
This enraged the heaven and Jade emperor sent a heavenly army to capture him, but due to the powerful magic Sun Wu Kong had, they were all defeated by Sun Wu Kong.
To appease Sun Wu Kong, Jade emperor decided to make Sun Wu Kong an official in the heaven court. He was sent to be in charge of rearing the horse. Because his position was low, Sun Wu Kong was angry and create havoc in the heaven. Finally, Jade emperor had to call upon the Buddha (Shakyamuni) to deal with Sun Wu Kong.
Buddha had Sun trapped in a mountain for 500 years until Tang San Zang (Xuan Zang) came to release him later. Tang San Zang (a buddhist high priest) , on his way to the west (India) to obtain buddhist sutra, need someone to protect him from the demons on his way. The monkey god, after being released from the mountain became a disciple of Tang San Zang and protect him on his way to the west.
Sun Wu Kong has been a popular figure for childrens featured in cartoons and comics. I believe the west also learn about him through comics.
Sun Wu Kong's powers are mostly magical and he was the main inspiration behind the creation of the DBZ character Goku.

Sun Wu Kong is more notably known as the "Monkey God". In the novel, he was born after a rock burst open and he lived at Hua Guo Mountain. Later he went to learn 72 magic from a heavenly being and after returning to Hua Guo Mountain, he called himself "Qi Tian Da Sheng 齐天大圣" (The Great Sage that ride and rule the heaven).
This enraged the heaven and Jade emperor sent a heavenly army to capture him, but due to the powerful magic Sun Wu Kong had, they were all defeated by Sun Wu Kong.
To appease Sun Wu Kong, Jade emperor decided to make Sun Wu Kong an official in the heaven court. He was sent to be in charge of rearing the horse. Because his position was low, Sun Wu Kong was angry and create havoc in the heaven. Finally, Jade emperor had to call upon the Buddha (Shakyamuni) to deal with Sun Wu Kong.
Buddha had Sun trapped in a mountain for 500 years until Tang San Zang (Xuan Zang) came to release him later. Tang San Zang (a buddhist high priest) , on his way to the west (India) to obtain buddhist sutra, need someone to protect him from the demons on his way. The monkey god, after being released from the mountain became a disciple of Tang San Zang and protect him on his way to the west.
Sun Wu Kong has been a popular figure for childrens featured in cartoons and comics. I believe the west also learn about him through comics.
Sun Wu Kong's powers are mostly magical and he was the main inspiration behind the creation of the DBZ character Goku.