Gods of Prosperity, Authority and Longevity

Author: Silvia Blach

Fuk Luk Sau
The Three Star Gods, Fuk, Luk, and Sau are very famous in Chinese culture. These three represents the gods of longevity, happiness, and rank. Although they are being referred to as god, they are not literally worshipped in the traditional way a religion will worship a God. The Three Star Gods, although they are not worshipped in a conventional sense, are highly regarded and are very much considered auspicious by the Chinese all over the globe. All Feng Shui stores selling Feng Shui products will have the Three Star Gods.

In the popular Chinese trinity of deities, Fuk represents prosperity, and is known as the wealth and happiness god. Luk represents authority and is known as the God of affluence and rank. On the other hand, Sau is the god of longevity and health. Feng Shui shops often represent the three together. The Three Star Gods are available as Feng Shui items and Feng Shui enhancers to attract prosperity, health, and wealth.

Being the Chinese deity of prosperity, happiness and wealth, Fuk is represented wearing a red robe and is a little taller than the other two Chinese deities. Fuk is placed on the right of Luk. Feng Shui remedies have it that ever twentieth day during the seventh lunar month, favors can be asked from Fuk and they will be soon granted. Fuk is known as one of the Feng Shui enhancers that will attract prosperity, happiness and wealth to come in the house or space where Fuk is placed.

On the other hand, Sau can be recognized by the bottle of nectar he is holding in his arms. Feng Shui stores say that he is carrying peach. But whatever item it is he is holding, that item symbolizes immortality. Being the Chinese deity of longevity and good health, Sau attracts good health. According to Feng Shui remedies, Sau prevents accidents and misfortune to those who reside in the space where Sau is placed.

Luk can be easily identified of the Chinese trinity of deities. He is at the center. If you go to Feng Shui shops, they will tell you that Luk is a symbol of a person’s ability to reap and achieve high rewards and man’s ability to improve oneself. Feng Shui remedies and Feng Shui enhancers suggest placing the three all together. Fuk, Luk and Sau when placed together at home, at your office cubicle, or place of business, the Three Star Gods can be very powerful in attracting prosperity, good health, and wealth.

To achieve the maximum attracting powers of the Three Star Gods, Feng Shui stores suggest that the Feng Shui items be placed in the living room or at the dining area. As Feng Shui enhancers, the three should also always be placed on a high table.

If you are a person who wants to have good health or who wishes to improve your health condition, acquire more wealth and be prosperous, or be happier, then Fuk Luk Sau will be excellent Feng Shui items for you.

http://www.buy-fengshui.com/ is an online Feng Shui Shop with over 2000 Feng Shui cure. We carry a wide variety of Feng Shui Fuk Luk Sau products.

Article Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_806460_27.html

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Chinese Cupid God

Yue Lao
The Chinese version of the cupid would be Yue Lao. Cupid to the western is a young chap who is some sort of angel that shoots love arrows. All he needs to do is to shoot his first arrow at one person followed by the second arrow at another person. The person whom had been shot by his arrow would be connected together and fall in love with each other. Yue Lao on the other hand is an old man living in the moon. He is a matchmaker as well as the god of marriages. All humans have a piece of red string. All he needs to do is to tie a knot with the red threads as one piece. Whosoever whose strings is being tied together would fall in love and come together eventually.



Yue Lao’s working platforms
Something similar to our modern day computer software whatsoever, there is some form of platform for him that allows him to have the data and information of all humans right at his finger tips, hence he has full access to everything. Just like software like windows and many others, to execute a certain action, there are many ways for doing it. There is more than just 1 way to execute that particular same action. Right up in the heavens inside the moon where he stays in, the red threads of every one of us is located there. Once he ties the threads together into as one, people will start to encounter each other, fall in love and eventually married as one.However, at times when he is not in the heavens, he would appear among us as a mortal, he could pull out the red thread in our body and tie the threads them together as one. The match making done in earth will be reflected in his database on heaven. Though he has the ability to match make anybody, he still have to follow criterions on choosing the right candidates for you.

Praying to Yue Lao
There are many names for him such as Man in the Moon (Yue Xia Lao Ren) and Yue Lao Xing Jun. He has two assistant, Hong Luan Xing Jun (紅鸞星君) and Tian Xi Xing Jun (天喜星君). The best time to offer prayers to him is on his birthday, which is on Mid Autumn festival (15th day of the 8th month on Chinese calendar). However, if praying to Yue Lao on his birthday is not possible for you, you can still pray to him whenever they are a full moon. Below is a Chinese mantra for praying to Yue Lau.

月下老人寶誥。
至心皈命禮。
團圓月下。相思樹底。
定婚殿中。
執掌天下之婚牘。
維系千里之姻緣。慈眉一點。
有情人終成眷屬。
紅繩一牽。
逃不過三世宿緣。
拄杖巾囊。
奔波開煙霧雲霞間。
童顏鶴髮。
超脫於愛恨情仇外。
大聖大慈。大仁大願。
三界九天之下。
月下老人大慈者。
合婚聯姻。正緣尊神。

Well, this is my english translation;
Report to Match making God of Marriages
From the heart sincerely, gathering under the moon,
thinking deep under the tree
Marriages are fixed!
For whom that is in charge of marriages of everyone
Connecting destiny of everyone regardless of distant
With benevolence
For those who love each other will be together
Connected as one by the thread
No escape from 3 re carnations of destiny and fate
We stick together
Journeying through all obstacles
May we ripped till old age and forever
Beyond love and hate
Oh great supreme and benevolent, oh great compassionate and forgiving one
Among all realms under the universe
The dearest matching making god of marriages.
Will bring us together by marriage! For us together,
let us show him our respects!

Red Threads
The red threads are also known as the ‘red thread of destiny’ or the ‘red thread of fate’. There are similar versions pertaining to this ‘red thread’ by the Japanese, which originated from China.

"An invisible red thread connects those who are destined to meet, regardless of time, place, or circumstance. The thread may stretch or tangle but it will never break."

People who are connected by the threads are fated to be lovers, regardless of time, place, and circumstances. This invisible magical thread may stretch or tangle but will never ever break. The concept of this myth is very similar to the western's version of soul mates or twin flames.



Remembering Yue Lao
Yue Lao is a very popular god that many people in the past would offer their prayers. It is especially popular among the parents and grandparents to pray for their children’s marriage. Many people would also pray to him on every mid-autumn festival especially lovers and ladies of the ancient days. However, in the present day, many forget him. We have perhaps forgotten to thank him for his kind and well wishes.

Andy Lau in fact has ever sung a song about Yue Lao. It is a very nice and touching song to hear.

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The Chinese God of Community

Gods living with us
There are many people that are fascinated by the myth and legends surrounding famous gods like Monkey King, Guan Yin or Guan Yu. There are also the so calls, not so famous gods living with us, they are the community gods. Among them are the Town or City Gods (城隍 Cheng Huang) as well as the Earth God.(土地公 Tu Di Gong)

In the usual case, the Earth God would report to the City God. Earth itself refers to a specific place or a location. A particular building, room or territories and terrains within a certain compound are some examples of a place or location.

City God's Job
The City God on the other hand is like a guardian that protects, blesses and watch over that certain particular City which in inclusive of the welfare of the residents living inside the city. Communal requests such as need for rain and personal requests from the people and officials living in the city are also the job scope of the City god.

The City God will be approached by the residents in many scenarios such as when there natural disasters struck and the residents are in need of help, residents who would want to recover from the illness/sickness that they are struck with, and even cases when the residents who have been wrongly accused for crimes and who wants to have their innocence proven.

There are times in which the local official or magistrate of the city would pray to the City God for help, guardian or advice in the governing of the city especially during the ancient times. There are a lot of City Gods in China and some of them are known by different names. Much of these City Gods are deceased spirits of important people in the city such as officials, previously.

These spiritual deities held onto important divine bureaucracy positions and some would debate that they held more power than the local human officials. Others would view that relations between the local official and the City God is invertible. The two could just work hand in hand to govern the City together.

A famous Shanghai Temple dedicated to the City Gods
One of the most famous City God Temples of China would be the Cheng Huang Miao (城隍庙) of Shanghai and it is one of the must see tourist attractions if you were to visit Shanghai.

This City God Temple is in dedications to 3 main Gods who are:
Huo Guang (? - 68 BC) a Han dynasty Chancellor
Qin Yubo (1295–1373) a Chief Imperial Examiner of the Ming dynasty
Chen Huacheng (1776–1842) a Qing Dynasty General that defended Shanghai

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Chinese God of Thunder

Chinese God of Thunder

Lei Gong
Lei Gong (‘Duke of Thunder’) or the Thunder God is one of the officials in the Ministry of Thunder and Storm in heaven. He is also one of the deities that are recognized by both Taoism and Buddhism. His job is to punish people guilty of moral crimes and evil entities using the Taoist magic to harm others. Lei Gong holds a chisel in one hand and in the other a mallet, which he beats numerous drums strung, producing the terrific noise of thunder. It is the noise of the thunder that causes death of the wrong doers.

According to legend, Lei Gong begins his life as a mortal and is commonly known as Lei Zhen Zi (‘Son of Thunder’). Lei Zhen Zi was hatched from an egg after being struck by Thunder. He was later adopted by Wen Wang as a son. One day Wen Wang was captured by his enemies. While seeking for a powerful weapon to save his father, Lei Zhen Zi came upon a hill and ate two magical apricots. He transforms into a fearsome monster, wings grown on his shoulders and his face had turned green. Lei Zhen Zi returned and saved his father with his magical strength. After that, he seeks refuge under a hermit and attains enlightenments.

Lei Gong and the Ministry of Thunder and Storm
The Ministry of Thunder and Storm consist of many officials. The highest ranking and most important officials in the ministry are Lei Gong and his pack of minions. Dian Mu (‘Mother of Lightning’) or more commonly known as Lei Zi is the wife of Lei Gong whom capable of producing lightning. The other accomplices of Lei Gong are Yun Tong (‘Cloud Youth’) whips up clouds, Yu Zi (‘Master of Rain’) responsible for bringing the rain and Feng Bo (‘Count of Wind’) for summoning the winds. Lei Gong is believed to be the leader of the pack.

Lei Gong today
Temples dedicated to him are rare. The primary group of people worshiping Lei Gong is often Taoist Magicians. The magicians devise remedies and cures with the aids of Lei Gong. One of these cures is the Five Thunder Spell. It is a devastating spell to ward off negative entities. Some people worship Lei Gong hoping that Lei Gong would help them to get rid of their enemies. Lei Gong is also known to be very prudish.

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Chinese God of Fortune

Chinese God of Fortune

Cai Shen
Cai Shen or Bi Gan, his mortal name is literally translated as the God of Prosperity. Cai Shen is one of the most popular pantheons among the Chinese community. His popularity is due to his primary duty as an accountant guarding all the treasuries on heaven. He is also able to bestow fortune to suitable candidates on earth. Though Cai Shen is mainly perceived as a Taoist deity, Pure Land Buddhism also recognized him as a god.

Historically, Bi Gan was the uncle and a minister of King Zhou of the Shang Dynasty. He was also a very honest and capable business man. Often Bi Gan would offer his helps to other merchants by funding their business with no obligations. The poorer folks also benefited from Bi Gan’s generosity as he would donate his wealth and fortune to them. Thus he grew tremendous amount of popularity among the people. The popularity that Bi Gan received from the people soon draws the jealousy of King Zhou and his family. Daji, King Zhou’s most favored concubine one day killed Bi Gan by digging out his heart. After his death, business man started to hang the portrait of Bi Gan to honor him. Those who had hung the portrait of Bi Gan also swore to the heaven that they held upmost honesty in doing business. The death of Bi Gan soon marks the end of Shang Dynasty.

According to legend, Bi Gan did not die. He was offered a magical panacea by a hermit Zhang Ziya that prolonged his life. Bi Gan escaped to the woods with his wife, children and fortune. Often he would appear from the woods and continue to distribute his wealth to the people. The magical panacea had prolonged his life unnaturally until he had finally attained enlightenment on top of a mountain. Legend also state that he co assists with Taoist master Zhang Dao Ling in search of secrets of life prolonging panacea.

Cai Shen is depicted riding a black tiger holding a metallic rod as his weapon. The usual portrait of Cai Shen is a man dressed like a civil official who wears a minister's gauze cap and embroidered robe, with a Ru Yi (an S-shaped ornamental object, usu. made of jade, formerly a symbol of good luck) in his hand and gold or silver ingots under his feet. His portrait is usually hung during Chinese New Year. Business man, investors, traders and gambler would often pray and seek advise from the Cai Shen and mistaken him as the God of Luck.

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Chinese Ghost Buster

Chinese Ghost Buster

Zhong Kui
Zhong Kui is a figure of Chinese mythology. According to myth, he was born in early Tang Dynasty. The actual existence of the person is not known.

The Legends

According to myth, Zhong Kui was a man who joins the Imperial Examination in the Imperial Court. Though Zhong achieved top honors in the exams but due to his horrific appearance, the official title of ‘Zhuang Yuan’ (imperial Scholar) was being taken away from him from the Emperor. In humiliation and unjust, he killed himself in the Palace by bursting his head onto the pillars of the court in front of the Emperor.

In Tang Dynasty historical records, there's no such a person known as Zhong Kui. However there is a kind root-plant with the name of Zhong Kui. The plant is believed to possess magical powers and used to ward off bad or evil entities. Some anonymous scholars during the Tang Dynasty wrote some articles regarding the plant. It stated that the plant Zhong Kui manifest itself from a vegetation to a spirit and later to a human.

After Death

Zhong Kui die classified as a ‘Gui Yin’ (demonic and ghostly hordes) due to suicide and according to the Chinese mythology, Gui Yin can never be reborn and has to remain in the repeating cycle of sufferings and torments. It was the Jade Emperor who had Zhong Kui’s soul summon to the heaven from hell and bestowed him with the title of “Capturer of all Negative Entities”. His primary duty is to subdue evil spirits. Zhong Kui was then promoted from a ‘Gui Yin’ to a high ranking deity in hell commanding over 80000 of demons and ghost.

The spirit of Zhong Kui save Emperor Xuan Zong

It was during the reign of Emperor Xuan Zong of Tang China (712 to 756) that Zhong Kui was popularized. The Emperor Xuan Zong was gravely ill. He had a dream in which he saw two ghosts. The smaller ghost was creating havoc in the imperial court. The bigger ghost, wearing the costume of an official, captured the smaller ghost and swallows it. The bigger ghost then introduced himself as Zhong Kui. When Emperor Zhong woke up, he felt revitalized and his illness soon vanished. He instructed to hang paintings of Zhong Kui based on the images of his dreams in the Imperial Palace. The first painting of its kind was by Wu Daozi an artist serving under Emperor Xuan Zong. This painting is believed to be a relic that can drive away any kind of evils unnatural energy.

Zhong Kui today

Zhong Kui’s painting would be hanged on New Year’s Eve and Dragon Boat Festival. It is a fine practice and etiquette to give Zhong Kui’s painting as a present during these dates. This practice is especially common to the Chinese that are highly exposed to the Philosophical and Features schools of Taoism. Some Chinese will idolize Zhong Kui for the blessings of academic success.

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Chinese God of War

Chinese God of War

Guan Yu
Guan Yu is one of the best known Chinese historical figures in Asia. He was titled as the Chinese God of War. His deeds and moral qualities have been idolize by the Chinese communities for over thousands of years after his death. Lord Guan is a red faced warrior with red ruddy complexion, standing at 7 feet tall with long lush beard of 2 feet in length. Lord Guan is described as a very impressive and majestic looking individual.

Guan Yu according to the historical novel “Romance of the Three Kingdoms”
Guan Yu’s legend started when he met with Liu Bei and Zhang Fei. The trio soon took the Oath of Fraternity in a Peach Garden to be sworn brothers. At the time of oath taking, Guan Yu was a wanted fugitive for killing a villain in his town.

Guan Yu first got famous by demonstrating his skills. He killed the fierce general Hua Xiong when everyone who had tried but failed. Guan Yu later on served under Cao Cao for a short period of time. He had accomplished a lot of deeds for Cao Cao but more notably for slaying Yan Liang and Wen Chuo. It was a remarkable feat as Yan Liang and Wen Chou have killed a dozen of Cao Cao’s generals.When Guan Yu found out of his brothers whereabouts, he bided farewell to Cao Cao and rode off with his sisters - in laws to re united with them. When travelling across Cao Cao’s territories, he was met with obstacles. He is forced to break his way through the five gates holding him while protecting his party. Guan Yu killed six of Cao Cao’s general in the process. Soon Cao Cao met Guan Yu in the battlefield as enemy. The badly defeated Cao Cao pleads Guan Yu for mercy. Guan Yu couldn’t bring himself to capture Cao Cao due to past relationships and thus release Cao Cao. By sending Cao Cao off, he had committed a death penalty. After much dissuasion by Liu Bei and Zhang Fei, Zhuge Liang had decided to spare Guan Yu’s life for a chance to redeem.

After a series of victories, Guan Yu continues his mission to capture Fancheng. He was not only a skillful warrior but was also a military genius. He succeeded in capturing Fancheng using tactics by flooding the entire seven armies defending it. During this expenditure, he was wound by a poisonous arrow on his arm. A famous physician Hua Tuo had offered to treat Guan Yu’s wound. Upon Guan Yu request to apply the fastest method to treat his wound, Hua Tuo cut open Guan Yu’s fresh and scraps the poisons off the bone on the spot without anesthesia. Hua Tuo left without charging any thing as he was very impressed to met a person who can resist the pain.

Guan Yu’s final battle was with Sun Quan, the emperor of Wu Kingdom. When Guan Yu was in Fancheng, he left some generals to guard Jingzhou. Sun Quan took the opportunities to lead a sneak attack on Jingzhou. Most of Jingzhou’s territories were surrender to Sun Quan before engaging in battle. This has stopped the resources line of Guan Yu’s army in Fancheng. Many soldiers desert Guan Yu’s army and returned Jingzhou to reunite with their family. Guan Yu was captured by Sun Quan on Jueshi Mountain where he had only a hundred soldiers left. Sun Quan wants to win Guan Yu over but his officers had dissuaded him from doing this by relating with the history when Guan Yu was with Cao Cao. Sun Quan's officers also reminded him that Guan Yu held high ethics and moral values, he will never summit. After much failure attempts, Sun Quan finally execute Guan Yu and his officers.

Liu Bei and Zhang Fei immediately led the entire Shu Kingdom army to start war with Sun Quan. After Liu bei had captured Jingzhou, he performed special rituals, ceremonies and offering to all the soldiers and their family that have stay with Guan Yu until death. He executes all the generals who surrendered the territories of Jingzhou to Sun Quan and placed their head as an offering in front of Guan Yu’s tomb. The terrified Sun Quan immediately sends Guan Yu’s head to Cao Cao as a decoy. Cao Cao buried it with full honor and proper ritual.

Guan Yu’s spirit was seen roaming on Sun Quan’s territories crying out, “Return my head!” Many officers of Sun Quan were falling sick one after another. Lu Meng, a general of Sun Quan was rumored to be possessed by Guan Yu’s spirit and had threaten to kill Sun Quan. Guan's spirit soon met with the Buddhist monk Pujing on Yuqian Hill. Pujing had enlightened Guan Yu’s spirit and the spirit manifests around the hill to protect the people from dangers.

Guan Yu's legendary Weapon - The Green Dragon Crescent Blade
According to Romance of the Three Kingdom, after taking the oath of fraternity in Peach Garden, the three brothers forged weapons for themselves to prepare for battle. The Green Dragon Crescent Blade or Guan Dao was invented and used by Guan Yu. The Guan Dao weight at 18.04 kg. Modern day Guan Dao weigh from 2 to 10kg. It is an unpopular weapon in the modern day due to the amount of skills required to weld it effectively. Most martial artist today required both hand to welds it. Legends said that Guan Yu could weld it effortlessly and effectively in single hand. A 50kg Guan Dao is displayed at the Purple Cloud Temple in China today. The priests in Purple Cloud Temple claimed that the displayed Guan Dao was once held by Guan Yu.

The 'Red Hare' was another popular procession of Guan Yu. It was the speediest horse on land. The original owner was Lu Bu. After Lu Bu’s death, Cao Cao held ownership to it and offer it as a gift to Guan Yu hoping that Guan would stay loyal to him. Guan Yu kneel down to Cao after accepting the gift. Cao Cao asked Guan Yu, “Why are you kneeling?” Guan Yu replied, “Lord, because now I could ride swiftly to reunite with my brothers when I learn of their whereabouts.” When Guan Yu leaves Cao Cao, the Red Hare is the only gift he carried with him from Cao Cao.

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Chinese God Series - The Monkey God

Chinese Monkey God - Sun Wu Kong

Sun Wu Kong or the Monkey God is the most popular deity of the Chinese. He accompanies Xuan Zang as a disciple to retrieve the Buddhist sutras to China from India. Sun Wu Kong has the all the abilities that most demons have. He is a skillful fighter able to lift his 8 tones Jingu Bang (Golden Clasped Staff) with ease. Sun can also shape shift into 72 different creatures including human. Each of his hair could transform into a clone of the monkey himself and he has more hairs then any human does.

Birth and Early Life
Sun Wu Kong was born in primal chaos from a stone on Hua Guo Shan (Mountain of Fruits and Flowers) as a monkey. Later he joins a bunch of monkeys and became their leaders. He was enjoying his life as the Mei Hou Wang (The Handsome Monkey King) letting each day to pass blissfully. One day, Sun witness the passing away of an elderly monkey, this had prompted him to seek the answer to immortality. Sun Wu Kong leaves his kingdom and travels into the land of the humans. The monkey finally found a Taoist priest who accepted him as a disciple. Sun Wu Kong soon became the most favored disciplines in the temple. This was when he acquires most of his magical abilities. However, he was expelled from the temple one day as he mocks at other disciples. The monkey returned to Hua Kuo Shan and became one of the most powerful demons in the world. Sun Wu Kong soon turns his attention toward the heaven wanting to rank among the high ranking deities. In his pursue to attain immortality and a gaining a high post in the heaven; he has caused many damaged to the other realms of the world.

The Monkey create Havoc in the Ocean
The Jingu Bang was most guarded treasure underwater and is believed to stabilize the currents and tides of the ocean. Sun heard rumors about the Ruyi Jingu Bang and he travelled into the oceans in search of the relic. Ao Guang (Dragon King of the Eastern Sea) and the other dragon kings engaged in a fierce battle with Sun to defend the relic but the monkey destroyed the palace of the dragons and removes the Jingu Bang from them. Sun returned to Hua Guo Shan with his new found weapon.Monkey God Creating Havoc in

HeavenThe Monkey create Havoc in Hell
The day has come where Yan Luo Wang (King of Hade) summoned his officers to collect the soul of Sun Wu Kong. Yan Luo Wang knew that the monkey was bold and powerful so he instructed his officers to trick him into hell. The officers bought Sun Wu Kong to the imperial court of hade for his trials. The monkey was charged with many crimes and was sentenced to punishment accordingly. Sun Wu Kong was confused and did not want to accept the punishment; he started to destroy the interiors of the court. Yan Luo Wang witnesses the might and capability of the monkey, and tried to seek out peace with Sun by reasoning. Yan Luo Wang show the records to the monkey based on the book of death with Sun Wu Kong’s name marked as deceased. Yan Luo Wang insisted that it will be unfair to others and Sun have to accept the punishment. Sun Wu Kong snatched the book from Yan Luo Wang and tore the page away. He also scribbles and overwrites the content, destroying half section of the book. Sun Wu Kong wreckage the court and return to Hua Guo Shan. Thanks to Sun Wu Kong, there was no death in earth for a few years as the officials in hade were busy sorting out the mess.The Monkey create Havoc in Heaven

The Monkey create Havoc in Heaven
Ao Guang and Yan Luo Wang write emails to Yu Wang (The Jade Emperor) in heaven to complaint about Sun Wu Kong. Yu Wang summoned Sun Wu Kong to the heaven for another trial. Sun Wu Kong requested for a high ranking position in the heaven as the Great Sage. Yu Wang realizes Sun’s ability thus granted the monkey a title as the Pi Ma Wen (Stable Guard) to look after the welfare of the horses. The monkey was very pleased to earn a position in heaven. He proudly performed his duties until he found out that Bi Ma Wen was a position of the lowest rank. He was excluded from all celestial meetings and all the other gods were laughing at him. The enraged monkey creates havoc in heaven, stealing and eating the peaches of immortality and the immortality pills prepared by Lao Zi. Sun returned to Hua Guo Shan again.

Yu Wang sent his armies in pursued of this monkey but was dispelled by Sun Wu Kong, the hair clones and his horde of monkeys’ armies. Sun Wu Kong defeated and drives away many heavenly generals including the famous Er Lang Shen, Ne Zha and The Four Heavenly Kings. Sun Wu Kong was finally subdued and brought back to heaven by the higher primordial deities, Lao Zi and Guan Yin. The Jade Emperor sentenced the monkey to be executed but the magical power of Sun was too strong. Failing to execute Sun Wu Kong, Yu Wang locked Sun in a burning cauldron with the severe samadhi fires guarded by Lao Zi. The fire was not strong enough to cremate Sun Wu Kong, and after 49 days, the cauldron exploded. The samadhi fire makes Sun Wu Kong even stronger with a new ability Huo Yan Jin Jing (Fire Eye Red Red) to recognize evil in any form. Sun jumped out of the cauldron and disrupted the heaven again.Yu Wang and his official were exhausted dealing with the monkey. Finally Yu Wang seeks the aids of Buddha. The Buddha made a bet with Sun Wu Kong that Sun could not escape from the palm of his hand. Sun Wu Kong knew that he could travel for 50 kilometers in a single leap so he smugly agreed. He jumped onto the palm of Buddha and attempted to escape. After every leap, all Sun can see was the five fingers of Buddha. Sun started to urinate at Buddha’s finger to mark his trail. Sun Wu Kong repetitive attempted failed to escape the palm of Buddha. The palm of Buddha transformed into a mountain, pressing down Sun Wu Kong to the earth. The mountain was sealed with a talisman and became the prison of Sun Wu Kong for the next 500 years.The Release and Promotion of the Monkey

Bodhisattva Guan Yin arranged for the release of Sun Wu Kong on the conditions, that Sun Wu Kong will be the body guard for Xuan Zang during his journey from China to India to retrieve the Buddhist scriptures. The other condition is that Sun has to study and practice the teachings of Buddhism under Xuan Zang. Guan yin also gave Sun Wu Kong a headband that is un-removable after wearing it. If Wu Kong is mischievous, Xuan Zang can chant a mantra, and the headband of Wu Kong will shrink, causing tremendous pain to the bearer. The headband can only be loosened by Xuan Zang. The duo set off for journey and was later joined by Zhu Ba Jie (Pigsy Zhu), Sha Wu Jin (Sandy Sha) and Yu Long (Horsy Dragon Yu). The journey faced a lot of obstacles as Xuan Zang was a Tripitaka, and eating the meat of a Tripitaka could gain immortality. This lured many demonic hordes to attacked Xuan Zang and his party. Xuan Zang and his party had succeeded in bringing back the scriptures from India. All the members of Xuan Zang’s party were promoted and offered a job in heaven. The headband on Sun Wu Kong’s head was removed and he was promoted to the Great Sage (In Charge of all Earthly Affairs).

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