<p>Wukong uses some tricky negotiation tactics to get the Golden Elixir from Lao Tzu and bring the dead king back. But the Taoist imposter has a trick that will have him seeing double!</p> <p>Then, Richard and James go deep on the role of Taoism, Confucianism and Buddhism in Chinese society, and speculate on the nature of "jin". It's a weird one!</p>

Wukong uses some tricky negotiation tactics to get the Golden Elixir from Lao Tzu and bring the dead king back. But the Taoist imposter has a trick that will have him seeing double! Then, Richard and James go deep on the role of Taoism, Confucianism and Buddhism in Chinese society, and speculate on the nature of "jin". It's a weird one!

The Lion, The Monks, and The Elixir

Join us each week as we take listeners through one of China's most beloved novels. Meet Sun Wukong the Monkey King, his Buddhist master, Xuanzhang, the lustful monster Pigsy aka Zhu Bajie, and the reformed sand demon, Sha Wujing, and journey with them to India to acquire invaluable Buddhist scriptures. 

This immortal tale has delighted billions of Asian children yet is relatively unknown here in the west. This podcast aims to change that!

Childhood friends Richard Tseng and James Young will read and review every single chapter of the Anthony C Yu translation of Wu Chen'en's epic book. Along the way, we'll bust myths (did the Sun Wukong really burst out of stone?) examine its impact (Which world-famous animes did this legend inspire?) and learn more about Asian culture and its myths overall (which Indian monkey god inspired our monkey king?) 

So quit monkeying around Subscribe, and let's hit the silk road!

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Join us each week as we take listeners through one of China's most beloved novels. Meet Sun Wukong the Monkey King, his Buddhist master, Xuanzhang, the lustful monster Pigsy aka Zhu Bajie, and the reformed sand demon, Sha Wujing, and journey with them to India to acquire invaluable Buddhist scriptures. This immortal tale has delighted billions of Asian children yet is relatively unknown here in the west. This podcast aims to change that! Childhood friends Richard Tseng and James Young will read and review every single chapter of the Anthony C Yu translation of Wu Chen'en's epic book. Along the way, we'll bust myths (did the Sun Wukong really burst out of stone?) examine its impact (Which world-famous animes did this legend inspire?) and learn more about Asian culture and its myths overall (which Indian monkey god inspired our monkey king?) So quit monkeying around Subscribe, and let's hit the silk road!

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The Lion, The Monks, and The Elixir

The Lion, The Monks, and The Elixir

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