The History of the Monkey King's Staff

[ghostexorcist]

The Monkey King's staff has appeared in numerous paintings, woodblock prints, statues, films, cartoons, and toys. It is certainly the most recognizable aspect of the character's iconography. It's surprising then that scholars have not tried to trace its origins beyond the 13th-century version of Journey to the West. It's taken me several months, but I have finally finished three articles that do exactly that. The first shows how the two literary predecessors of the weapon are based on staves used by religious and martial monks; the second suggests the initial description of the staff as a pillar of black iron is based on a 4th-century Hindu monument in India; and the third analyzes the inscription on the weapon and traces the term "As-you-wish" (ruyi) to a ritual scepter used by religious and secular authorities.

* http://historum.com/blogs/ghostexorcist/5430-piece-rare-magic-iron-literary-religious-origins-monkey-king.html

* http://historum.com/blogs/ghostexorcist/13109-historical-source-monkeys-staff.html

* http://historum.com/blogs/ghostexorcist/30923-deciphering-inscription-monkey-s-staff.html

[GeneChing]

Nice overviews ghostexorcist.

My Shaolin Special 2012 cover story (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/magazine/article.php?article=1036) touched on some similar Buddhist weapon notions. See The Spade, the Whip and the Mountain Gate (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/magazine/article.php?article=1042).

[ghostexorcist]

Nice overviews ghostexorcist.

My Shaolin Special 2012 cover story (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/magazine/article.php?article=1036) touched on some similar Buddhist weapon notions. See The Spade, the Whip and the Mountain Gate (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/magazine/article.php?article=1042).

Thanks. That was a wonderful article. I've always been a big fan of using vernacular fiction to track Chinese cultural elements.