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/ghostexorc...nkey-king.html

* http://historum.com/blogs/ghostexorc...eys-staff.html

* http://historum.com/blogs/ghostexorc...y-s-staff.html