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The Great Sage, Heaven's Equal

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414: 285:. In the novel he is also referred to as "Great Sage, Heaven's Equal" and "Handsome Monkey King". Wu's character was well-received, to the point that some regarded him as a real god. During Pu's time, actual and genuine Sun Wukong shrines were already in existence or emerging, as part of "(t)he cult of this divine monkey". In a larger phenomenon, works of fiction contributed to the public's perception of or belief in deities. Hence, Shahar and Weller, in their 1996 work 361:) countryside, Xu Sheng encounters a stranger on the street, to whom he confides his financial troubles, as well as the strange incident in Fujian. The stranger possesses some knowledge of magic, in particular cloud-walking. Together they go to the "temple of heaven", where the stranger procures a few magic stones, said to bring good fortune, for Xu Sheng. At the end of the journey the mystery man reveals himself as Sun Wukong, then vanishes. 345:); in stark contrast, his brother becomes a fervent devotee. Afterwards, much to his brother's shock and chagrin, Xu Sheng remarks, "Sun Wukong is nothing but a parable invented by old Qiu. How can anybody sincerely believe him?" He then challenges Sun to mete out divine punishment to him if he truly existed. Fujian locals, who live in fear of the monkey god, are equally appalled by Xu Sheng's haughty comments. 426: 188: 174: 51: 348:
Just a while later, Xu Sheng begins to feel unwell. His superstitious brother hurriedly prays to Sun on his behalf but Xu Sheng's physical woes only continue. Xu Sheng is about to believe in the Great Sage's prowess, when he is relieved of further agony after a visit to a physician. Almost instantly,
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that, apart from his "typical condescension towards popular cults", Pu wished to convey "that spiritual power depends not on the actual existence of a god or a fictional character but on the illusory strength of human belief and desire." She compares Xu Sheng's eventual faith in Sun Wukong with Qian
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Sure enough, after waking up, Xu Sheng finds Xu Cheng alive in his coffin – it is at this point that he begins to truly believe in Sun Wukong. However, it is a bittersweet occasion for Xu Sheng, given the expenses he had incurred during the trip to Fujian and for his brother's funeral and burial.
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The Xu brothers rake in tremendous profits from their business and they make numerous return trips to the Sun Wukong temple. Pu Songling appends a footnote poking fun at Xu Sheng, stressing that "Sheng's mind must have been deluded, for what he saw simply couldn't be true", and concluding that
353:, demanding his brother back. At night, Xu Sheng encounters the Monkey King in his dreams, who counter-retaliates by criticising him for his rudeness and hiring of an inept practitioner to treat his brother. Nevertheless, Sun also promises to bring Xu Cheng back. 349:
Xu Cheng becomes the ill one and his condition takes a turn for the worse when Xu Sheng refuses to pray to Sun. Before long, Xu Cheng dies; in anger and grief, Xu Sheng storms into the Sun Wukong temple and confronts his
289:, opine that Pu Songling was criticising people's worship of a fictitious character. The translation of the story, titled "The Great Sage, Heaven's Equal" by Sidney L. Sondergard, was released in 2014. 759: 1331: 752: 397: 1189: 745: 533: 982: 245: 128: 1017: 989: 769: 1205: 728: 707: 686: 261:
on the worship of mythical characters, in this case Sun Wukong. In 2014, it was translated into English by Sidney L. Sondergard.
1197: 1256: 800: 365:"(w)hen people who share the same beliefs gather together, they will choose some central figure to represent their beliefs". 218: 357:
Furthermore, while revived, his brother still remains relatively weak. Some time afterwards, back in the Yan (now part of
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but gradually becomes a firm devotee of him after encountering him and experiencing his power. The story acts as
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Pu, Songling (2014) . "齐天大圣" [The Great Sage, Heaven's Equal].
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Historian of the Strange: Pu Songling and the Chinese Classical Tale
388:; both of them had dreams which turned "a skeptic into a believer". 20:. For the character known as The Great Sage, Heaven's Equal, see 741: 626: 624: 599: 597: 595: 582: 580: 567: 565: 481: 479: 292:
The Martin Bodmer Foundation Library houses a 19th-century
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native Xu Sheng, who initially rejects the existence of
402: 1267: 1224: 1149: 1142: 1111: 455:In Chinese: "孙悟空乃丘翁之寓言,何遂诚信若此?". The authorship of 162: 154: 143: 135: 123: 118: 102: 94: 86: 78: 68: 32: 1332:Stories within Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio 674: 556: 497: 398:List of media adaptations of Journey to the West 753: 459:is erroneously attributed to the Taoist sage 340: 326: 320: 8: 1146: 760: 746: 738: 720:Unruly Gods: Divinity and Society in China 717:Shahar, Meir; Weller, Robert Paul (1996). 630: 615: 603: 586: 571: 485: 307:", "The Great Sage, Heaven's Equal", and " 49: 16:This article is about the short story by 63:with commentary and illustrations; 1886) 657: 645: 475: 448: 409: 303:, that contains three tales including " 29: 983:The Raksha Country and the Sea Market 546:. Translated by Sondergard, Sidney L. 246:Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio 129:Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio 7: 325:), and his elder brother, Xu Cheng ( 1018:A Strange Matter Concerning Pigeons 990:A Sequel to the Yellow Millet Dream 770:Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio 696:Sondergrad, Sidney (January 2014). 296:manuscript, silk-printed and bound 272:first appeared in the 16th-century 14: 319:A struggling merchant, Xu Sheng ( 424: 412: 186: 172: 33:"The Great Sage, Heaven's Equal" 1198:Eternity: A Chinese Ghost Story 55:19th-century illustration from 1257:Painted Skin: The Resurrection 878:The Great Sage, Heaven's Equal 723:. University of Hawaii Press. 231: 222: 214: 207:The Great Sage, Heaven's Equal 57:Xiangzhu liaozhai zhiyi tuyong 27:Short story by Pu Songling 1: 681:. Stanford University Press. 147: 927:The Monster in the Buckwheat 373:Judith T. Zeitlin writes in 702:. Jain Publishing Company. 699:Strange Tales from Liaozhai 673:Zeitlin, Judith T. (1997). 540:Strange Tales from Liaozhai 249:(1740). It revolves around 1353: 331:), attend a ceremony at a 15: 1182:A Chinese Ghost Story III 976:The Purple Lotus Buddhist 781: 513:. Fondation Martin Bodmer 341: 327: 321: 167: 48: 37: 1300:Legend of Nine Tails Fox 1174:A Chinese Ghost Story II 1081:The Witch's Trance-Dance 829:The Caves of Mount Chaya 375:Historian of the Strange 1292:The Fairies of Liaozhai 274:Chinese classical novel 1214:The Enchanting Phantom 906:The Imperial Physician 557:Shahar and Weller 1996 498:Shahar and Weller 1996 1206:A Chinese Ghost Story 1193:(1997 animation film) 1190:A Chinese Ghost Story 1166:A Chinese Ghost Story 1158:The Enchanting Shadow 787:Another Wutong Spirit 73:齐天大圣 (Qitian dasheng) 1060:Twenty Years a Dream 843:The Fighting Cricket 378:Yi's worship of the 155:Published in English 82:Sidney L. Sondergard 1032:This Transformation 857:The Fornicating Dog 500:, pp. 193–194. 457:Journey to the West 278:Journey to the West 243:first published in 219:traditional Chinese 69:Original title 1327:1740 short stories 1088:The Wutong Spirits 1039:Three Incarnations 211:simplified Chinese 1314: 1313: 1310: 1309: 997:The Shuimang Herb 850:The Foreign Monks 815:A Brilliant Light 794:The Bird Language 259:social commentary 203: 202: 199: 198: 1344: 1252:(2011 TV series) 1147: 1011:Stealing Peaches 955:The Painted Skin 864:Fourth Sister Hu 801:The Black Ghosts 762: 755: 748: 739: 734: 713: 692: 680: 661: 655: 649: 643: 634: 628: 619: 613: 607: 601: 590: 584: 575: 569: 560: 554: 548: 547: 545: 529: 523: 522: 520: 518: 507: 501: 495: 489: 483: 464: 453: 429: 428: 417: 416: 415: 408: 344: 343: 330: 329: 324: 323: 233: 232:Qí Tiān Dà Shèng 224: 216: 190: 189: 176: 175: 169: 168: 149: 144:Publication date 136:Publication type 53: 30: 1352: 1351: 1347: 1346: 1345: 1343: 1342: 1341: 1317: 1316: 1315: 1306: 1263: 1220: 1138: 1107: 1074:The Weiqi Devil 969:Princess Yunluo 777: 766: 731: 716: 710: 695: 689: 672: 669: 664: 656: 652: 644: 637: 633:, p. 2085. 631:Sondergrad 2014 629: 622: 618:, p. 2084. 616:Sondergrad 2014 614: 610: 606:, p. 2083. 604:Sondergrad 2014 602: 593: 589:, p. 2082. 587:Sondergrad 2014 585: 578: 574:, p. 2080. 572:Sondergrad 2014 570: 563: 555: 551: 543: 531: 530: 526: 516: 514: 509: 508: 504: 496: 492: 488:, p. 2078. 486:Sondergrad 2014 484: 477: 473: 468: 467: 454: 450: 445: 440: 435: 423: 413: 411: 403: 394: 371: 317: 267: 191: 187: 178: 173: 111: 64: 28: 25: 12: 11: 5: 1350: 1348: 1340: 1339: 1334: 1329: 1319: 1318: 1312: 1311: 1308: 1307: 1305: 1304: 1296: 1288: 1280: 1276:A Touch of Zen 1271: 1269: 1265: 1264: 1262: 1261: 1253: 1245: 1237: 1228: 1226: 1222: 1221: 1219: 1218: 1210: 1202: 1194: 1186: 1178: 1170: 1162: 1153: 1151: 1144: 1140: 1139: 1137: 1136: 1131: 1126: 1121: 1115: 1113: 1112:Other articles 1109: 1108: 1106: 1105: 1102:Zhang Hongjian 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Xiaoqian 1067:Wang Liulang 941:Nie Xiaoqian 877: 871:The Frog God 808:The Bookworm 768: 719: 698: 676: 667:Bibliography 658:Zeitlin 1997 653: 646:Zeitlin 1997 611: 552: 539: 534: 527: 515:. Retrieved 505: 493: 463:("Old Qiu"). 456: 451: 379: 374: 372: 363: 355: 347: 318: 309:The Frog God 305:The Bookworm 298: 293: 291: 286: 276: 268: 244: 230: 206: 204: 193:The Frog God 180:The Bookworm 127: 124:Published in 106: 72: 60: 56: 1337:Monkey King 1287:(1996–1998) 1143:Adaptations 1129:White Lotus 1046:Three Lives 1025:Tian Qilang 948:Old Man Zhu 913:Jia Fengzhi 822:Cai Weiweng 775:Pu Songling 287:Unruly Gods 283:Wu Cheng-en 241:Pu Songling 237:short story 119:Publication 43:Pu Songling 39:Short story 18:Pu Songling 1321:Categories 1284:Dark Tales 1134:Zhou Youde 438:References 386:Du Liniang 384:character 335:temple in 333:Sun Wukong 270:Sun Wukong 265:Background 255:Sun Wukong 163:Chronology 79:Translator 22:Sun Wukong 471:Citations 461:Qiu Chuji 369:Reception 299:leporello 139:Anthology 1124:Song Wan 934:Mr. Miao 920:Judge Lu 392:See also 359:Shandong 294:Liaozhai 251:Shandong 103:Genre(s) 95:Language 1119:Chang'e 962:A Prank 892:Hu Dagu 517:2 March 405:Portals 235:) is a 185:  113:Fantasy 108:Zhiguai 98:Chinese 87:Country 1303:(2016) 1295:(2007) 1279:(1971) 1268:Others 1260:(2012) 1244:(2008) 1236:(1992) 1217:(2020) 1209:(2011) 1201:(2003) 1185:(1991) 1177:(1990) 1169:(1987) 1161:(1960) 727:  706:  685:  542:] 431:Novels 351:effigy 337:Fujian 301:-style 229:: 227:pinyin 221:: 213:: 195:(青蛙神) 177:  1095:Xianü 544:(PDF) 538:[ 443:Notes 419:China 182:(书痴) 90:China 725:ISBN 704:ISBN 683:ISBN 535:聊斋志异 519:2016 342:齐天大圣 315:Plot 223:齊天大聖 215:齐天大圣 158:2014 150:1740 773:by 311:". 281:by 239:by 209:" ( 41:by 1323:: 638:^ 623:^ 594:^ 579:^ 564:^ 478:^ 328:许成 322:许盛 225:; 217:; 148:c. 1104:" 1100:" 1097:" 1093:" 1090:" 1086:" 1083:" 1079:" 1076:" 1072:" 1069:" 1065:" 1062:" 1058:" 1055:" 1051:" 1048:" 1044:" 1041:" 1037:" 1034:" 1030:" 1027:" 1023:" 1020:" 1016:" 1013:" 1009:" 1006:" 1002:" 999:" 995:" 992:" 988:" 985:" 981:" 978:" 974:" 971:" 967:" 964:" 960:" 957:" 953:" 950:" 946:" 943:" 939:" 936:" 932:" 929:" 925:" 922:" 918:" 915:" 911:" 908:" 904:" 901:" 897:" 894:" 890:" 887:" 883:" 880:" 876:" 873:" 869:" 866:" 862:" 859:" 855:" 852:" 848:" 845:" 841:" 838:" 834:" 831:" 827:" 824:" 820:" 817:" 813:" 810:" 806:" 803:" 799:" 796:" 792:" 789:" 785:" 761:e 754:t 747:v 733:. 712:. 691:. 521:. 407:: 205:" 59:( 24:.

Index

Pu Songling
Sun Wukong
Short story
Pu Songling

Zhiguai
Fantasy
Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio
The Bookworm
The Frog God
simplified Chinese
traditional Chinese
pinyin
short story
Pu Songling
Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio
Shandong
Sun Wukong
social commentary
Sun Wukong
Chinese classical novel
Journey to the West
Wu Cheng-en
leporello-style
The Bookworm
The Frog God
Sun Wukong
Fujian
effigy
Shandong

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