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Golden Snub-nosed Monkey

Rhinopithecus roxellana

Status: Endangered due to deforestation. However, they share a habitat with Giant Pandas, and so it is possible they will benefit from much of the conservation efforts that are put forth for pandas.

The travels and adventures of the Monkey King, Sun Wukong, are best known from the 16th century book, Journey to the West.

Sun Wukong is a trickster god. He was born whole, springing from a rock. At first he went to live among the monkeys of the forest, and quickly attained status as their king when he proved his bravery by jumping from the great height of a waterfall. With the monkeys rallying behind him, he led them in exploits and mischief. In his adventures, he acquired through cleverness chain mail armor, cloud-walking boots, and a magical 8-ton staff.

His pranks and stubbornness escalated with his fame. Eventually he decided to challenge the Jade Emperor. This infuriated the Jade Emperor, and Sun Wukong was imprisoned under a mountain to reflect upon his misdeeds.

After 500 years, he was finally freed by a Buddhist monk, and he became the monk's bodyguard. Over the course of their westward journey, he underwent a spiritual transformation from an empty and ignorant monkey to an enlightened king.

 

References:
Werner, E.T.c. "Myths and Legends of china". Dover, Reprint Edition 1994.

Sun Wukong san da Baigujing. https://jstor.org/stable/community.14287661